I would venture to say there is no fundamental good or bad. Rather the complete appreciation for the world as it is — all imperfections, warts, the appalling, the heinous — Everything. This entails being completely and utterly liberated from our judgements and a need for an absolute and fundamental good and evil. When we develop this fundamental shift our mind is less likely to defend different beliefs and viewpoints. It is free and open to ‘whatever is’ including that which is conflicting for us. This enables us to better respond to situations. We are open and free to love everything just as it is, developing a radical equanimity.
There is no judgement or criticism. There is no I am better or worse. Less conceit and ego. This opens into a natural sense of freely giving compassion and love since there is nothing to protect or become.
Who am I to think what is right or wrong. Who put me in charge. For example, when using NVC (nonviolent communication) instead of thinking or saying “they yell” it can become “they talk louder than I would prefer”.
Question: Can you give some examples of there being no fundamental good or bad?
For example, if a person is swimming in the ocean and being attacked by a shark. Do we help save the person, or help save the shark? For most people, this is an obvious question where they kill the shark to save the person, but there may be more this story if one wants to develop their state of liberation. Some people have no problem with this situation and think nothing of it — that is perfectly ok and a legitimate viewpoint.
Q: Well then, would you kill the person and save the shark?
A: No, I evaluate the situation and reality as it is and do what’s best for that moment. This will probably result in me killing the shark to save the person.
Q: Why exactly do you kill the shark?
A: I realize that it is my natural biological impulse to save the person. It stabilizes our lives and society since we have to explain to ourselves and others who we hurt and who we save. Killing the shark makes sense to us. However, after killing the shark, I can honor it and see the bigger picture in that it deserved to live just as much as the person.
Another perspective is illustrated in the following anecdote.
When I was a teenager, my cousins and I were in some argument about whether sharks were vicious or more timid, generally avoiding people when they could. After a while of this going nowhere, my cousin turned to our youngest cousin Kyle (who was only 3 at the time) and asked “Kyle, what do you think? Are sharks mean or are they nice?”
Kyle thought for a moment and replied seriously, “Sharks are sharks, and that’s the way it is.”
We all burst out laughing of course, and the argument was never settled.
Q: How does this contrived example relate to daily life? It seems a bit far-fetched to relate to.
We can bring this same exact mentality to all situations.
Why do we give medals instead of weeping over the enemy our country has killed?
Why do we give medals and honor the military who kill people, when at the same time we jail someone who kills a convince store clerk in a robbery. For society to function we categorize these incidents and punish these acts accordingly. But fundamentally at the same time, on a deeper level we also realize that there is no difference between these people or situations.
We develop the skill of holding a paradox. This may include holding the understanding that society needs laws and enforcement, while understanding that both sides deserve to be valued.
With amorality we diminish the need to defend different beliefs. Thus, your mind is free to be open to ‘whatever is’, free to respond what is best for the situation. You are free to love everything — just as it is.
Question: Does this mean I approve “bad” behavior? What about things like killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, etc.
Is this it not some ultimate form of delusion to make yourself happy?
This does not mean that I approve of people’s behavior, but that I simply don’t need to suffer over it. This is beautifully illustrated in this relatively short Byron Katie clip.
Just because a person commits a heinous act does not mean you support that act, rather one can still treat that person with love and respect yet not approve of that action — that is setting boundaries. When looking at the entire context of the person’s life such as their environment, brain wiring, childhood, socioeconomic situation etc. compassion can arise.
Question: If there is no fundamental good or bad, why should I choose to do good?
My mind is at peace, and I am more content when I choose what is good and skillful.
And since my actions affect myself and others doing what I think is good will be useful and beneficial.
Question: Can you provide a few more examples to illustrate there is no fundamental good or bad where this underlying core concept can be applied to anything in our lives?
- Almond milk seems to have a lower carbon footprint, but actually increases the environmental tool
https://sustainability.ucsf.edu/1.713
https://www.theguardian.com/food/2018/sep/05/ditch-the-almond-milk-why-everything-you-know-about-sustainable-eating-is-probably-wrong - Reusable plastic shopping bags are actually making the problem worse, not better
https://qz.com/1759150/reusable-plastic-shopping-bags-are-making-the-problem-worse/ - Quinoa consumption in the West has made it unaffordable for Bolivians.
“Western nations have pushed up prices to such an extent that poorer people in Peru and Bolivia, for whom it was once a nourishing staple food, can no longer afford to eat it. Imported junk food is cheaper. In Lima, quinoa now costs more than chicken.”
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/jan/16/vegans-stomach-unpalatable-truth-quinoa - Shopping at local stores instead of Wal-Mart in order to protest the treatment of workers. However, those workers might need that job to make ends meet. By not shopping there how are they going to make ends meet.
