Morning Thoughts on Anger, Fear, and ‘the Three Gates’

Asking “Is It True? Is it Useful? Is it Kind?” isn’t only good for you as a moral individual, it is also useful if one assumes that there is something deep within us that desires our actions to be in such alignment. Just a thought experiment — I’m not dogmatic about this at all. Really, it just occurred to me that many such aphorisms have symmetry.

If you ask: by what belief system, what view of the world, what value structure does a person’s actions or words seem TO THEM to meet this standard, I suspect we can enter their world more deeply. Of course, when you look at seriously evil actions, the answer can be psychopathy — the other person is no “person” at all, and therefore kindness is not a factor. Or, you can infantalize them: I’m beating them for their own good. The very act of refusing to submit to my authority proves they are not human, and therefore unworthy of kindness. I’m VERY kind to my children, and neighbors, and anyone who gives me proper respect. The rest…aren’t quite human.

Would that make sense? That people who “other” in that way are able to feel that they are honest, and effective/efficient, and kind? The center of good? Or at the very least, as “good” as anything can be in an utterly cruel and ultimately meaningless universe?

Interesting thought, yes? To explore it, first discover how difficult it is to be honest, effective (actions are useful), and kind. If you can do all three…I think you will understand how difficult that balance is, how easy…