I wanted to expand on the discussion of today's Line by Line entry. One point that is made on more than one occasion in the writings of the Taoist sages is that the Way provides to all things impartially. The sun shines on the virtuous and those who lack virtue. The rain falls on the selfless and the selfish. The air is available for both the kind and the hurtful person to breath.
We humans have a great deal of difficulty following the lead of Tao.
In our lives, we tend to show respect only to those who respect us first. We love people who are like us and act with distrust and suspicion toward those who are different. We give the benefit of the doubt to people in our clique, clan or social group, while providing no leeway to those outside of our circle.
In my book, if someone "sins" against another and then the other turns around to pay back the "sinner" or someone else in-kind, I hold the initial victim as the more culpable party! Why? Because the initial victim knows the feelings of hurt, pain or disappointment, yet willfully inflicts this hurt, pain or disappointment on someone else! If a person knows what it's like to be slapped in the face, what does it say about the person if they turn around to slap the person standing next to them?
Of course, as humanity is, we each play the role of the aggressor and victim several times each day. Most of us are very adept at dishing out what we receive. We allow the external stimuli in our environment to control or, at least, exert great influence over the internal.
It's a problem that all of us -- me included -- need to work on. Like Tao, it would behoove us to give to others, regardless of what we might get back in return.
We humans have a great deal of difficulty following the lead of Tao.
In our lives, we tend to show respect only to those who respect us first. We love people who are like us and act with distrust and suspicion toward those who are different. We give the benefit of the doubt to people in our clique, clan or social group, while providing no leeway to those outside of our circle.
In my book, if someone "sins" against another and then the other turns around to pay back the "sinner" or someone else in-kind, I hold the initial victim as the more culpable party! Why? Because the initial victim knows the feelings of hurt, pain or disappointment, yet willfully inflicts this hurt, pain or disappointment on someone else! If a person knows what it's like to be slapped in the face, what does it say about the person if they turn around to slap the person standing next to them?
Of course, as humanity is, we each play the role of the aggressor and victim several times each day. Most of us are very adept at dishing out what we receive. We allow the external stimuli in our environment to control or, at least, exert great influence over the internal.
It's a problem that all of us -- me included -- need to work on. Like Tao, it would behoove us to give to others, regardless of what we might get back in return.
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