Good and evil are not in the action itself, but in the level of wakefulness with which we act. An act that appears good yet feeds the ego is evil. An act that appears harsh yet helps someone awaken is good.

So in daily life, do not rush to judge right and wrong by appearances. Everything has two sides: one facing the world, and one reflecting into the soul.

1) Good and evil in the subtlety of action

- To harm others and harm yourself is evil.
- To harm others and benefit yourself is great evil.
- To benefit others and benefit yourself is good.
- To benefit others and harm yourself is great good.

Yet within good there can be evil, and within evil the seed of good may still be present. Small good can lead to great evil; great good can reduce great evil. The old saying goes:

Petty goodness can be great evil; great goodness can seem indifferent.

Praising someone may cheer them up-this is small good. But if that praise inflates their ego, it becomes great evil. Conversely, speaking the truth may make them uncomfortable for a moment-this is small evil, yet it can be great good, because it helps the soul grow up.

Great goodness does not come to please; it comes to mature the soul. Truth may hurt, yet it helps us reflect. Light may dazzle the eyes, yet it shows the way.

2) The ego - the source of darkness

The ego is the thickest shell of darkness. When we help loosen another person's ego, they may resist, become angry, or hate us. That may be "harm" to us, but it is great good for them-because each time their pride is touched, the soul has a chance to see what remains unresolved within.

Darkness is always uncomfortable in the presence of light. So are people: if we still feel irritated and wounded, it means there are still shadowed places inside that have not yet been illuminated.

3) Truth and light

Truth often offends-but it offends now to win trust later, because it does not come to entertain; it comes to set free.

The one who speaks truth is not fighting anyone; they are awakening. The one who can hear truth without anger is already beginning to wake up.

This world suffers because too many people prefer what feels pleasant and avoid what is right. Light does not come to be liked; it comes to cleanse.

Where light reaches, darkness must either retreat or be transformed-just as where wisdom arrives, ignorance must dissolve.

4) Great goodness, and the "indifference' of light

Great goodness is not pity, and it is not indulgence. Great goodness is love with wisdom: it knows that sometimes we must allow another to feel pain, so that they can see the roots of their suffering.

The one who practises great goodness is no longer ruled by emotion. They are like fire-both burning away and warming. They may appear indifferent, yet within is deep compassion.

In a chaotic age, we need hearts like this: clear enough not to be trapped in petty goodness, and strong enough to practise great goodness.

5) Beyond good and evil

At the deepest level of understanding, good and evil are simply two faces of one evolutionary journey. Good leads a person towards the light. Evil forces us to learn about light from the opposite direction.

When your mind is clear, your actions naturally become good. When your mind is clouded, even with good intentions, the outcome can still become harmful.

So do not ask, "Is this good or evil?" Ask, "Is my mind clear?" If the mind is clear, every action accords with the Way. If the mind is dark, even beautiful actions are only illusion.

Light does not struggle with darkness; it simply shines-and darkness dissolves.

Hoàng Nhật Minh
Excerpt from the book: Spiritual Science - A Journey Back To Your True Self

Previous Ebook

Next Ebook