left biblioblography: Ahimsa

Thursday, March 23, 2006

Ahimsa


"An it harm none, do as ye will."- Ancient Wiccan rede.

It is the question plaguing Mankind for centuries.

What is evil?

There are those who would give it face and name: coal-red eyes, hooves and horns, demonic laughter and wanton cruelty. All the old icons, all the old names, all the ancient formulas, from Moloch to Asmodai, Lucifer to Baal, the elder archetypes that plague our dreams.

Psychopathy given shape, Sociopathy given form, personified just enough to resemble humanity, but not quite enough for a good look in a mirror.

All the while, not realizing that the evil lay in each of us, the birthright of evolution, that feral selfishness that defies and denies the altruism that flows in our veins as well.

True evil lies within each of us. The power to do true harm to anything that lives, directly or indirectly. There are larger and smaller evils, to be sure: the careless cruelty, the minor selfish act which may or may not alter the course of someone’s entire life, the misspoken jest, the haphazard word, the slandering gossip or the misread cue. These vary on the measure of impact. In both word and deed.

It is harm inferred and harm incurred. Motive and method, modus operandi and malice aforethought, these are the ingredients for the recipe of malignancy.

It is nigh well impossible to sail through life without doing harm, or being subjected to it. There are philosophies that entail doing absolutely no harm to any living creature (how do they eat? Do they even walk down the street, without destroying some infinitesimal insectile life? Mysteries to ponder).

Life and death. Pain and pleasure. These extremes define us, as mammals, as individuals, as a collective herd.

I have taken enough of your time. I leave you with these words:

Ahimsa – do no harm.

There is no greater morality than this.

Stumble Upon Toolbar

11 comments:

Ang said...

Hey, I am sending you an email --- look for it. :)

Mesoforte said...

Look no further, I am the penultimate evil. I'm the evil that all evil looks to for guidance. ^_~

I understand what you're saying, but I can't let go of an 'what is evil' post without saying that I am.

Krystalline Apostate said...

Angie:
Gotten, & appreciated. Thanks.

MF:
I'm the evil that all evil looks to for guidance
I'm reminded of an MST 3000 episode, where 1 of the mad scientists (Frank) says, "We are evil, we are...oh that's the cutest thing! I have to get 1 of those!"
Hehehehe.

Anonymous said...

"...the birthright of evolution, that feral selfishness that defies and denies the altruism that flows in our veins as well."

Nail on the head, RA.

Add a cup of lusting for vengeance, a childish need for tit-for-tat. I'm trying to rise above it. Ain't easy or pretty. Feeling more comfy with the dark side of me lately.

Ahimsa.
A timely reminder.

k.

Krystalline Apostate said...

karen:
Feeling more comfy with the dark side of me lately.
The trick is, to strike a balance between light & darkness.
Oftentimes, human nature is much akin to a boat tipping wildly from 1 side to the next.
Best to plant the feet in the middle, & root 1self.
That's what I think.

Anonymous said...

"...plant the feet in the middle and root..."

Yeah. Guess that's what I do. It's just my thoughts that are dark, not my actions.

*Sulk*

Hey Meso, do you charge for lessons?

Krystalline Apostate said...

karen:
*Sulk*
Hey, that was just a bit of friendly advice, m'love. Nuthin' meant by it.

Anonymous said...

RA
I know, hon.

I was just sulking cos I want be bad instead of just thinking bad! All these CSI tips I've been learning, to no avail! ;)

k.

Krystalline Apostate said...

karen:
I was just sulking cos I want be bad instead of just thinking bad!
Well, I've seen you be very bad. & when you're bad...you're very good.
What's the emoticon for leering?

Anonymous said...

RA
Aw, shucks. Thanks. You've just seen me talking bad! ;)

That's nothin' compared to what's been on my mind lately. And I don't mean anything to do with Hairless, either.
I mean real mayhem.

karen

Krystalline Apostate said...

karen:
I mean real mayhem.
The best way (for me, at least) to wrestle my demons, is to write. Or do TC. Long as we don't read about you in the papers, dear.