PainefulTruth
Romantic Cynic
- Sep 28, 2013
- 387
- 43
No. Love your neighbor AS yourself.
The root of ALL evil is a moral double standard. Name one immoral act that doesn't have the perp putting the value of his rights over the value of the rights of the victim(s)--never equal to them.
If you value your rights below others, you're hanging a sign around your neck saying "Ready-made Victim", but at least you're not being selfish.
Well, maybe I wasnt clear. This isnt about self-sacrifice at all costs, its about treating yourself as an equal part of a whole. You do things to serve the whole, vs just serving yourself and your individual pleasures. This doesnt mean you cant defend yourself, because YOU are part of that whole that you are serving, and therefore your wellbeing/evolution is just as valuable as anyone elses.
That's very close to what I call enlightened self-interest. You risk yourself to defend the Truth and righteousness as an example for others to do the same. But so often, particularly today, we're viewed as inferior if we don't put the group ahead of ourselves no matter what. Selfishness of any sort is deemed to be "immoral".
To wit:
Acting selflessly is doing the will of the universal whole - all the time, without exception.
Acting on behalf of the whole because it makes you feel good personally is a selfish act, but acting on behalf of the whole because you love absolutely everything and everyone - and see no separation from the needs of the self and the needs of others - that is acting (by definition) selflessly.
That's layer upon layer of psychobabble. So...what...act on behalf of the universal whole but don't let yourself feel good about it?
What is the "Universal Whole"?