from Verse One Hundred Thirty-OneNothing in the world is easier than doing what is good, nothing is harder than doing what is not good. Doing what is good means being calm and uncontrived, suiting your true condition and refusing the rest, not being seduced by anything, following your essential nature, preserving reality, and not changing yourself. Therefore doing what is good is easy.~ Wen-tzu: Understanding the Mysteries ~
Of course, society has taught most of us the precise opposite -- when we do the wrong thing, we're told we're taking the easy way out. You know, sins of the flesh and all that rigmarole?
Think about it. When we behave rudely, arrogantly or selfishly, does it really make things easier? For one thing, when we behave in this manner, many people later feel guilty. They beat themselves up for choosing the wrong fork in the road. Such behavior often nets negative reactions from others and this tends to cause hurdles and pitfalls to spring up along our path. So, it ends up taking far more time and energy to navigate the road.
Conversely, when we think and behave in a manner that flows with the situation, there is no reason for guilt and most of the reactions by others are positive, not negative. We simply move through life more smoothly and a smoother ride is an easier ride.
I think the place where we get mixed up is that behaving in a brutish or selfish manner SEEMS easier in the immediate short-term. The problem is that, when we step back to look at the broader long-term picture, what once appeared so easy is now very complex. We soon learn that the "easy way out" isn't easy at all.
This post is part of a series. For an introduction, go here.
Think about it. When we behave rudely, arrogantly or selfishly, does it really make things easier? For one thing, when we behave in this manner, many people later feel guilty. They beat themselves up for choosing the wrong fork in the road. Such behavior often nets negative reactions from others and this tends to cause hurdles and pitfalls to spring up along our path. So, it ends up taking far more time and energy to navigate the road.
Conversely, when we think and behave in a manner that flows with the situation, there is no reason for guilt and most of the reactions by others are positive, not negative. We simply move through life more smoothly and a smoother ride is an easier ride.
I think the place where we get mixed up is that behaving in a brutish or selfish manner SEEMS easier in the immediate short-term. The problem is that, when we step back to look at the broader long-term picture, what once appeared so easy is now very complex. We soon learn that the "easy way out" isn't easy at all.
This post is part of a series. For an introduction, go here.
I was once as dishonest as anyone.
ReplyDeleteA revelation showed me the folly of dishonesty.
It was not in my interests to be dishonest, nor was it in anyone else's.
Deciding to be completely honest clearly made much more sense.
The result was never having to keep track of what I had told whom, along with never having to fear consequences.
Certainly to do right and be what one is, is easier than its opposite.
Amazingly very few people seem to have realized this.
I certainly agree that honesty is FAR easier than being dishonest precisely for the reasons you mentioned.
ReplyDelete