Ve V ersion 2016.04.03 2016.04.03
The Triple Triple Path
Copyright © 2014, 2015 by James Kenneth Rogers All rights reserve!
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To get the latest version o# this boo$, visit TriplePath!org).o'nloa
(ersion 201/!04!0
+"*13 6*0/1554156 +"*103 0/1554154
Printe in the 7nite 7nite tates o# Ameri&a
8hat a pie&e o# 'or$ is a man, ho' noble in reason, ho' in#inite in #a&%lties, in #orm an moving, ho' e9press an amirable in a&tion, ho' li$e an angel in apprehension, ho' li$e a go
:amlet, A&t ++, &ene 2 ;e&on <%arto=, <%art o=, >ne o# the gran #%namental prin&iples ! ! ! is to re&eive tr%th, let it &ome #rom 'hen&e it may! may! ! ! ! 8e sho%l gather all the goo an tr%e prin&iples in the 'orl an treas%re them %p! ! ! !
Joseph Joseph mith
8hen + 'as in my late t'enties, t'enties, + 'ent 'ent thro%gh a pro&ess o# %estioning an so%l sear&hing! ?y o%bt le to introspe&tion an st%y, an event%ally to the en o# my previo%s 'orlvie'! 'orlvie'! + st%ie ba* ba * si& philosophy, s&ien&e, an the sa&re te9ts o# many o# the 'orl@s ma* or religions an starte reb%iling reb%iling a ne' perspe&tive! perspe&tive! + slo'ly re&on* str%&te my moral an epistemologi&al #o%nations an &reate a per* sonal &ree that + &alle the triple path3 see$ 'isom, o goo, an la* bor 'ith hope to b%il a better #%t%re! This boo$ is an e9tension an &rystalliBation o# my ieas abo%t the triple path! + have mostly 'ritten this #or mysel# an my &hil* rento &lari#y #or mysel# 'hat + aspire to, an to have something + &an share 'ith my &hilren abo%t 'hat + believe an that + &an %se to help g%ie them on their o'n o'n moral o%rney thro%gh li#e! The #irst an thir parts parts o# the boo$ are in essay essay #ormat an es&ribe my general approa&h to #ining tr%th, to morality, an to reli* gion! gion! The The se&on se&on part aopts aopts the style style o# ?ar&% ?ar&%ss A%re A%reli% li%s@ s@ss ?e* ?e * itations, 'riting personal tho%ghts in the se&on person! +n this part, part , + o#ten aapt the 'ors o# many o# the 'orl@s great religio%s an philo* sophi&al thin$ers! The #ootnotes list the so%r&es that inspire ea&h se&* tion@s tion@s ieas an 'ors! 'ors! This This boo$@s pres&riptions are aspirational! + am not any great great e9ample e9ample o# the virt%es + e9tol! + #all #all short o# my ieals ieals all the time! Dvery ay! + 'rote 'rote this to inspire mysel# to o betterto over* over* &ome my o'n #ailings an ra' &loser to my personal ieals! + o not &laim to be a philosopher or a great thin$er! thin$er! ?any times + have ha an iea that + tho%ght 'as original an insight#%lE + 'o%l 'o%l 'rite abo%t it only to is&ove is&overr that someone else ha alreay alreay 'ritten abo%t it more tho%ght#%lly tho%ght#%lly an elo%ently &ent%ries or millennia ago! ?y goal is not to brea$ brea$ ne' philosophi&al gro%n, b%t to &ome %p %p 'ith a pra&ti&al approa&h #or mysel# #or ho' to live! This boo$ is mostly #or me an my &hilren, b%t + release it p%bli&ly be&a%se + 'ant help to ma$e it better! The more people 'ho rea it, the li$elier + am to #in others to o##er %se#%l &riti&ism to ma$e my ieas better! + am also releasing it be&a%se + 'o%l li$e to #in others intereste in is&%ssing the iv
ATH THE TRIPLE P ATH
sorts o# things + tal$ abo%t in this boo$! +# yo% have &riti&isms or tho%ghts abo%t this boo$, or 'o%l 'o%l li$e is&%ss it #%rther, please &onta&t me at ames-triplepath!org! ames-triplepath!org! Dven i# yo% have have no &omments or tho%ghts abo%t the boo$, + 'o%l 'o%l love to hear #rom yo% %st to $no' that yo% have rea it! + than$ AC an C, 'ho ea&h o##ere val%able s%ggestions that prompte revisions revisions to initial versions o# the boo$! +n many pla&es in this boo$, my &on&l%sions rely on resear&h in the s&ien&es an so&ial s&ien&es! y training, tho%gh, tho%gh, + am %st a la'yer! la'yer! +# yo% $no' $no' o# better resear& resear&hh that &ontrai&ts &ontrai&ts 'hat + say here here or i# + have misrea or misinterprete any o# the s&ienti#i& papers that + &ite, please let me $no'! This boo$ is intene to be an ongoing proe&t! proe&t! + starte start e it in 2010 an + have ae gra%ally to it sin&e then! ?y aily pro&ess o# aing material an revising 'ill li$ely &ontin%e ine#initely! 8henever + release an %pate eition, it 'ill have a version n%mber base on the year, month, an ay it 'as &omplete! This is version 201/!04!0 o# the boo$! Fo Fo% &an al'ays al'ays #in the latest version o# this boo$ at TriplePath!org).o'nloa! +n the epths o# my &risis o# #aith, + &ame to a point point 'here + e#ine mysel# in negative termsin terms o# 'hat + 'as not an 'hat + i not believe! +n my intera&tions 'ith other people 'ho have passe thro%gh thro%gh similar &rises, + have observe many others oing the same thing! + have have &ome to &on&l%e that e#ining e#ining mysel# mysel# in terms o# 'hat + am oppose oppose to or in terms o# 'hat + isagree isagree 'ith is not psy&hologi psy&hologi** &ally healthy! healthy! .oing that 'as st%nting my o'n personal gro' gr o'th th an lim* lim * iting my happiness! This boo$ is my attempt to ree#ine mysel# an 'hat + believe in terms o# positives instea o# negatives! + have #o%n that it is healthier to 'orry less abo%t 'hat is 'rong an #alse an more abo%t 'hat is right an tr%e! + hope yo% agree! James James Kenneth Kenneth Roge Rogers rs
v
Contents Pre#a&e!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!iv Part >ne3 Cosmology 1! Cosmology!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 1
Part T'o3 ?eitations 2! 8isom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!55 ! (irt%e!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!6 4! :ope!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 Part Three3 Approa&h 5! Tr%thG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!155 /! ?orality!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!165 Part Ho%r3 tories ! Parables!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!25 Reaing list!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!241
>ver tens o# tho%sans o# years, h%man &%lt%res have a&&%m%* late an passe on to #%t%re generations m%&h $no'lege abo%t moral* ity an right livingabo%t ho' to &reate an maintain goo relation* ships an b%il s%&&ess#%l &omm%nities! The prin&iples o# morality that 'e have evelope have enable %s to live in ever*more &omple9 an prospero%s so&ieties! >ver the last 100,000 years, h%mans move #rom simple h%nter*gatherer tribes to agri&%lt%ral so&ieties o# in&reasing &om* ple9ity an siBe! The large an &omple9 so&ieties o# the last #e' tho%* san years o not #%n&tion 'ell 'itho%t moral prin&iples s%&h as &harity, empathy, honesty, an respe&t #or li#e an personal property! >ver the generations, the great religions o# all the maor &%l* t%res have a&&%m%late insights into h%man living an intera&tions an have evelope the moral r%les that are essential to moern so&iety! As more people more #%lly live these moral prin&iples, their lives have sig* ni#i&antly improve! The moral tea&hings o# the great religions have tremeno%s val%e in tea&hing %s ho' to live together, an ho' to attain enlightenment, &ontentment, an happiness! Religion provies m%&h val%e an meaning even to non*aherentsIse&%lar notions o# morality originally starte #rom religio%s ieas abo%t morality! eyon %st moral prin&iples, the maor religions help %s &%ltivate #eelings o# gratit%e, a'e, an elevation! They give %s rites an &eremonies to provie mean* ing an mar$ maor li#e events! They provie %s 'ith a #eeling o# &om* m%nity an %nity 'ith others! %t in spite o# the great val%e 'e &an erive #rom religion, the great tea&hings o# the 'orl religions are also intert'ine 'ith an&ient pre*moern &osmologies, or %nerstanings o# the %niverse an h%man* ity@s pla&e in it! These an&ient &osmologies have ever*e&reasing relevan&e as they are &ontrai&te more an more by moern s&ienti#i& is&overies! The 'orl@s maor religions 'ere #o%ne in pre*moern times by peo* ple 'ith rai&ally i##erent %nerstanings #rom o%r moern &on&eptions 1
C>?>>F o# the %niverse! ?any o# the o&trines, pra&ti&es, an tea&hings o# moern religions are base on pre*moern &osmologies #o%ne on s%* perstitio%s belie#s an pra&ti&esE they are base on #alse premises an as* s%mptions abo%t the 'orl that 'e no' $no' are 'rong! 8hen the great religions o# the 'orl 'ere #o%ne, many o# those religions@ aherents believe that the 'orl 'as #lat an that it 'as at the &enter o# the %niverse! The most &ommon &osmology #o%n in the ible pres%pposes the Darth is a #lat is& #loating in 'ater 1 or s%p* porte by pillars!2 Hor bibli&al 'riters, hell 'as a literal pla&e %st belo' the gro%n an heaven 'as a literal pla&e %st above the Darth 4 ;in i#* #erent pla&es in the ible the reason the s$y is bl%e is either be&a%se 'e are seeing a heavenly o&ean s%spene above the s$y, or be&a%se the s$y is the sapphire #loor o# heaven5=! +n the oo$ o# A&ts in the "e' Testament, 'hen it says that Jes%s as&ens to heaven, / it is saying that he is literally going to a pla&e %st above the Darth! 8hen Pa%l 'rites abo%t Jes%s &oming ba&$ to Darth by es&ening #rom heaven, he is tal$ing abo%t Jes%s &oming o'n #rom a literal pla&e lo&ate %st above the s$y! 8hen the ible tal$s abo%t hell, it is re#erring to a literal pla&e %st belo' the gro%n that is the aboe o# eparte spirits! 6 The ible pres%pposes a geo&en* tri& moel o# the %niverse, in 'hi&h the Darth sits at the &enter an ev* erything else, in&l%ing the %n, revolves aro%n the Darth! The ible even says in m%ltiple pla&es that the Darth is immovable!10 ?any o# these types o# ible passages are no' interprete metaphori&ally, b%t there is little reason to believe that their 'riters intene them to be in* terprete that 'aythe 'riters o# those passages literally believe them to be tr%e! >%r an&estors base their &osmologies on r%imentary obser* vations o# the 'orl aro%n them an then &ombine their observations 'ith o&trines #rom religio%s tea&hers an &%lt%rally*inherite s%persti* tio%s notions abo%t %nseen a&tors an #or&es! ?oern s&ienti#i& &osmol* ogy is base on #iels s%&h as astronomy an physi&s! The brea$* thro%ghs in moern &osmology #re%ently re%ire avan&e mathE so* phisti&ate tools, s%&h as teles&opes an parti&le a&&eleratorsE an a $no'lege o# past is&overies ;be&a%se one li#etime is not eno%gh #or 2
T:D TR+PD PAT: one person alone to #ig%re o%t all the 'oners o# the %niverse=! ?%&h o# 'hat o%r an&estors believe abo%t &osmology is plainly &ontrai&te by 'hat 'e have is&overe abo%t the %niverse! 8hen the tea&hings o# the great religions are base on the premises o# a #alse &osmology, then the tea&hings themselves sho%l be s%spe&tI there is no reason to believe a &on&l%sion base on a #alse premise! Religio%s believers 'ho ta$e a literal approa&h to their religion@s sa&re boo$s or tea&hings sometimes appeal to a%thority an arg%e that the 'ors o# o as &ontaine in their s&ript%res ;or as transmitte by their holy leaers= are the %ltimate a%thority an that moern &osmo* logi&al &laims m%st there#ore be 'rong! There are t'o problems 'ith this approa&h! The #irst problem is &ir&%larity an s%be&tivity! elieving in a leaer or a te9t@s ivine a%thority merely be&a%se they &laim ivine a%thor* ity is &ir&%lar3 'e have no reason to believe in the leaer or the te9t@s &laims to ivine a%thority %nless 'e alreay a&&ept their tea&hingsImerely &laiming a%thority o##ers no e9ternal reason to believe in that a%thority! elieving in a leaer or a te9t@s ivine a%thority be&a%se o# o%r s%be&tive emotional responses to them is almost e%ally problemati&! As 'e 'ill is&%ss in Chapter 5, spirit%al #eelings are very s%be&tive! People #rom 'illy i##erent religionsIreligions 'ith &ontrai&tory an m%t%ally e9* &l%sive tea&hingsIes&ribe the same sorts o# spirit%al #eelings &on#irm* ing their belie# in the religion! ome #ollo'ers may instea pla&e their tr%st in stories abo%t a tea&her@s or a leaer@s mira&%lo%s or s%pernat%ral abilities! These stories, i# tr%e, possibly &o%l provie some ini&ation o# ivine a%thority! All s%&h stories + have e9amine have invariably la&$e obe&tive veri#i&ationE they are nearly al'ays tol se&on or thir han, or the Lmira&%lo%sM o&&%rren&e ens %p being e9plaine by &har* latanismE + have never seen s%&h stories stan %p to rigoro%s s&r%tiny! Things li$e a religio%s te9t@s or leaer@s o'n &laim to a%thority, pleasant #eelings, or stories o# %bio%s vera&ity are not eno%gh to valiate the &laims to a%thority o# religio%s te9ts or tea&hers, espe&ially 'hen some o# their &laims are ire&tly &ontrai&te by o%r moern observations o# the 'orl!
C>?>>F e&on, it is a logi&al #alla&y to believe in a statement@s tr%th merely be&a%se it 'as %ttere by an La%thority!M "one o# %s &an $no' everything! There is nothing 'rong 'ith relying on e9perts! An there is nothing 'rong 'ith arg%ing that a statement mae by an a%thority is tr%e! The problem arises 'hen 'e arg%e that something is tr%e be&a%se it 'as %ttere by an a%thority! +# something is tr%e, then it is tr%e 'hether or not it 'as %ttere by an a%thority! Fo% sho%l never believe something sai by an a%thority %nless that statement &an inepenently stan %p to &riti&ism an inepenent veri#i&ation! +# an a%thority@s statements are tr%e, they sho%l be &onsistent 'ith o%r $no'lege o# re* ality! An no legitimate a%thority 'o%l ever try to stop yo% #rom ine* penently veri#ying that a%thority@s statements! Charlatans try to $eep #ollo'ers #rom &ons%lting o%tsie so%r&es or inepenently trying to veri#y their &laims! The &harlatan 'orries abo%t being proven #alse, be* &a%se he alreay $no's his statements are 'rong, or at least o# %bio%s merit! A legitimate a%thority 'ho spea$s the tr%th oes not #ear ine* penent attempts at veri#i&ation, be&a%se s%&h e##orts only #%rther &on* #irm 'hat the a%thority is saying! +# the literal approa&h is not s%pportable, an i# relian&e on a%* thorities is not eno%gh, then 'hat are the alternativesG :ere are #o%r3 1= the gaps approa&hE 2= the symboli& approa&hE = the ree&tion approa&hE an 4= the pra&ti&al approa&h ;presentist e&le&ti&ism=! The gaps approa&h means yo% re*interpret tea&hings abo%t &os* mology that have been &ontrai&te by moern s&ien&e as being merely symboli&, b%t yo% &ontin%e believing in the tea&hings that have not been &hallenge by s&ien&e! Fo% &reate spa&e #or belie# o%t o# the gaps that s&ien&e has not, or &annot, aress! Hor e9ample, yo% might is&o%nt the iea o# a &reation in si9 ays, b%t &ontin%e believing that o &reate the Darth %sing nat%ral pro&esses over millions o# years! The problem 'ith this approa&h is that as s&ienti#i& $no'lege &ontin%es to gro', the spa&e #or religio%s belie# &ontin%es to shrin$! ?oreover, it is epistemologi&ally %bio%s an sel#*serving to %n&riti&ally a&&ept as tr%e the parts o# yo%r religion that are not provable! +t re%ires 4
T:D TR+PD PAT: that yo% ignore a glaring problem3 in the areas 'here s&ienti#i& in%iry has yiele appli&able res%lts, it has is&on#irme an rarely ;i# ever= &on#irme any religion@s &osmologi&al tea&hings! +# everything 'e have been able to test has been isprove, then it seems possible, i# not li$ely, that the rest 'ill event%ally be isprove as 'ell! %t inasm%&h as some o# religions@ &laims 'ill almost al'ays be %nprovable, this is a &ompletely legitimate approa&h! ?ost e%&ate religio%s believers in the 8est, 'hether $no'ingly or not, aopt this approa&h! The symboli& approa&h is to loo$ at all o# the &osmologi&al tea&hings in the religion or sa&re te9t as being symboli&! This is #ine as #ar as it goes, b%t 'hy evote time to st%ying tea&hings that yo% a&* $no'lege as being %ntr%eG ?yth, symbolism, an allegory are po'er#%l tools #or tea&hing an helping %s to #eel moral tr%ths! Jes%s@s parables are pro#o%n an #%ll o# meaningb%t they 'ere never ta%ght as being literally tr%e! +n most &ases, a religion@s &osmologi&ally s%spe&t tea&hings 'ere originally p%t #orth as being literally tr%e! 8hy shoehorn meanings into religio%s tea&hings that 'ere not even intene by the original a%* thorsG There are &%lt%ral an so&ial reasons to aopt this approa&h ;i# yo% live in a so&iety ominate by a &ertain religion, yo% may have no &hoi&e b%t to remain a##iliate an try to ma$e the best o# 'hat yo% have=, b%t it is not ieal! Dven so, it is a per#e&tly respe&table 'ay to ap* proa&h religion that &an a meaning an moern relevan&e to an&ient religio%s tea&hings! This approa&h is applie by most non*believers 'ho are still a&tive in a religion! The ree&tion approa&h is to &on&l%e that i# veri#iable reli * gio%s &laims are %s%ally &ontrai&te by s&ienti#i& is&overies, then per* haps there is not m%&h reason to &ontin%e reinterpreting religio%s belie#s an tea&hings to try to retain a #aith in the gapsIi# the veri#iable &laims are %ntr%e, then the %nveri#iable religio%s &laims probably are not tr%e either! omeone applying the gaps approa&h might &on&l%e L'ell, sin&e 'e have prove that there is no heaven ire&tly above %s in the s$y, it m%st mean that heaven is some'here else,M 'hereas a ree&tionist might instea &on&l%e Li# the an&ients 'ere 'rong abo%t heaven being a lit* 5
C>?>>F eral pla&e above the s$y, then there probably is no heaven at all!M 8hile those 'ho apply the gaps approa&h ten to be theists, ree&tionists ten to be atheists! ?any intelligent atheists have aopte this approa&h, an it is an entirely e#ensible approa&h! ?y #avore approa&h is the pra&ti&al approa&h, or 'hat + term presentist e&le&ti&ism! The pra&ti&al approa&h is to ta$e the bene#i&ial parts o# religion to ma9imiBe its present pra&ti&al bene#it! Fo% o not approa&h religion trying to #in a reason to believe or isbelieve all o# the %nprovable things! Things are neither Ltr%e %ntil proven #alseM nor L#alse %ntil proven tr%e!M Fo% o not try to pigeonhole problemati& reli* gio%s tea&hings into a palatable symboli& reinterpretation! Applying the pra&ti&al approa&h, yo% still val%e religion, an in this 'ay it is similar to the gaps an symboli& approa&h, e9&ept that the pra&ti&al approa&h #o&%ses on %sing religion as a tool, rather than vie'* ing it as a set o# belie#s ;'hether symboli& or not= that yo% m%st ree&t or a&&ept! +t is &on&erne more 'ith religio%s pra&ti&e, moral r%les, an on ho' to bene#it #rom religion, rather than 'ith &osmology an the s%* pernat%ral! +t #o&%ses more on 'hat yo% o rather than on 'hat yo% be* lieve! 8ith the pra&ti&al approa&h, yo% reaily ettison the parts o# religion that are emonstrably %ntr%e! Fo% loo$ to s&ien&e an other #iels o# intelle&t%al in%iry to learn abo%t the %niverse an o%r pla&e in it, b%t yo% also o not ree&t religion! Hor the parts o# religion that have not been proven #alse, yo% sear&h religion an religio%s tea&hings #or tools to lea yo% to #eelings o# elevation, enlightenment, gratit%e, pea&e, an trans&enen&e, an to virt%o%s a&ts! Religion has, a#ter all, prove itsel# %ite e##e&tive at helping %s a&hieve these states! Fo% %se an a&&ept the religio%s tea&hings that ma$e yo% a better person an that ma$e so&iety better! Fo% &an even #in symboli& val%e in stories that are not tr%e, b%t yo% o not #eel &ompelle to shoehorn meaning into stories 'hen there is none to be #o%n, an yo% see those stories #or 'hat they are3 #i&tion! Fo% ta$e an e&le&ti& approa&h to religion! Fo% si#t o%t the val%able parts o# the 'orl@s religions an leave the rest! Hollo'ing the pra&ti&al approa&h means re&ogniBing that it &an /
T:D TR+PD PAT: be har to is&ern right a'ay 'hi&h parts o# a religion are val%able! >#* ten, traitions, r%les, pra&ti&es, an belie#s evelop an last even tho%gh no one 'o%l have &ons&io%sly &reate them be&a%se they &on#er some bene#it that is not reaily as&ertainable! +# something is not emonstra* bly %ntr%e or harm#%l, then be very slo' to is&ar it, even i# it appears to serve no p%rpose! +t may have a val%e or p%rpose that is not immei* ately is&ernible! This is an espe&ially 'ise approa&h to ta$e 'ith the pra&ti&es, rites, an r%les o# a religion, b%t less so 'ith &osmologi&al &laims! The pra&ti&al approa&h also means not 'orrying as m%&h abo%t %nans'erable metaphysi&al %estions li$e the e9isten&e o# the so%l or o%r #ate a#ter eath! +t means being less &on&erne 'ith %estions o# #%t%re eternal re'ars or p%nishments! +n ?atthe', Jes%s says Lo not 'orry abo%t tomorro', #or tomorro' 'ill bring 'orries o# its o'n! To* ay@s tro%ble is eno%gh #or toay!M11 Pra&titioners o# the pra&ti&al ap* proa&h ta$e Jes%s at his 'or! They &are abo%t the here an no', not ab* stra&t, inistin&t, an inis&ernible #%t%res! (irt%ally every religion has a &ore o# moral re%irements that it e9pe&ts o# its #ollo'ers! Religions generally g%arantee #%t%re re'ars in the a#terli#e #or #ollo'ing their &ore moral re%irements! 8hen yo% aopt a presentist approa&h to morality, yo% approa&h moral %estions by &onsiering an a&tion@s e##e&ts 'ithin o%r &%rrent sphere o# e9isten&e, rather than &on&erning yo%rsel# 'ith ho' that a&t 'ill e##e&t some #%* t%re re'ar a#ter eath! Conveniently, an approa&h to morality that is only &on&erne 'ith o%r &%rrent mortal e9isten&e res%lts in a moral &oe that &losely ap* pro9imates the &ore moral pre&epts the maor religions tea&h as being re* %ire to a&hieve a bene#i&ial o%t&ome a#ter eath! iving morally th%s 'ill ma$e yo%r li#e better no', an virt%ally every religion tea&hes that it 'ill also lea to a goo o%t&ome a#ter eath too! Con&erning yo%rsel# 'ith a religion@s &osmologi&al &laims th%s be&omes less important, sin&e yo% get the bene#its o# the moral behavior either 'ay! The tea&hings o# the great religions have great val%e in helping people trans#orm their lives #or the better! The parts o# religions that o this are those parts that are base on real %niversal moral prin&iples!
C>?>>F They are the parts that help people live more virt%o%s lives, is&ern tr%th, an a&hieve emotional states o# serenity, pea&e, trans&enen&e, ele* vation, an gratit%e! They are the parts that give %s rites to &ommemo* rate an give meaning to maor li#e events! They are the parts that help %s &reate %ni#ie &omm%nities! To erive these bene#its o# religion, ho'* ever, 'e o not nee #alse &osmologies or s%perstitions base on ina&&% * rate 'orl vie's! ome people may arg%e that the val%e #rom religion &omes #rom their &osmologies an s%perstitions! There are some interesting &o%nter*e9amples that &ontrai&t this vie'! %hism is o#ten es&ribe as an atheisti& religion be&a%se it oes not involve belie# in a &reator go 'ho &ontrols o%r estiny!12 There are h%nres o# millions o# %hists 'ho #in tremeno%s val%e in their pra&ti&e o# %hism! %hism is not a per#e&t e9ample, tho%gh, sin&e it still involves belie# in many %n* proven s%pernat%ral &on&epts ;s%&h as rein&arnation= an many #orms o# %hism involve 'orship#%l veneration o# bohisattvas an the be* lie# that these bohisattvas &an o##er some #orm o# salvation to h%man* ity ;#or e9ample, P%re an %hism=! Dven more la&$ing in meta * physi&s, tho%gh, is Con#%&ianism, 'hi&h ma$es #e', i# any, s%pernat%ral &laims an ma$es no theisti& &laims at all ;altho%gh there is still ebate abo%t 'hether it sho%l be &lassi#ie as a religion=! Con#%&ianism has been a ominant an positive #or&e in the lives o# h%nres o# millions o# people in Dast Asia #or many &ent%ries! ome people might &laim that goo behavior is not eno%gh, that yo% have to per#orm the sa&re rites o# a parti&%lar religion, or a&* &ept Jes%s into yo%r heart, #ollo' the ?osai& la' to a&hieve salvation, or ahere to some other religion@s rites an belie#s! That may be tr%e, b%t ho' &an 'e prove itG Dven i# 'e &o%l, ho' &an 'e $no' 'hi&h reli* gion@s pra&ti&es are rightG The potential salvi#i& val%e o# most religions@ pra&ti&es an sa&re rites are %s%ally tho%ght as being e9&l%siveyo% have to pra&ti&e that religion, an only that religion! +# only the rit%als o# a &ertain religion provie salvation, then 'e are #a&e 'ith the nearly impossible tas$ o# trying to sort thro%gh the tho%sans o# religions in the 'orl to #ig%re o%t 'hi&h one is right! +t is #ar more sensible to #o* &%s on moral living! %t so long as yo%r religio%s pra&ti&e oes not pre* 6
T:D TR+PD PAT: vent yo% #rom engaging in obe&tively moral behavior, it oes not h%rt to entertain Pas&al@s 8ager, &hoose a religion, an #ollo' its rites an re* %irements! %t even 'hen #ollo'ing Pas&al@s 8ager, #ollo'ing the pra&* ti&al approa&h means never a&&epting emonstrably %ntr%e religio%s &laims! Hollo'ing the pra&ti&al approa&h means a&&epting that no mat* ter 'hat religio%s traition yo% &ome #rom, it is important to %pate yo%r religio%s vie's to be #%lly &ompatible 'ith o%r moern %ner* stanings o# the 'orlIto move to'ar more reasonable religion! Rea* sonable religion integrates the 'isom o# the ages abo%t morality, spiri* t%ality, an enlightenment 'ith o%r moern s&ienti#i& %nerstaning o# the %niverse an reality! 8e sho%l never be a#rai to &hange o%r belie#s in the #a&e o# ne' evien&e! 8e sho%l never be a#rai to ree&t religio%s tea&hings that are &ontrai&te by ne' is&overies an better in#orma* tion! At the same time, even in o%r moern age, 'e nee not limit religion to being %st an empiri&ally*base, s&ienti#i& %nerta$ing! Hin* ing bea%ty an meaning in li#e, an o%r #eelings, are important too! >ne o# the main val%es o# religion is &%ltivating a sense o# 'oner an pea&e, an %nerstaning o# o%r h%man #railties an imper#e&tions, an a respe&t #or the mysteries o# the %niverse! :%man reason an rationality are responsible #or the amaBing avan&es in o%r &%lt%re, $no'lege, an stanars o# living! %t o%r brains are #inite an s%rprisingly preispos* e to irrationality! 8hat this means is that all o# %sIeven the smartest an most rational among %sIhave hien biases an preispositions that 'e &annot per&eive! This h%man trait a##e&ts the brains o# both reli* gio%s believers an non*believers ali$e! Reasonable religion means trying to &lari#y o%r thin$ing an a&t more rationally, b%t it also means having some h%mility abo%t o%r &on&l%sions an belie#s an not losing sight o# the importan&e o# #eelings an h%man relationships! Reasonable religion a&$no'leges at least the possibility o# a higher po'er an an %nseen 'orl, b%t it even more enth%siasti&ally en* &o%rages h%man$in@s attempts to #%rther %nerstan %nseen #or&es an %n$no'n omains by %sing o%r rational %nerstaning! Reasonable reli*
C>?>>F gion la%s the bene#its o# rationality, b%t a&$no'leges that 'e as h%* mans are in&apable o# per#e&t %nerstaning! >%r ability to per&eive is limite, as is o%r &apa&ity to %nerstan! Reasonable religion is not so m%&h &on&erne 'ith the %nprovable, s%&h as the e9isten&e o# o or 'ith %estions abo%t li#e a#ter eath! +nstea, it is a tool that 'e %se to ma$e things better here an no'! 8hether or not the s%pernat%ral &laims o# religions are tr%e ;an base on their tra&$ re&or o# being 'rong abo%t the things that 'e &an prove, it is not %nreasonable to treat them 'ith some healthy s$epti&ism=, religio%s tea&hings abo%t morality an spirit%al pra&ti&e &an lea %s to &on&rete bene#its apart #rom their s%pernat%ral tea&hings! Foga is a goo e9ample o# this! Foga has be&ome so pop%lar in the 7nite tates that it is &onsiere by many to be a mainstream, se&%lar a&tivity! %t yoga 'as originally a :in% religio%s pra&ti&e! ?any 'est* ern yoga pra&titioners erive signi#i&ant bene#its #rom their pra&ti&e, yet many o# them &onsier yoga to be little more than a #orm o# meitative e9er&ise! He' o# them a&&ept the s%pernat%ral tea&hings o# :in%ism they o not believe in rein&arnation or in the :in% pantheon o# eities! ?eitation is another e9ample o# a religio%s pra&ti&e that has be&ome a&&epte #or its pra&ti&al bene#its by many people 'ho ree&t the original s%pernat%ral reasons #or the pra&ti&e! ?ost s&ientists agree that o%r tenen&y #or religio%s behavior evelope early in o%r history! The ar&heologi&al evien&e ini&ates that ar&hai& h%mans may have been engaging in religio%s behavior as #ar ba&$ as 00,000 years ago 1 'ell be#ore behaviorally moern h%mans emerge 50,000 years ago! There are t'o general e9planations #or ho' religion evelope! The #irst is that religio%s behavior is a &%lt%ral arti * #a&t that is merely a bypro%&t o# other aaptive traits, s%&h as agent e* te&tion, theory o# min, an %nerstaning &a%sation, an that religion hia&$s these mental mo%les an #ools %s into believing! Religion, in this vie', is essentially a malaaptive &%lt%ral parasite that s%rvives by &orr%pting parts o# o%r brains that evelope #or other reasons! 14 The se&on e9planation is that religion serves an aaptive p%rpose that &on* #ers a sele&tive avantage an that o%r in&lination to'ar religion is a 10
T:D TR+PD PAT: #%namental part o# o%r behavior that arose thro%gh nat%ral sele&tion! 15 ase on the %bi%ity o# religion in every h%man &%lt%re, its persisten&e over time, an the many &ross*&%lt%ral similarities in religio%s belie# an pra&ti&e, the se&on e9planation is more &onvin&ing3 religion probably evolve thro%gh nat%ral sele&tion be&a%se it &on#erre sele&tive avan* tages!1/ The st%y o# the evol%tion o# religion is still a relatively ne' #iel! Religion has &hange in signi#i&ant 'ays sin&e the a'n o# h%* manity, an &an mean i##erent things to i##erent people, b%t it gener* ally in&l%es some or all o# the #ollo'ing &hara&teristi&s3 Lmyth, rit%al, taboo, symbolism, morality, altere states o# &ons&io%sness, an belie# in non&orporeal beingsME religion is La %ni#ie system o# belie#s an pra&ti&es relative to sa&re things ! ! ! that %nite in to one single moral &omm%nity ! ! ! all those 'ho ahere to them!M1 Religion may have evelope to promote gro%p sol iarity! ?oral r%les promote so&ially bene#i&ial %se o# limite reso%r&es an en* &o%rage people to behave in 'ays that are bene#i&ial #or the gro%p!16 Re* ligio%s rit%als help rea##irm a gro%p@s Lbelie#s, norms, an val%esM an th%s help maintain gro%p %nity, stability, an harmony! 1 >ne 'ay rit%* als an obligations &an en&o%rage so&ial tr%st an soliarity is by ma$* ing it har #or #reeriers to e&eive #ello' gro%p members! e&a%se reli* gio%s rit%als an obligations impose &osts ;s%&h as physi&al privation or evotion o# one@s time to rit%als or religio%s obligations=, #reeriers 'ho are not evote to the religion@s tenets are less li$ely to #ollo' them! e* &a%se o# their &ost, these rit%als or obligations ma$e it i##i&%lt to #a$e one@s &ommitment to the gro%p@s religion! Th%s, aheren&e to the rit%als or obligations en&o%rage gro%p soliarity by allo'ing gro%p members to signal their evotion to the gro%p@s moral tea&hings an th%s in&rease in* tra*gro%p tr%st an #a&ilitate &olle&tive a&tion! +nee, resear&h has sho'n that religio%s &omm%nes s%rvive longer than non*religio%s &omm%nes an that religio%s &omm%nes that impose more &ostly obligations an rit%als on aherents ;s%&h as obligations to engage in prayer several times a ay= s%rvive longer than ones that impose less &ostly &onstraints!20 The evol%tion o# religion 'as probably a #eeba&$ loop that involve the intera&tion o# &%lt%re an genes! >ne possible 'ay this may 11
C>?>>F have happene is that on&e early h%mans evelope the ability to ma$e tools an 'eapons, h%man &%lt%re 'as #or&e to be&ome m%&h more egalitarian'eapons 'ere e%aliBers that mae it more i##i&%lt #or an alpha male to impose his 'ill on others! The e%aliBing e##e&t o# 'eapons 'o%l have allo'e inivi%al members o# h%nter*gatherer bans to have more #reeom an a%tonomy! Proto*religiosity th%s may have evelope as a &%lt%ral meme #or poli&ing intra*gro%p behavior in the absen&e o# an alpha*male en#or&er! >n&e gro%ps evelope a r%i* mentary &%lt%re o# religio%s rit%als an belie#s, religio%s inivi%als 'o%l have been more s%&&ess#%l 'ithin the gro%p! They 'o%l have ha more o##spring, an th%s passe on to their o##spring genes in&lin* ing them to'ar religiosity! As their genes #or religiosity sprea, reli* gio%s behavior 'o%l have be&ome stronger an more &ommonE reli* gio%s &%lt%ral memes 'o%l have #%rther strengthene an evelopeE in response, genes in&lining inivi%als to'ar religiosity 'o%l have &on* #erre even greater sele&tive avantagesE an so on! 21 Dvol%tionary e9planations #or the origins o# religion are &om* pelling, an it is li$ely that a &ombination o# some or all o# them are right! %t 'hatever the reasons #or the evol%tion o# religion, there is a large boy o# resear&h sho'ing a strong relationship bet'een religiosity an a variety o# positive o%t&omes! Religion o##ers pra&ti&al, observable bene#its to aherents, s%&h as Limprove health, s%rvivorship, e&onomi& opport%nities, sense o# &omm%nity, psy&hologi&al 'ell*being, assistan&e %ring &rises, mating opport%nities, an #ertility!M22 People 'ho are reli* gio%s are more li$ely to be honest, la'*abiing, give money to &harity, vol%nteer their time to help others, be &ivi&ally involve, an engage in proso&ial behavior!2 They are also less materialisti&, heonisti&, an sel#* oriente!24 Religiosity has a positive relationship 'ith goo physi&al health!25 LNAOs a prei&tor o# health an longevity, religio%s involvement rivals nonsmo$ing an e9er&ise e##e&ts!M2/ Reg%lar &h%r&h attenan&e is asso&iate 'ith a t'enty*#ive per&ent e&rease in ris$ o# mortality, even a#ter a&&o%nting #or &on#o%ning variablesE religiosity an spirit%ality are also asso&iate 'ith e&rease ris$ o# &ariovas&%lar isease ;b%t reli* 12
T:D TR+PD PAT: giosity oes not appear to help 'ith &an&er or to help re&overy #rom a&%te illness=! 2 Religiosity an spirit%ality are asso&iate 'ith lo'er bloo press%re an better imm%ne #%n&tion! 26 A st%y o# elerly pa* tients #o%n a positive relationship bet'een physi&al health ;altho%gh the e##e&ts on mental health 'ere greater= an religiosity! That st%y also #o%n that non*religio%s an non*spirit%al patients ha 'orse health an higher morbiity!2 Another st%y &on&l%e that a 20 year ol 'ho #re%ently attens &h%r&h has a li#e e9pe&tan&y o# 6 years, 'hereas a 20 year ol 'ho oes not atten &h%r&h has a li#e e9pe&tan&y o# 5 years! This in&rease li#e e9pe&tan&y appears to be &a%se by se* le&tion e##e&ts ;%nhealthy people are less li$ely to atten &h%r&h=, b%t also be&a%se religiosity is asso&iate 'ith greater so&ial ties an behav* ioral #a&tors that e&rease the ris$ o# eath!0 A meta*analysis o# st%ies that e9amine the relationship bet'een religio%s involvement an mor* tality #o%n that greater religio%s involvement is asso&iate 'ith greater os o# s%rvival! 1 +n st%ies e9amining the relationship bet'een reli* gion an health, Lsal%tary e##e&ts o# religio%s involvement persist e* spite an impressive array o# statisti&al &ontrols #or so&ial ties, health be* haviors, an so&ioemographi& variables!M2 Religion also has a positive relationship 'ith mental health! LNOystemati& revie's o# the resear&h literat%re over the years have &on* sistently reporte that aspe&ts o# religio%s involvement are asso&iate 'ith esirable mental health o%t&omes!M Ch%r&h attenan&e is ire&tly relate to s%be&tive 'ell*being an is inire&tly relate to improve physi&al health thro%gh its asso&iation 'ith improve moo ;an also thro%gh its relationship 'ith e&rease s%bstan&e ab%se=! 4 :igher reli* giosity is asso&iate 'ith lo'er ris$ o# epression, espe&ially #or those %ner stress!5 :igher religiosity an spirit%ality among elerly patients is positively asso&iate 'ith #e'er epressive symptoms an better &og* nitive #%n&tion!/ Among stro$e vi&tims, spirit%al belie# 'as positively &orrelate 'ith better mental health ;b%t not 'ith better physi&al health=! 8hen people 'ere as$e 'hat they 'ere striving #or in their lives, people 'ith a larger n%mber o# spirit%al goals ha greater p%rpose in li#e, li#e satis#a&tion, an levels o# 'ell*being!6 People 'ith a more in* trinsi& religio%s orientation have better mental health, sel#*esteem, mean* 1
C>?>>F ing in li#e, #amily relationships, an a #eeling o# 'ell*beingE they have lo'er levels o# al&ohol ab%se, r%g ab%se, an se9%al promis&%ity! 8ee$ly &h%r&h attenan&e has abo%t the same signi#i&ant positive e##e&t on happiness as being marrie!40 ?ost o# the above st%ies 'ere &on%&te in the 7nite tates! Criti&s might point o%t that Ameri&an &%lt%re is more religio%s than other evelope nations an that the negative &omparative e##e&ts o# irreligion may &ome #rom the stress o# being part o# a minority gro%p! t%ies involving international samples, ho'ever, &ontrai&t this ass%mption! .ata #rom seventy &o%ntries sho'e that a person@s sel#* e#inition o# being La religio%s personM ;vers%s being not religio%s or atheist= 'as positively asso&iate 'ith s%be&tive personal li#e satis#a&* tion! ?embership in a &o%ntry@s ominant religion ha no e##e&t on the relationship 'ith li#e satis#a&tion, nor i a person@s membership in a minority religion! +n other 'ors, the relationship i not seem to e* pen on 'hether a person 'as a member o# the maority or minority re* ligion, b%t on 'hether a person 'as religio%s! 41 This relationship has ap* parently hel a&ross &o%ntries #or several e&aesa 10 st%y o# si9* teen &o%ntries #o%n that the relationship bet'een &h%r&h attenan&e an a person@s happiness an li#e satis#a&tion Lis not a %ni%ely Ameri* &an #ining, b%t a general pattern that hols tr%eM a&ross the in%strial* iBe 'orl, in&l%ing in D%rope, Canaa, an Japan! +n the si9teen &o%ntries, the people 'ho attene &h%r&h on&e a 'ee$ 'ere satis#ie 'ith their lives at a rate eight per&entage points higher than those 'ho i not atten, an they 'ere happy at a rate nine per&entage points higher than those 'ho i not atten! 42 >ne st%y #o%n that religiosity in the 7nite tates, .enmar$, an "etherlans 'ere all 'ea$ly asso&i* ate 'ith happiness ;altho%gh the &orrelations in D%rope 'ere not sta* tisti&ally signi#i&ant=! 4 A st%y o# a representative sample o# elerly a%lts in the "etherlans sho'e that even a#ter a%sting #or physi&al health, so&ial s%pport, al&ohol %se, an emographi& variables, there 'as a &onsistent relationship bet'een lo'er epression an reg%lar &h%r&h attenan&e!44 A st%y o# persons in thirty*#ive D%ropean &o%ntries #o%n that both traitional religio%s belie#s an ne' age religio%s belie#s 'ere asso&iate 'ith higher levels o# s%be&tive 'ell*being, an that 14
T:D TR+PD PAT: atheists ha the lo'est rates o# s%be&tive 'ell*being! 45 A st%y o# 455,104 people #rom 154 &o%ntries #o%n a small positive relationship bet'een religiosity an s%be&tive 'ell*being, a#ter &ontrolling #or per* sonal &ir&%mstan&es ;b%t that the relationship atten%ate in better*o## so&ieties=!4/ A longit%inal st%y o# 1,500 ermans sho'e that Lini* vi%als 'ho be&ome more religio%s over time re&or long term gains in li#e satis#a&tion, 'hile those 'ho be&ome less religio%s re&or long term losses!M4 i$e all so&ial s&ien&e resear&h, this resear&h on the e##e&ts o# religiosity 'ill never be as &on&l%sive as resear&h in har s&ien&es s%&h as physi&s an &hemistry! :%man beings are &ompli&ate, an it &an be i##i&%lt to o the statisti&s right an &reate an ae%ate moel to ta$e into a&&o%nt all o# the relevant variables! ?oreover, in st%ies 'here 'e loo$ at pop%lation*level ata, it &an be har to in#er &a%sality! +t is i##i* &%lt, an o#ten impossible, to set %p o%ble*blin st%ies, or even st%* ies 'ith &ontrol pop%lations, to let %s analyBe the e##e&ts o# the ine* penent variable 'e 'o%l li$e to st%y! The above longit%inal st%y o# ermans ini&ates there may be a &a%sal &onne&tion bet'een in* &rease religiosity an in&rease happiness be&a%se &hanges in religiosity over time le to &hanges in happiness levels! 46 >ne &lever st%y %se a nat%ral e9periment mae possible 'hen &hanges in state la's in the 7nite tates in the 1/0s an 10s le to e&rease &h%r&h attenan&e! ?any 7!! states %se to have Lbl%e la'sM that prohibite &ommer&ial a&tivity, s%&h as retail, entertainment, an sports a&tivities on %nay! l%e la's 'ere repeale thro%gho%t the 1/0s an 10s, o#ten in response to &o%rt &hallenges ;an th%s not, apparently, be&a%se o# e&lining religiosity among the pop%lation=! These &onitions allo'e #or a nat%ral e9periment to e9amine the &h%r&hgoing behavior an happiness o# people be#ore an a#ter the re* peal o# s%&h bl%e la's! The repeal o# state bl%e la's le to a e&rease in &h%r&h attenan&e among 'hite 'omen ;b%t not men=! This e&rease in &h%r&h attenan&e 'as asso&iate 'ith a very signi#i&ant an s%bstantial negative e##e&t on happiness in 'hite 'omen ;b%t not men=! 8omen@s e&rease &h%r&h attenan&e e9plains m%&h o# the e&rease in happiness that they have e9perien&e, relative to men, sin&e 1! 4 This resear&h 15
C>?>>F provies a strong ini&ation that religiosity &a%ses happiness, an not that happy people merely also ten to be religio%s! 8hat is responsible #or the relationship bet'een religion an 'ell*beingG Religion oes not appear to have m%&h o# an e##e&t on the Lig HiveM maor personality traits that psy&hologists %se to es&ribe h%* man personalities ;the ig Hive traits are agreeableness, &ons&ientio%s* ness, e9troversion, ne%roti&ism, an openness=! Religion oes , ho'ever, seem to have Lrather pro#o%n e##e&ts on mi*level personality #%n&* tions s%&h as val%es, goals, attit%es, an behaviors, as 'ell as on the more sel#*e#ining personality #%n&tions o# li#e meaning an personal ientity!M50 Religion provies hope an optimism, as 'ell as li#e meaning an p%rpose, all o# 'hi&h in t%rn in&rease a person@s 'ell*being! 51 8e in* vest more &are an attention into parts o# o%r lives that 'e vie' as sa* &re, an those sa&re aspe&ts o# o%r lives give greater li#e satis#a&tion an meaning! Religion serves as an orienting, motivating #or&e that pro* vies &oping me&hanisms ;s%&h as prayer, meitation, an religio%s rit%* als= to aherents!52 ?any o# religion@s bene#its may &ome be&a%se it helps Lsolve signi#i&ant &omm%ni&ation problems inherent in h%man li#e!M5 Religions provie so&ial s%pport, &ompanionship, an a sense o# &omm%nity!54 +n* ee, the so&ial aspe&ts o# religion have the greatest relationship 'ith in&rease happiness ;both in se&%lar D%rope an the more religio%s 7nite tates=! 55 o&ial s%pport #rom religion o#ten leas to greater sel#*esteem an a sense o# intrinsi& sel#*'orth among aherents an to a &ontin%o%s s%pport net'or$ in all phases o# li#e!5/ Religio%s s%pport, ho'ever, seems to o##er something greater than m%nane so&ial s%pport religio%s s%pport still has a strong relationship 'ith psy&hologi&al a* %stment even a#ter &ontrolling #or general so&ial s%pport!5 +t is also li$ely that part o# the health bene#its asso&iate 'ith religion &ome #rom religion@s en&o%ragement o# healthy behaviorsIpeo* ple 'ho atten &h%r&h more o#ten also ten to have other &hara&teristi&s that are asso&iate 'ith lo'er ris$ o# ying, s%&h as more physi&al a&tiv* ity, more so&ial intera&tions, an being marrie! 56 These aitional healthy behaviors o not e9plain all o# the bene#it, ho'ever, be&a%se a t'enty*#ive per&ent re%&tion in ris$ o# eath still remains among 1/
T:D TR+PD PAT: &h%r&hgoers even a#ter a&&o%nting #or these other behaviors that are re* late to health!5 >ther st%ies have #o%n that even a#ter &ontrolling #or %nhealthy behaviors, seventy*#ive per&ent o# the i##eren&e in longevity bet'een the religio%s an non*religio%s remains! /0 This ae e##e&t o# religion has been #o%n o%tsie the 7nite tates as 'ell3 in* &rease &h%r&h attenan&e 'as #o%n to be asso&iate 'ith lo'er epres* sion amongst the elerly in the "etherlans even a#ter a&&o%nting #or other e9planatory variables!/1 ># &o%rse, anything as po'er#%l as religion has the potential to impa&t #or the better or the 'orseto help or to harm! Hor e9ample, a tight*$nit &omm%nity &an $eep a person sa#e, stable, an &are #or, b%t it also &an h%rt an alienate a member 'ho no longer #its inE even 'orse, a mali&io%s or preatory &omm%nity &an ab%se the intima&y an togeth* erness inherent in a religio%s &omm%nity to e9ploit &%rrent members an %n'ary ne'&omers! As h%mans, 'e are nat%rally more tr%sting o# o%r o'n &omm%nities an in*gro%ps! +t &an be i##i&%lt to ta$e a har, &riti&al loo$ #rom the insie at the gro%ps o# 'hi&h 'e are a part! +t is th%s easy to intelle&t%ally pla&e o%r o'n religion above reproa&h an re#%se to see its potential angers an #la's! o oing, it be&omes i##i* &%lt or impossible to ever ma$e o%r religion better! Religion &an be a so%r&e o# %nhealthy &on#li&t an str%ggle! +t &an be har to eal 'ith a shattere 'orlvie' i# yo% is&over the reli* gion yo% 'ere raise in is not everything yo% on&e believe it to be! +t is i##i&%lt to hanle o%bts abo%t o@s e9isten&e a#ter a tragey or a#ter is&overing the logi&al #alla&ies an in&onsisten&ies o# the 'orl@s reli* gions! Personal &on#li&t 'ith other members o# yo%r religio%s &omm%* nity &an lea to so&ial isolation, an9iety, epression, an loneliness! %&h religio%s str%ggles'hether they be internal str%ggles abo%t yo%r val* %es, behaviors, an #eelingsE str%ggles 'ith o an his e9isten&eE or even interpersonal str%ggles in a religio%s &onte9trepresent La &r%&ial #or$ in the roa #or many people, one that &an lea in the ire&tion o# gro'th or to signi#i&ant health problems!M/2 ometimes it leas to gro'th an problems at the same time! Religio%s an spirit%al str%ggles are asso&iate 'ith negative 1
C>?>>F physi&al an psy&hologi&al health, s%&h as Lan9iety, epression, negative moo, poorer %ality o# li#e, pani& isorer, ! ! ! s%i&iality! ! ! ! e&lines in physi&al re&overy in mei&al rehabilitation patients, longer hospital stays, an greater ris$ o# mortality #ollo'ing a mei&al illness!M/ >ne o# the harest parts o# going thro%gh a #aith transition is ho' it a##e&ts the per&eptions o# #riens an #amily an yo%r relation* ships 'ith them! Parents raise their &hilren 'ith e9pe&tations that their &hilren@s religio%s belie#s an a##iliations 'ill mirror their o'n! 8hen &hilren go thro%gh a religio%s str%ggle, an &ome o%t o# it believing i##erently #rom their parents, it &an be heartbrea$ing! 8hen #riens 'ho previo%sly share similar religio%s ieas an 'orlvie's ;an 'hose #rienship originate in those share belie#s= s%enly #in those initial &ommonalities gone, they &an #eel threatene by the ne' i##ering be* lie#s an alienate by the la&$ o# those initial &ommonalities! :arest o# all, 'hen t'o people o# the same religion get mar* rie, they o so 'ith e9pe&tations that they 'ill share in a &ommon #aith li#e, an raise their &hilren a&&oringly! 8hen one spo%se goes thro%gh a #aith transition, it %psets the other spo%se@s e9pe&tations abo%t the im* pli&it bargain that 'as mae at marriage abo%t #aith iss%es! +nee, even 'hen &o%ples go into a marriage alreay 'ith i##erent belie#s, their marriage is more li$ely to en in ivor&e be&a%se o# the strains o# hav* ing &on#li&ting belie#s an pra&ti&es ;an the more yo%r religion is also asso&iate 'ith a separate ethni& or gro%p ientity, s%&h as in J%aism or ?ormonism, the higher the li$elihoo o# ivor&e #or marrying o%tsie yo%r religion=! /4 8hen a spo%se &hanges belie#s a#ter getting marrie, the problems &reate by these &on#li&ts &an be even 'orse, as the nat%ral problems inherent in a mi9e*#aith marriage are #%rther magni#ie by the believing spo%se@s #eelings o# betrayal! +t is nat%ral #or those 'hose religio%s belie#s have not &hange to #eel heartbro$en, threatene, an betraye by the ne' religio%s belie#s o# a #amily member, #rien, or spo%se! They #eel heartbro$en that a love one is embar$ing on a ne' path that they per&eive as leaing a'ay #rom salvation or spirit%al enlightenment! +t &an also be threatening to see a love one embra&e ne' ieas that &ontrai&t li#elong belie#s that #eel nat%ral an &om#ortable to yo%! An it is nat%ral to #eel betraye 16
T:D TR+PD PAT: 'hen a love one leaves the #aith in*gro%p yo% both %se to share, an then starts on a ne' o%rney o%tsie the gro%p! >#ten the greater problem, tho%gh, is that love ones 'ho #eel heartbro$en, threatene, an betraye o not $no' ho' to e##e&tively hanle these #eelings, an o not $no' ho' to a&t on them in a positive, healthy 'ay! +nstea, they en %p oing things that are e9tremely h%rt#%l to the person going thro%gh a #aith transition, s%&h as istan&ing them* selves emotionally #rom the love one, e9&l%ing them #rom previo%sly share a&tivities, or even o%tright sh%nning them! "ot only is it h%rt#%l to treat the person going thro%gh a str%ggle in this 'ay, it is %ltimately %npro%&tivethis sort o# treatment is highly %nli$ely to &hange that person@s min an &an permanently amage relationships that &o%l other'ise have still been #%l#illing an oy#%l! People on both sies o# a #aith str%ggle sho%l iligently see$ #or m%t%al %nerstaning an &ommon gro%n! To the love ones o# a person 'ho has gone thro%gh a #aith &risis, yo% sho%l strive #or empa* thy an see$ to %nerstan ho' i##i&%lt the str%ggle has been! oing thro%gh a #aith &risis is %s%ally not a &ons&io%s &hoi&e! +t rarely &omes o%t o# a isli$e #or one@s religion or o%t o# a esire to leave it behin! +t most o#ten &omes to those 'ho love their religion so m%&h that they st%y it intensively! ?ost people #eel li$e they have been #or&e into their #aith str%ggle a#ter etaile st%y has a&%ainte them 'ith the histori&al problems 'ith their #aith an its o&trinal in&onsisten&ies they #eel isill%sione an e&eive, li$e their #aith 'as rippe a'ay #rom them! There 'ill almost al'ays still be #ar more yo% share in &ommon 'ith yo%r love one than not, even a#ter a #aith transition! +t is impor* tant to re&ogniBe that yo%r love one@s openly going thro%gh s%&h a #aith str%ggle ta$es tremeno%s &o%rage to remain tr%e to one@s integrity an to onesel#! Fo% sho%l also try to %nerstan 'hy the person has gone thro%gh that str%ggle! Pres%mably, yo%r relationship 'ith that person 'as previo%sly base on the val%e yo% sa' in that person@s personality an ieas! +t 'as that person@s personality an ieas that also le them to their str%ggle! +t oes not ma$e sense to start loo$ing o'n on 'hat yo% %se to val%e so m%&h, espe&ially 'itho%t %nerstaning 'here yo%r 1
C>?>>F love one is &oming #rom! +# yo% loo$ &losely at yo%r love one@s reasons #or transition, even i# yo% never en %p agreeing, yo% 'ill probably is* &over that yo%r love one@s str%ggles an &on&erns have some valiity, or at least &reibility! This 'ill &reate m%t%al %nerstaning that &an save yo%r relationship! Respe&t, love, an valiation o not re%ire agree* ing on religion! To those going thro%gh a #aith &risis, yo% sho%l be sensitive to the #eelings o# betrayal, threat, an heartbrea$ o# yo%r love ones! e &are#%l ho' yo% approa&h i##i&%lt #aith topi&s! Thin$ ba&$ on ho' yo% #elt abo%t yo%r #aith be#ore yo%r str%ggles, an ho' yo% 'o%l have re* a&te to someone saying or believing 'hat yo% no' say an believe! Then, spea$ 'ith yo%r love ones 'ith the ta&t an sensitivity that this %nerstaning sho%l bring! J%st as yo% may have 'ithra'n an e9peri* en&e an9iety %ring yo%r #aith &risis, yo%r love ones may rea&t the same as they are pro&essing the &hanges! Fo%r love ones nee an e* serve the same respe&t an spa&e #or their religio%s vie's that yo% 'ant in yo%r path! ometimes the person 'ho has e9perien&e the #aith tran* sition 'ill spea$ as i# they have evolve #arther or as i# they are more avan&e than their love ones an this is not #air or pro%&tive! Haith transitions are o#ten a pro%&t o# i##erent li#e e9perien&es, personali* ties, an mental 'iring an it is not respe&t#%l to a&t as i# yo% are more evolve or more intelligent be&a%se yo%r belie#s have &hange an those o# yo%r love ones have not! Haith transitions 'ithin a marriage 'here one spo%se goes thro%gh a #aith str%ggle &an be the most i##i&%lt to navigate! ometimes one spo%se &omes o%t 'ith s%&h a i##erent 'orlvie', an s%&h i##er* ent goals an priorities that it &an be har to $eep &ohesion in the mar* riage! +n some 'ays the person going thro%gh a transition &omes o%t e9* a&tly the same, b%t in other 'ays very i##erent! Compromise, h%mility, 'or$, &ommitment, an empathy on both sies are ne&essary to $eep the marriage healthy! +n spite o# these problems, religio%s an spirit%al str%ggles are also asso&iate 'ith Lpositive o%t&omes, s%&h as stress*relate gro'th, spirit%al gro'th, open*mineness, sel#*a&t%aliBation, an lo'er levels o# pre%i&e! ! ! ! :o' 'ell the inivi%al is able to resolve these str%g* 20
T:D TR+PD PAT: gles may hol the $ey to 'hi&h roa is ta$en!M /5 Reasonable religion means aopting a more mat%re, intelligent approa&h to religion to mini* miBe the li$elihoo o# having religio%s str%ggles an to evelop the in* telle&t%al an emotional tools to 'or$ thro%gh the str%ggles that o &ome! A#ter all, in spite o# the potential pit#alls, religion in general is a very bene#i&ial #or&e in most people@s lives! oo$ing at the evol%tionary theories #or the origins o# religion an also the pra&ti&al ay*to*ay bene#its that 'e erive #rom religion, 'e &an ivie the #%n&tions that religion serves into three important pra&ti&al p%rposes3 1! erenity3 to ai o%r inivi%al personal evelopment by helping %s #eel &onne&te to something bigger than o%rselvesE to help %s #eel positive emotions an attain enlightenment by a&hieving s%staine perios o# emotional states o# serenity, pea&e, trans&enen&e, elevation, a'e, an gratit%eE 2! ?orality3 to provie a moral &oe an #rame'or$ #or o%r intera&tions 'ith ea&h other an the 'orl an to provie o%tlets #or e9* er&ising moral gooness to'ars others, an th%s to en&o%rage stable, thriving &omm%nities an pea&e#%l relationships bet'een i##erent gro%psE ! o&iality3 to en&o%rage gro%p &ohesiveness an provie a so&ial o%tlet #or people to intera&t, be&ome a&%ainte, learn #rom ea&h other, an s%pport one another in their lives an belie#s! Almost every aaptive h%man trait#rom altr%ism to anger &an be&ome %nbalan&e, t%rn malaaptive, an lea to negative o%t* &omes! Religion is no i##erent! An %st li$e most h%man traits, ea&h person@s nat%ral religio%s tenen&ies probably vary along a bell &%rve! ome people are more nat%rally angry or happy than others! ome peo* ple are nat%rally more religio%s, an some are nat%rally more areligio%s! People &laiming no religio%s a##iliation are abo%t #i#teen per&ent o# the Ameri&an pop%lation, // b%t + s%spe&t that many o# these areligio%s Ameri&ans, an also se&%larists in D%rope, la&$ religion be&a%se o# &%l* t%ral trens, rather than be&a%se o# an innate la&$ o# a religio%s nat%re! e&a%se religion is an evolve part o# h%man nat%re, it is nearly impossi* 21
C>?>>F ble #or most o# %s to &ompletely remove o%r nat%ral religio%s in&lina* tions! +t is easy to see innate h%man h% man religio%s tenen&ies eve evenn among the ostensibly non*religio%s! +n o%r moern 8estern so&ieties, many se&%lar people 'ho have have es&he'e es&he'e religion religion %n$no'ingl %n$no'inglyy aopt %asi*religio%s %asi*religio%s attit%es abo%t the norms an belie#s o# their peers an s%rro%ning so&ial gro%ps! Dven tho%gh they are not a member o# a &h%r&h, they still have their o'n o'n orthoo9ies, orthoo9ies, taboos, an &ostly %asi*religio%s %asi*religio%s obligations! obligations! Three obvio%s e9amples are 1= the strient sel#*righteo%s piety o# the "e' AtheistsE 2= the &on&ern #or rit%al p%rity o# environmentalists an Lnat%ral #oosM avo&ates /E an = strong strong taboos on the politi&al le#t an right ;b%t #or i##erent reasons= against a&$no'leging innate, nat%* ral, biologi&al h%man i##eren&e i##eren&es! s!/6 + say this not to atta&$ atheism, atheism, envi* ronmentalism, or the politi&al le#t or rightE these movements movements have strong arg%ments arg%ments to s%pport their positions ;+ mysel# agree 'ith some o# them= an many people 'ho espo%se these belie#s are intelligent an tho%ght#%l! +nee, there is a positive positive relationship bet'een intelligen&e an isbelie# in o!/ The point is that #or psy&hologi&ally healthy an normal h%man beings, it is i##i&%lt #or %s to es&ape religion, no matter 'hat &h%r&h 'e o or o not go to! 8henever 8henever a so&ial gro%p &oales&es aro%n strongly hel belie#s or ieas, their religio%s nat%res %s%ally emerge, 'hether it be aro%n Christianity, atheism, environmentalism, or politi&s! Reasonable Reasonable religion re&ogniBes o%r innate religio%s nat%re an see$s to %se it to o%r bene#it! bene#it! The The three p%rposes o# religion &an be #%l* #ille by ta$ing the %se#%l an reasonable parts o# religion an ettison* ing the %nreasonable an &osmologi&ally s%spe&t parts! Dveryone oes this, even religio%s #%namentalists! +t is impossible to believe in most maor religions 'itho%t pi&$ing an &hoosing 'hi&h parts to believe b elieve an pra&ti&e ;inee, sa&re 'or$s li$e the ible are #ille 'ith &ontrai&* tions0 'hi&h ma$e it impossible to literally believe everything they &on* tain or pra&ti&e everything they &omman=! Rarely, tho%gh, o 'e o this &ons&io%sly an systemati&ally! systemati&ally! .etermining o%r religio%s belie#s in a &as%al an a ho& #ash* ion #re%ently leas to s%boptimal res%lts! 8it 8itho%t ho%t thin$ing eeply e eply an 22
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&are#%lly, too o#ten 'e en %p $eeping the ba parts an ettisoning the goo ones! 8e en %p 'ith s%boptimal an in&onsistent belie# systems that o not ma9imiBe the potential bene#its o%r religion &an bring to o%rselves an others! 8e sho%l ea&h &onsier all #a&ets o# o%r religion ;'hether it is an e9pli&it enomination or merely the &ore pra&ti&es an ieals 'e have aopte #rom o%r peers an so&ial gro%ps= an ettison the ba parts, $eep the goo parts, an st%y the religions religions o# others so that 'e &an ta$e their %se#%l #eat%res #eat%res an integrate integ rate them into o%r o %r 'orl 'orl * vie' an pra&ti&e! This sho%l be an ongoing pro&essIit is easy to #all into a r%t, evelop ba habits, an rely on o%r past &on&l%sionsE reason* able religion is a li#elong approa&h o# &ontin%al reeval%ation, a never* ening a&&retion o# positive religio%s pra&ti&es an o%tloo$s! Religion evolve be&a%se it &on#erre real bene#its! Reasonable religion means thin$ing &are#%lly an a&ting 'isely to ma9imiBe those bene#its! 8hat is the best 'ay to pra&ti&e reasonable religionG t%y the 'isom o# the agesE &ompare, thin$, an e9ploreE integrate 'hat yo% #in 'ith moern s&ienti#i& $no'lege! ?a$e the e##ort to is&over an synthesiBe synthesiBe tr%th! ome o# the most important bene#its bene#its o# religion religion are the so&ial bene#its bene#its that &ome #rom #rom being a part o# a religio%s religio%s &omm%* &omm% * nity or so&ial gro%p! Part o# reasonable religion is th%s #ining a reli* gio%s gro%p that is a goo #it 'ith yo%r &on&l%sions abo%t reasonable religion! "o matter 'hat gro%p yo% are a part o#, i##erent, val%able ap* proa&hes an perspe&tives o#ten evelop o%tsie o# yo%r Lgro%p!M These alternate approa&hes o#ten en %p being better than 'hat yo% #in 'ithin yo%r yo%r normal range o# e9perien&e! e9perien&e! +# yo% only only ever loo$ 'ithin 'ithin yo%r o'n traition an so&ial gro%ps, ins%larity an gro%pthin$ 'ill o#* ten lea yo% astray into #alse belie#s an &on&l%sions! The se&on part o# this boo$ &ontains 'hat + have have &ome %p 'ith so #ar, as + have trie trie to loo$ broaly at 'ritings an tea&hings #rom aro%n the 'orl 'orl #or things o# val%e! .o not get st%&$ in an e&ho &hamber3 rea an e9perien&e tea&hings an traitions o%tsie yo%r o&&%pation, yo%r #iel o# st%y, an yo%r religio%s traitionIthere traition Ithere are many insights an $no'lege yo% yo% &an only #in by vent%ring o%tsie! Keep the goo yo% alreay have, an loo$ #or more 'herever yo% &an get it! The traitions, pra&ti&es, an 2
C>?>>F tea&hings o# the great religions evelope evelope over over many years an o#ten en* %re be&a%se they provie val%e an meaning an help %s ma$e goo &hoi&es! 8e are long*live an &ompli&ate &ompli&a te beings, 'ith ' ith &omple9 so&ial lives an intera&tions! To s%rvive an thrive, 'e m%st #re%ently stri$e the right balan&e bet'een &ompeting an o#ten &on#li&ting emans, na* na * t%ral instin&ts, an physi&al esires! +t &an be i##i&%lt or impossible to see all the impli&ations an &onse%en&es o# i##erent &hoi&es 'e may have to ma$e over a long li#e an thro%gh a large 'eb o# so&ial intera&* tions! ?any times, traitions an traitional morals have evelope an s%rvive as long as they have be&a%se they s%&&ess#%lly help %s stri$e the right balan&e bet'een all these &ompeting emans! oo &an get mi9e in 'ith the ba, tho%gh! Pra&ti&es, trai* tions, an tea&hings sometimes en%re in a religion or a &%lt%re not be* &a%se o# any intrinsi& intrinsi& merit b%t be&a%se o# histori&al histori&al &ontingen&ies &ontingen&ies an path epenen&e, or be&a%se positive, %se#%l aspe&ts have been mi9e in 'ith negative ones as part o# a &omplete Lreligio%s pa&$ageM that aher* ents %n&riti&ally a&&ept 'itho%t isaggregating! The help#%l an %se#%l parts o# a religion 'ill %s%ally be %niversally bene#i&ial, an 'e 'o%l th%s e9pe&t them to &ome %p #re%ently a&ross religions, &%lt%res, an time perios! e&a%se the harm#%l an negative aspe&ts 'o%l 'o%l be passive &ompanions that are part o# the religion merely be&a%se be&a%se they got tangle %p into it, 'e 'o%l e9pe&t the negative negative aspe&ts o# any religion to be the ones that are less %niversal %niversal an are instea %ni%e to that religion or &%l * t%re! +# i##erent, %nrelate religions have inepenently arrive at similar tea&hings or pra&ti&es ;or i# those tea&hings an pra&ti&es have sho'n s%##i&ient val%e to have s%&&ess#%lly trans#erre a&ross very i##er* ent religions an &%lt%res=, this is a strong signal that these &ommonali* ties have intrinsi& merit! Th%s, to #in the val%able parts o# religion, loo$ #or &ommonalities a&ross religions, &%lt%res, an time to #ig%re o%t 'hi&h traitions, pra&ti&es, an tea&hings tea&hings are most*roote in real bene* bene * #its an sho%l be #ollo'e! #ollo'e! 8hen 8hen i##erent, %nrelate religions have ar* rive rive at similar pra&ti&es or tea&hings, an i# there is no goo reason reason not to aopt them ;in other 'ors, 'ors, i# they are not obvio%sly obvio%sly harm#%l an 24
AT: T:D TR+PD PAT:
are not &ontrai&te by moern s&ien&e=, then yo% sho%l aopt those pra&ti&es or tea&hings! Reasonable religion is not an invitation to moral relativism! +t oes not mean pi&$ing only only the LeasyM L easyM bits o# religion so that yo% yo% &an avoi str%ggling 'ith things that are i##i&%lt! +t is not an e9&%se to %st &oast along, sele&ting only religio%s aspe&ts that ma$e yo% #eel ni&e! >ne o# the goo things abo%t religion religion is 'hen it #or&es %s to stret&h stret&h to be better an to gro'! gro'! As 'e 'ill is&%ss is&%ss in Chapter i9, there are %niversal %niversal moral r%les that sho%l apply to everyone! Reasonable Reasonable religion is not a %sti#i&ation %sti#i&ation #or ignoring yo%r moral obligations! obligations! Pra&ti&ing reasonable religion means 'or$ing har! +t means being iligent an vigilant, al'ays loo$ing #or 'ays to improve, str%ggling to pra&ti&e the best that yo% have #o%n, an al'ays loo$ing #or 'ays to ma$e it better! 8hat oes it loo$ li$e in pra&ti&e to apply reasonable religionG et@s apply a reasonable approa&h to t'o very &ommon religio%s behav* iors3 iors3 praye prayerr an meita meitatio tion! n! 8hen eval% eval%ati ating ng relig religio% io%ss pra&ti pra&ti&es &es or tea&hings, a goo goo #irst step, i# possible, is to loo$ at the evien&e #or the e##i&a&y or vera&ity o# 'hat yo% are e9amining! The s&ienti#i& resear&h sho's that prayer has a bene#i&ial e##e&t on the person 'ho prays3 it in* &reases gratit%e1 an has a strong relationship 'ith hope an a%lt at* ta&hment! 2 Praying #or one@s partner also e&reases in#ielity in the per* son 'ho prays ;both %n#aith#%l a&ts an tho%ghts= by in&reasing the per&eption that the relationship is sa&re! Praying 'ith an #or one@s partner or #or a #rien in&reases tr%st an %nity 'ith that person! 4 +n one st%y, the parti&ipants 'ere instr%&te to pray together, 'hile &on* trol gro%ps 'ere tol to engage in aily positive tho%ghts abo%t their partner, or to engage in a ne%tral a&tivity! Those in the prayer gro%p 'ere 'ere given given a sample non*enominational non*enominational prayer as a starting point in 'hi&h the person praying aresse o an petitione #or help #or the #rien! %bse%ent sel#*reporte meas%res an observations by obe&tive observers ini&ate that the &o%ples in the prayer gro%ps ha stronger relationships!5 t%ies on inter&essory prayers ;prayers sai 'ith the intent to bene#it someone else= ini&ate that s%&h prayers have no e##e&t, or per* 25
C>?>>F haps only a very small e##e&t on the other person! / +nter&essory prayers are Lneither signi#i&antly bene#i&ial nor harm#%l #or those 'ho are si&$!M Praying #or another person seems to provie little or no bene#it #or that personthe &olle&tive evien&e seems to sho' that the bene#its o# prayer &ome primarily to to the person or persons oing the praying! + 'o%l li$e to see ranomiBe &ontrolle, st%ies that more pre&isely &ontrol the &onitions #or praying praying an the type o# prayer being sai so that 'e &an better %nerstan the e##e&t o# i##erent types o# prayers an better %nerstan 'hy there is an e##e&t! %t #or no', no', the resear&h oes ini&ate that there is some $in $in o# e##e&t that brings personal ben* e#it to the person praying! ?eitation is a prime e9ample ;at least to those o# %s #rom a 'estern religio%s traition= o# the goo 'e &an #in in other religio%s traitions! ?eitation &an mean a lot o# i##erent things, #rom #ollo'* ing rigi te&hni%es an re&iting spe&i#i& mantras all the 'ay to %ietly thin$ing! ?y is&%ssion o# meitation is #o&%se on the #orm 'ith 'hi&h + am most #amiliar3 stilling one@s tho%ghts an emptying one@s min! The "ational +nstit%tes o# :ealth provies an e9&ellent es&rip* tion o# 'hat + am tal$ing tal$ing abo%t3 ?eitation re#ers to a gro%p o# te&hni%es, most o# 'hi&h starte in Dastern religio%s or spirit%al traitions! +n meita* tion, a person learns to #o&%s his attention an s%spen the stream o# tho%ghts that normally o&&%py the the min! This This pra&* pra& * ti&e is believe to res%lt in a state o# greater physi&al physi&al rela9ation, mental &almness, an psy&hologi&al balan&e! Pra&ti&ing meita* tion &an &hange ho' a person relates to the #lo' o# emotions an tho%ghts in the min! 6 This type o# LstillnessM meitation &an have tremeno%s bene* #its! RanomiBe &ontrolle trials into meitation te&hni%es that #o&%s on stilling one@s tho%ghts an a&hieving mental silen&e sho' signi#i&ant e##e&ts ;greater than other &ommon stress management te&hni%es= on 'or$*relate stress an epressive #eelings! eyon e##e&ts on stress an mental health, meitation a&t%ally &a%ses physiologi&al &hanges in pra&titioners@ brains brains an boies!60 ?eitation improves physi&al an mental 'ell*being 'ell*being #or people s%##ering #rom a variety variety o# physi&al physi&al an 2/
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mental ailments, leaing to improvements in meas%res o# not %st men* tal health, b%t also physi&al 'ell*being!61 ?eitation is asso&iate 'ith lo'er bloo press%re, lo'er &holesterol, lo'er stress hormone levels, an better health o%t&omes! 62 >ther relate pra&ti&es are also bene#i&ial3 praying the rosary an saying mantras both have a positive e##e&t on &ar* iovas&%lar health,6 an trans&enental meitation ;'hi&h also involves saying mantras= moestly re%&es bloo press%re!64 Dven %st &%ltivating &%ltivating sa&re moments has positive positive e##e&ts on s%be&tive s%be&tive 'ell*being, psy&holog* i&al 'ell*being, an on stress re%&tion!65 The resear&h seems to ini&ate that prayer an meitation have real bene#i&ial e##e&ts on mental, physi&al, an relationship health! 8hyG 8hyG :o'G 8e o not $no' e9a&tly! The small sm all or o r none9istent none9isten t e##e&t e##e& t o# prayer on thir parties seems to is&o%nt ;b%t not entirely #ore&lose= a li$ely s%pernat%ral e9planation! +t is very possible that given given eno%gh time, 'e 'ill be able to #in entirely materialisti&, physi&al e9planations #or ho' these behaviors behaviors &a%se the meas%re bene#i b ene#its ts ;an on&e 'e %nerstan the &a%sal me&hanism, hope#%lly 'e &an learn ho' to improve o%r prayer an meitation te&hni%es te&hni%es to ma9imiBe their bene#it=! bene#it=! + s%spe&t it has something to o 'ith stress re%&tion an &hanging o%r tho%ght pro* &esses! %t regarless o# the e9a&t me&hanism o# a&tion #or prayer an meitation, an regarless o# 'hether the me&hanism o# a&tion is nat%* ral or s%pernat%ral, the #a&t is that the resear&h sho's they 'or$ ! iven ho' easy an simple it is to pra&ti&e prayer an meitation, it ma$es sense to try them o%t! +t ma$es ma$es sense to learn ho' to e##e&tivel e##e&tivelyy pray an meitate an reg%larly reg%larly o so to see i# they bring the same types o# personal bene#its that have been #o%n in st%ies o# large n%mbers o# people! + have not yet #o%n goo resear&h that &an provie provie g%ian&e on the optimal metho #or prayerthe st%ies + have #o%n generally al* lo'e parti&ipants to e#ine the meaning o# prayer #or themselves, or en&o%rage them to %se a generi& non*enominational prayer aresse to o! 7ntil 'e have better ata, %sing generi&, &ommonly*%se meth* os o# prayer are a goo goo pla&e to start 'hen trying o%t prayer! The basi& #orm o# prayer that + 'as ta%ght 'as to #irst than$ o #or the goo things in my li#e an then to as$ him #or the things + 'ante or neee! + still #ollo' that #orm%la, b%t 'ith a #e' &hanges! + 2
C>?>>F la&$ &on#ien&e that prayer has any e##i&a&y to &hange anything in the 'orl o%tsie my min! + %estion 'hether prayer has the po'er to in* vo$e ivine intervention in the events o# my li#e! + still pray to o, b%t no' + %se prayer as a 'ay o# #o&%sing my min on those things that + am grate#%l #or an to e9press my hopes an esires, b%t 'itho%t any belie# that the mere a&t o# praying 'ill o anything to bring them abo%t! Arti&%lating those things in a #ormaliBe, sa&raliBe 'ay has helpe me to be more grate#%l #or the goo things in my li#e an to #o* &%s my time an attention on a&hieving the things that are o# highest priority! These prayers have helpe me #eel spirit%al #eelings s%&h as ele* vation, gratit%e, a'e, an a resolve to o better! They have helpe me #eel better, an be better! 8hether there is any s%pernat%ral &omponent to prayer, these bene#its are eno%gh to ma$e prayer 'orth'hile #or me! + am no e9pert in meitation, b%t + have #o%n a te&hni%e that 'or$s #or me! + #in a %iet pla&e 'here + &an sit &om#ortably! + &lose my eyes, ta$e eep breaths, an &lear my min o# tho%ghts! To help me &lear my tho%ghts, + sometimes %se vis%aliBations that + learne at a meitation &lass! As + have gaine more pra&ti&e, + #in + nee to %se the vis%aliBations less #re%ently+ &an %st sit an start to breath eeply an gra%ally s'it&h my min over into Lmeitation moe!M The most e##e&tive vis%aliBation + #o%n ;an that + still o#ten %se= is to imagine that my min is a stormy sea an that my tho%ghts are violent stormy 'aves %n%lating a&ross my min! Then, + imagine the s%n rising over the sea o# my min, gra%ally b%rning o## the storm &lo%s an slo'* ing an stilling the 'ins! + thin$ abo%t the 'aves o# tho%ghts in my min slo'ly 'ea$ening an s%bsiing! + &ontin%e to breath eeply an imagine my min be&oming the glassy smooth s%r#a&e o# a per #e&tly &alm sea! >ther times, instea o# the sea vis%aliBation, or together 'ith it, + re&ite in my min a simple mantra as + breath in an o%t%s%ally + 'ill thin$ the 'or LstillnessM as + breath in an then thin$ the 'or Lpea&eM as + breath o%t! 8hatever metho + %se, on&e my tho%ghts have been stille, + &ontin%e to breath eeply an enoy the serenity o# a still min, + imagine a 'ino' in my heart opening an ra'ing in heat an love, 'hi&h in%&es #eelings o# elevation to a to the serenity! i$e + sai, + am no e9pert in meitation, b%t this te&hni%e has 'or$e 'ell 26
T:D TR+PD PAT: #or me! + re&ommen ta$ing a &lass on meitation to get more ieas an to #in something that 'or$s #or yo%! As + sai be#ore, %st be&a%se a lot o# people engage in a reli* gio%s pra&ti&e, it oes not by itsel# mean that the pra&ti&e is optimal or 'orth #ollo'ing! Path epenen&y &an mean that %seless or harm#%l re* ligio%s pra&ti&es be&ome 'iesprea be&a%se they are part o# a Lreli* gio%s pa&$ageM that a large n%mber o# people have &ome to a&&ept, o#ten be&a%se other aspe&ts o# a religion o bring real bene#its, or be&a%se the religion has be&ome 'iesprea be&a%se o# ma&ro so&io*politi&al #or&es or even be&a%se o# ranom &han&e! %t it is li$ely that some, i# not many, religio%s pra&ti&es be&ome 'iesprea be&a%se they bring real bene#it! +t is 'orth learning abo%t an e9amining the religio%s pra&ti&es o# others to eval%ate 'hether those pra&ti&es are 'orth #ollo'ing, espe* &ially 'hen i##erent, %nrelate religions have ene %p aopting similar religio%s pra&ti&es! +n the &ase o# prayer an meitation, the evien&e sho's that they are 'orth aopting! C%rrent s&ienti#i& moels give %s tremeno%s insight into ho' the %niverse began, ho' it 'or$s, an into the origins o# h%man$in! These moels, ho'ever, also have signi#i&ant gaps an &annot e9plain the root &a%se o# many s&ienti#i& observations! 8hy i the ig ang happenG :o' an 'hy o the #%namental #or&es 'or$G :o' an 'hy o the elementary parti&les e9istG :o' i &ons&io%sness evolveG 8hat is &ons&io%snessG 8e at best have only in&omplete ans'ers to these %es* tions! These gaps an %nans'ere %estions leave room #or belie# in things that e9ist beyon the material 'orl that 'e per&eive! ?oreover, the inherent limitations o# o%r senses, o%r s&ienti#i& instr%ments, an o%r brains leave open the possibility that there are realities that e9ist o%tsie 'hat 'e &an per&eive an meas%re an that 'e are in&apable o# even %nerstaning! %t 'ithin the realm o# o%r per&eption an e9peri* en&e, materialism an the s&ienti#i& metho are &learly the s%perior 'ay o# %nerstaning the 'orl! 8here &laims erive #rom religio%s belie# an #rom materialism have &lashe, the evien&e has almost al'ays over* 'helmingly resolve the &ontrai&tion against the religio%s &laim! +n 2
C>?>>F spite o# all o# the %estions still %nans'ere by s&ien&e, the s&ienti#i& metho has time an again &on&l%sively re#%te an &ontrai&te many previo%s &osmologi&al Ltr%thsM espo%se by the 'orl@s religions! H%r* thermore, o%r per&eptions, a&tions, an tho%ghts all seem to ta$e pla&e in a material 'orl, an no one has provie any &reible, &on&l%sive ev* ien&e to &ontrai&t this!6/ These %nans'ere %estions o# s&ien&e that + have re#erre to are L$no'n %n$no'nsMthey are things that 'e $no' 'e o not $no'! These $no'n %n$no'ns leave room open #or the possibility o# belie#! %t it 'o%l be 'ise to have the epistemologi&al h%mility to also re&og* niBe the possibility o# L%n$no'n %n$no'nsMthings that 'e o not even $no' that 'e o not $no'! oth the strient ne' atheists an #%n* amentalist religio%s believers la&$ this ne&essary h%mility that re&og* niBes the limitations o# h%man $no'lege an the possibility o# %n* $no'n %n$no'ns! The ne' atheists seem to be more &on&erne 'ith &ombating religion an trying to prove their o'n vie's right than 'ith #ining tr%th! They la&$ the 'isom or h%mility to ta$e into a&&o%nt the $no'n %n$no'ns o# s&ien&e an the possibility o# %n$no'n %n* $no'ns! They seem in&apable o# re&ogniBing the possibility that they may be 'rong! >n the other sie, the &ertainty espo%se by the #ervent, og* mati& believers in the maor religions oes not stan %p to a &are#%l e9* amination o# their religio%s &laims#rom the &ontrai&tions in their holy boo$s to the #allibility o# the religio%s #eelings that o#ten #orm the #o%nation o# their belie#their belie# is b%ilt on a very sha$y #o%na* tion! +# there is a o, he oes not seem to &omm%ni&ate in very &lear terms! All o# the 'orl@s maor religions have glaring internal in&onsis* ten&ies an eviate #rom o%r moern s%perior %nerstanings o# ho' the 'orl 'or$s! elievers in i##erent, m%t%ally &ontrai&tory belie# systems &laim the same sorts o# spirit%al #eelings as &on#irmation o# the tr%th o# their belie#s! o 'hat oes this meanG The #irst possibility is that there is at least one religion that avois these problems 'ith &onsisten&y, a&&%ra&y, an &larity! This 'o%l mean that there is a o 'ho &omm%ni&ates &learly 'ith h%man$in an there e9ists some'here a religion or tea&her 0
T:D TR+PD PAT: 'ho &onsistently an a&&%rately %nerstans 'hat o is saying an &learly &omm%ni&ates it to the rest o# %s! + thin$ this possibility is %n* li$ely! At least, + have not yet #o%n a religion or religio%s tea&her 'ho sho's this to be a possibility! At the other en o# the spe&tr%m, the se&* on possibility is that there is no o! The thir possibility is that there is a o, b%t that 'e &an in* #er #rom the la&$ o# any religion that avois the problems o# &onsis* ten&y, a&&%ra&y, an &larity that no religio%s belie# system &orre&tly rep* resents the per#e&t tr%ths o# o or es&ribes e9isten&e as it really is! This &o%l be be&a%se 'e h%man beings are not very goo at %ner* staning &omm%ni&ations #rom o ;an inee Pa%l a&$no'leges this in 1 Corinthians 1312 ;KJ(=3 LHor no' 'e see thro%gh a glass, ar$lyM= or be&a%se o is not going to give %s the tr%th an 'ants %s to #ig%re things o%r #or o%rselves! 8hi&hever o# the three possibilities is right ;an there are other possibilities as 'ell=, the rational response is the same3 see$ 'is* om, o goo, an labor 'ith hope to ma$e the 'orl better! 8hat oes it mean to see$ 'isom, o goo, an labor 'ith hopeG Part T'o o# the boo$ goes into #ar more epth on ea&h o# these three, b%t in a n%tshell, see$ing 'isom means see$ing the best, most a&&%rate $no'lege an in#ormation 'e have, relying on the s&ienti#i& metho to is&over ne' things, having the epistemi& h%mility to a&* $no'lege the limitations o# h%man $no'lege, an having serenity an the epth o# emotional mat%rity to live rightly! ee$ing 'isom means sear&hing #or the tr%thnot %st to learn it, b%t also to #ig%re o%t ho' to learn it! +t means having the h%* mility to a&$no'lege h%man limitations an to a&&ept tr%th 'herever yo% #in it! +# there is a tr%e religion or tea&her o%t there that has the tr%th, then yo% sho%l see$ to #in it, an part o# see$ing 'isom is #ining the goo aspe&ts #rom all religions an philosophies! +# the real* ity is that no religion is right an that 'e h%mans are not very goo at %nerstaning o, yo% sho%l o 'hat yo% &an to improve yo%r ability to %nerstan him! +t is easier to %nerstan those 'ho are similar to yo%! ee$ing 'isom, oing goo, an laboring 'ith hope to improve the 'orl 'ill ma$e yo% more &losely appro9imate the monotheisti& 1
C>?>>F o@s omnis&ien&e an omnibenevolen&e, an th%s allo' yo% to %ner* stan him better! +# religions@ problems 'ith &onsisten&y, a&&%ra&y, an &larity are be&a%se o 'ants %s to is&over the tr%th #or o%rselves or be&a%se there is no o, then 'isom is essential to %nerstaning real* ity an ho' to live a goo li#e! .oing goo means living morally! ;see Chapters an / #or more abo%t 'hat this means=! aboring 'ith hope is an e9tension o# oing gooE it means a&tively 'or$ing to ma$e the 'orl into a better pla&e #or &oming generations! All o# the maor religions tea&h that 'e sho%l behave rightly! +# there is a o, 'e sho%l see$ to o his 'ill! +# 'e &annot %nerstan him, or i# he 'ants %s to #ig%re things o%t #or o%rselves, then having rational, %niversally appli&able moral r%les is the best 'ay to live ho' o 'ants %s to! +# there is no o, the premises an reasons #or the moral r%les 'e is&%ss in Chapters an / are still %st as vali, an they re%ire that 'e see$ 'isom, o goo, an labor 'ith hope! ee$ing 'isom, oing goo, an laboring 'ith hope to ma$e the 'orl better are the best approa&hes to #ining tr%th, internal* iBing it, living morally, an leaving a better 'orl behin a#ter 'e are gone! + have 'restle #or a long time to &ome to a &on&l%sion on 'hi&h o# the three possibilities is right abo%t o@s e9isten&e an his re* lationship to h%man$in! + go 'ith the thir possibility3 there is a o, b%t 'e are either not able to %nerstan him very 'ell or he is inten* tionally 'ithholing &omm%ni&ation #rom %s be&a%se he 'ants %s to #ig* %re things o%t #or o%rselves! +n arriving at my belie# in o, + have t'o $ey %estions3 1= .oes o e9istG an 2= .oes any religion@s tea&hings abo%t o a&&%rately es&ribe oG ?y ans'er to the #irst %estion is yes, o e9ists! ?y ans'er to the se&on %estion is no, there is no reli* gion that a&&%rately es&ribes him! As an empiri&al %estion, it is impossible to prove or isprove the e9isten&e o# o as he is es&ribe by the monotheisti& #aiths! :o' o yo% prove or isprove the e9isten&e o# an invisible, all*po'er#%l, all* $no'ing being 'ho is present every'here at on&eG "o one has yet #ig* %re o%t a 'ay to #alsi#y these &laims! H%rther &ompo%ning the prob* lem is that every religion@s &on&eption o# o, as 'ell as the agnosti&s@ 2
T:D TR+PD PAT: an atheists@, ma$e many &ontrasting, %nprove, an %nprovable as* s%mptions abo%t the nat%re an the very &on&ept o# o! :o' &an 'e prove the e9isten&e o# o i# o%r very &on&ept o# o is s%spe&tG 8e &annot meaning#%lly is&%ss the %estion o# o@s e9isten&e i# 'e o not even have a &oherent e#inition o# 'hat o is! in&e many i##er* ent #aiths an tea&hers have p%t #or'ar &ontrai&tory an m%t%ally e9* &l%sive p%rporte revelations abo%t o, an be&a%se personal #eelings are not a tr%st'orthy g%ie to is&erning their tr%th, the only basis 'e have #or eval%ating the tr%th o# any revelation is on the a%thority o# the person ma$ing the &laim! 8e there#ore have no inepenent means o# etermining 'hi&h &laims abo%t o are &orre&t, absent a personal i* re&t visitation #rom o himsel#! An even then, absent physi&al evi* en&e or some other &orroboration o# the visitation, there 'o%l be a host o# alternative e9planations ;s%&h as hall%&inations or mental ill* ness= #or any s%&h visitation that 'o%l have to be r%le o%t #irst! e&a%se o# these problems, + o not &laim to have a goo e#i* nition o# o or to %nerstan 'ho he is! ?%&h li$e 8illiam James, my theism is roote entirely in pragmati& &on&erns! J%st as there is a re* lationship bet'een 'ell*being an religiosity, there is also a relationship bet'een belie# in o an 'ell*being! People 'ho per&eive having a &lose &onne&tion to o have lo'er rates o# epression an loneliness an greater rates o# sel#*rate health, sel#*esteem, an psy&hologi&al a* %stment in response to maor li#e stressors! 6 Atta&hment theorists hy* pothesiBe that believers in o &an loo$ to him Las a sa#e haven, a being 'ho o##ers å an prote&tion in times o# stressM an that this atta&h* ment leas believers to Le9perien&e greater &om#ort in stress#%l sit%a* tions an greater strength an &on#ien&e in everyay li#e!M 66 +nee, people 'ho Lreport a &loser &onne&tion to o e9perien&e a n%mber o# health*relate bene#its3 less epression an higher sel#*esteem, less lone* liness, greater relational mat%rity, an greater psy&hoso&ial &ompe* ten&e!M6 A se&%re relationship 'ith o is tie to Lbetter sel#*rate health an better psy&hologi&al a%stment among people #a&ing a vari* ety o# maor li#e stressors!M0 These e##e&ts are greater than the e##e&ts asso&iate 'ith meas%res o# religiosity or spirit%ality, an they have not been e9plaine by nonreligio%s #a&tors!1
C>?>>F People 'ho per&eive having a &lose &onne&tion to o have lo'er rates o# epression an loneliness an better sel#*esteem, sel#* rate health, an psy&hologi&al a%stment in response to maor li#e stressors! 2 People being treate #or epression 'ho believe in o ha greater re%&tions in epression an sel#*harm an greater improve* ments in psy&hologi&al 'ell*being than nonbelievers! This relationship bet'een theism an 'ell*being is not %st an Ameri&an phenomenon! +n a 201 st%y o# ninety*t'o &o%ntries, there 'as a positive relationship bet'een a person@s happiness ;as 'ell as li#e satis#a&tion= an the sel#*reporte level o# importan&e o# o in that person@s li#e, relative to the average level o# #aith in that person@s &o%n* try!4 ase on 'hat 'e &an meas%re abo%t belie# in o, e&iing on theism ma$es sense! >bservable res%lts sho' that theists are happier, healthier, an more moral! +# the %estion o# o@s e9isten&e is #%na* mentally %nprovable, b%t belie# in him brings s%&h positive res%lts, then the rational response ;i# yo%r goal is to ma9imiBe yo%r 'ell*being an moral behavior= is to believe in o! Th%s, + &hoose to believe! %t 'hen a religio%s tea&hing or &laim is internally &ontrai&tory, irrational, immoral, or other'ise similarly abs%r, then + &hoose to ree&t that tea&hing or &laim, or even that tea&her, rather than ree&t belie# in o! ?y belie# in o is a $in o# eism! + believe in a o 'ho oes not %s%ally a&tively intervene in the 'orl, he is a being 'ho has set the %niverse in motion b%t oes not inter#ere 'ith its nat%ral la's! + believe that he has given ;or allo'e %s to evelop= the ability to love an to observe, learn, an reason an to %se these things to #ig%re things o%t #or o%rselves! +s o personalG impersonalG a physi&al beingG in#inite an in&omprehensible, e9isting o%tsie o# time an spa&eG +s o the s%m total o# all that e9ists in the %niverse, th%s ma$ing ea&h o# %s a part o# oG + o not &laim to $no'! + believe in a higher po'er 'ith 'hom + &an &omm%ne an &omm%ni&ate, b%t 'ho p%ts me in total &ontrol o# my a&tions an 'ho oes not a&t to &hange the &o%rse o# my li#e! + pray to o to e9press my gratit%e an my goals an esires, b%t + o not pray #or mira&les! + believe that the o%t&omes o# my li#e are the res%lt o# my a&tions, nat%ral la's, ranom &han&e, an the &hoi&es o# others, an 4
T:D TR+PD PAT: + believe that ba things happen #or the same reasons! An most importantly, + o not thin$ any less, or any more highly, o# someone epening on 'hether that person believes in o or not! The %niversal in&onsisten&y, ina&&%ra&y, an ambig%ity o# h%man instit%tions an tea&hers in religio%s an spirit%al matters sho's to me that i# there is a o, he is not m%&h &on&erne 'ith 'hether 'e be* lieve in him or not or 'hether 'e &orre&tly %nerstan him! The most &onsistent tea&hing 'e see in religions is that 'e sho%l love others an #ollo' the olen R%leE i# 'e &an learn anything abo%t o #rom the tea&hings o# the 'orl@s religions, it 'o%l be to love ea&h other an #ol* lo' the golen r%le! + am a %niversalist+ believe that most religions have some tr%th to them, b%t that none o# them have all tr%th! + believe that o &ares less abo%t 'hi&h &h%r&h yo% belong to, i# yo% belong to one, or even i# yo% believe in him than he &ares abo%t 'hether yo% are 1= %sing yo%r &apa&ity #or tho%ght an reason to see$ 'isom an 2= %sing yo%r &apa&ity to a&t to o goo an 'or$ to ma$e the 'orl bet* ter! 8hether or not yo% believe in o an 'hether or not yo% go to &h%r&h, so long as yo% are oing those t'o things, then + thin$ that o approves o# yo%! >n the other han, base on the bene#its o# religion an theism, + thin$ it 'o%l be rational to try o%t religion an theism to see 'hat they &an o #or yo%, an to see i# they help yo% on yo%r path to 'isom, gooness, an hope! + amit, my simple belie# in o an religion leaves open many %estions abo%t li#e, e9isten&e, an the s%pernat%ral! Those %estions are important, an + o thin$ abo%t them a lot! + have #o%n no goo ans'ers, tho%gh, nor have + #o%n anyone else 'ho has goo ans'ers! The la&$ o# those &ertain ans'ers, tho%gh, is not a reason to ree&t the goo that &omes #rom theism an religion! + thin$ the %ha@s parable in the C%la*?al%n$yovaa %tta is highly relevant3 +t is %st as i# a man 'ere 'o%ne 'ith an arro' thi&$ly smeare 'ith poison! :is #riens an &ompanions, $insmen an relatives 'o%l provie him 'ith a s%rgeon, an the man 'o%l say, L+ 'on@t have this arro' remove %ntil + $no' 'hether the man 'ho 'o%ne me 'as a noble 'arrior, a priest, a mer&hant, or a 'or$er!M :e 'o%l say, L+ 'on@t have 5
C>?>>F this arro' remove %ntil + $no' the given name an &lan name o# the man 'ho 'o%ne me ! ! ! %ntil + $no' 'hether he 'as tall, mei%m, or short! ! ! %ntil + $no' 'hether he 'as ar$, r%y*bro'n, or golen*&olore! ! ! %ntil + $no' his home vil* lage, to'n, or &ity! ! ! %ntil + $no' 'hether the bo' 'ith 'hi&h + 'as 'o%ne 'as a long bo' or a &rossbo'! ! ! %ntil + $no' 'hether the bo'string 'ith 'hi&h + 'as 'o%ne 'as #iber, bamboo threas, sine', hemp, or bar$! ! ! %ntil + $no' 'hether the sha#t 'ith 'hi&h + 'as 'o%ne 'as 'il or &%ltivate ! ! ! %ntil + $no' 'hether the #eathers o# the sha#t 'ith 'hi&h + 'as 'o%ne 'ere those o# a v%lt%re, a stor$, a ha'$, a pea&o&$, or another bir! ! ! %ntil + $no' 'hether the sha#t 'ith 'hi&h + 'as 'o%ne 'as bo%n 'ith the sine' o# an o9, a 'ater b%#* #alo, a lang%r, or a mon$ey!M :e 'o%l say, L+ 'on@t have this arro' remove %ntil + $no' 'hether the sha#t 'ith 'hi&h + 'as 'o%ne 'as that o# a &ommon arro', a &%rve arro', a barbe, a &al#*toothe, or an oleaner arro'!M The man 'o%l ie an those things 'o%l still remain %n$no'n to him! 5 +n this boo$ + o#ten ta$e a very re%&tive an %tilitarian ap* proa&h, #o&%sing on empiri&ism an pragmati& &on&erns! %t please o not #orget to loo$ at the s%be&tive an emotional sie o# things as 'ell! Religion &an a &olor an meaning to li#e! +t &an bring happiness an a #eeling o# &onne&tion to something greater than yo%rsel#! Ta$e the pra&* ti&al approa&h to religion'ith love an pea&ean see 'hat it &an o in yo%r li#e! >%r time on this earth is limite! Dven i# 'e o not %ner* stan 'hat they mean or ho' they 'or$, it ma$es little sense to ree&t religion an theism i# they &an help %s to a&t more morally an be healthier an happier! .o not 'orry so m%&h abo%t #irst getting the an* s'ers to all o# li#e@s %estionsthere are more important things to #o* &%s on #irst! +nstea, 'orry abo%t removing the arro's o# hate, sel#ish* ness, hypo&risy, ignoran&e, #oolishness, evil, an espair #rom yo%r li#e! The evien&e sho's that religion an theism &an help yo% o that! An that is goo eno%gh!
/
T:D TR+PD PAT:
LCosmology an &reationM in Aele erlin an ?a9ine rossman, The >9#or .i&tionary o# the Je'ish Religion , 2011, pp! 166*6, http3))boo$s!google!&om!a%)boo$sGihKAaJQv7a7oCpgPA 16E >thmar Keel, The symbolism o# the bibli&al 'orl , 1, pp! 20*21, http3))boo$s!google!&om!a%)boo$sGiHy41i?gFC pgPA20! 2 1 am%el 236E Job 3/! J! D'ar 8right, The Darly :istory o# :eaven , 2002, pp! 54*5, http3))boo$s!google!&om)boo$sGilKv?e?or"DCpgPA54E The :ebre' 'or #or hell 'as also %se to #ig%ratively re#er to eath, b%t 'as o#ten %se to in the :ebre' ible to re#er to a physi* &al pla&e, Alan D! ernstein, The Hormation o# :ell3 .eath an Retrib%tion in the An&ient an Darly Christian 8orls , 1, pp! 140*42, http3))boo$s!google!&om!a%)boo$sGiy6'AnaSFF0C pgPA140! 4 Jonathan T! Pennington, :eaven an earth in the ospel o# ?atthe' , 200, pp! 41*42, http3))boo$s!google!&om!a%)boo$sGi DTaJ.
C>?>>F pp! 1I0, https3))'''!n&bi!nlm!nih!gov)p%bme)1/05401! 15 Ri&har osis an Cana&e Al&orta, Lignaling, soliarity, an the sa&re3 the evol%tion o# religio%s behavior,M Dvol%tionary Anthro* pology , (ol! 12, "o! /, "ov! 200, pp! 2/4I24, http3))9!oi!or g)10!10022Hevan!10120, http3))'''!anth!%&onn!e%)#a&%lty) sosis)p%bli&ations)sosisanal&ortaDA!p# ! 1/ ee "i&holas 8ae, The Haith +nstin&t3 :o' Religion Dvolve an 8hy +t Dn%res , 200E .onal ro'n, :%man 7niversals , 11! 1 Ri&har osis an Cana&e Al&orta ;see #ootnote 15=, p! 2/4, 2/5 ;%oting .%r$heim, The elementary #orms o# the religio%s li#e =! 16 ame , p! 2//! 1 ame, p! 2/5! 20 ame , p! 2//*/, 21! 21 "i&holas 8ae ;see #ootnote 1/=! 22 Ri&har osis an Cana&e Al&orta ;see #ootnote 15=, p! 2/4! 2 .avi ! ?yers, LReligion an h%man #lo%rishing,M in ?i&hael Di an Rany J! arsen ;es!=, The &ien&e o# %be&tive 8ell*eing , 2006, pp! 2*4/, 0*2E Jesse Preston an Ryan ! Ritter, L.i#* #erent e##e&ts o# Religion an o on proso&iality 'ith the ingro%p an o%tgro%p,M Personality an o&ial Psy&hology %lletin , (ol! , "o! , eptember 201, http3))psp!sagep%b!&om)&ontent)earl y)201)06)21)014/1/214!long , http3))labs!psy&holog y!illinois!e%)pramlab)Papers)PrestonSRitterSPP!p# E Arth%r C! roo$s, LReligio%s Haith an Charitable iving,M Poli&y Revie' , "o! 121, >&tober 1, 200, http3))'''!hoover!org)resear&h)religio%s* #aith*an*&haritable*giving! 24 .avi ! ?yers ;see #ootnote 2=, p! 0! 25 .avi ! ?yers ;see #ootnote 2=, pp! /*6! 2/ .avi ! ?yers ;see #ootnote 2=, p! /! 2 yna :! Po'ell, eila hahabi, an Carl D! Thoresen, LReligion an spirit%ality3 in$ages to physi&al health,M Ameri&an Psy&holo* gist , (ol! 56, "o! 1, Jan%ary 200, pp! /*52, http3))psy&net!ap a!org)G#amain!oianingoi10!10)000*0//Q!56!1!/, http3))'''!%i&!e%)&lasses)psy&h):ealth)Reaings)Po'ell,20 Religion,20spirit%ality,20health,20AmPsy,20200!p#E .a* 6
T:D TR+PD PAT:
26
2
0
1
2
vi ! ?yers ;see #ootnote 2=, pp! 4*6! Teresa D! eeman, ina Hagan .%bin, an ?elvin eeman, LReli* giosity)pirit%ality an :ealth3 A Criti&al Revie' o# the Dvien&e #or iologi&al Path'ays,M Ameri&an Psy&hologist , (ol! 56, "o! 1, Jan%ary 200, pp! 5*/, http3))psy&net!apa!org)o%rnals)am p)5 6)1)5, http3))'''!%i&!e%)&lasses)psy&h):ealth)Reaings)e eman,20Religiosity*health,20bio20path'ays,20AmPsy,2 0200!p# ! :arol ! Koenig, ina K! eorge, an Patri&ia Tit%s, LReligion, spirit%ality, an health in mei&ally ill hospitaliBe oler patients!M Jo%rnal o# the Ameri&an eriatri& o&iety , (ol! 52, "o! 4, April 2004, pp! 554*/2, https3))'''!n&bi!nlm!nih!gov)p%bme)150// 00! Robert A! :%mmer, Ri&har ! Rogers, Charles ! "am, an Christopher ! Dllison, LReligio%s involvement an 7!! a%lt mor* tality,M .emography , (ol! /, "o! 2, 1, pp! 2*265, http s3))'''!n&bi!nlm!nih!gov)p%bme)102/1! Peter C! :ill an Kenneth +! Pargament, LAvan&es in the Con&ep t%aliBation an ?eas%rement o# Religion an pirit%ality3 +mpli&a* tions #or Physi&al an ?ental :ealth Resear&h,M Ameri&an Psy&hol* ogist , (ol! 56, "o! 1, Jan%ary 200, pp! /4*4 at //, http3))psy &net!apa!org)o%rnals)amp)56)1)/4), http3))'''!%i&!e%)&lass es)psy&h):ealth)Reaings):ill,20Con&ept%aliBation20o#2 0spirit%ality,20AmPsy,20200!p# ! Christopher ! Dllison an Je##rey ! evin, LThe Religion*:ealth Conne&tion3 Dvien&e, Theory, an H%t%re .ire&tions,M :ealth D%* &ation ehavior , (ol! 25, "o! /, .e&ember 16, pp! 00*20, at 02, https3))'''!n&bi!nlm!nih!gov)p%bme)614 , https3))s ph!%th!e%)&o%rse)o&&%pationalSenv:ealth)bami&$)R+CD20* 208 eis206)ellisonSreligion!p# !
ame! 4 a%ra ! Koenig an eorge D! (aillant, LA prospe&tive st%y o# &h%r&h attenan&e an health over the li#espan,M :ealth Psy&hology , (ol! 26, "o! 1, Jan%ary 200, pp! 11*24, https3))'''!n&bi!nl m!nih!gov)p%bme)1210025!
C>?>>F 5 .avi ! ?yers ;see #ootnote 2=, pp! 2/, ! / :arol ! Koenig, ina K! eorge, an Patri&ia Tit%s, LReligion, spirit%ality, an health in mei&ally ill hospitaliBe oler patients!M Jo%rnal o# the Ameri&an eriatri& o&iety , (ol! 52, "o! 4, April 2004, pp! 554*/2, https3))'''!n&bi!nlm!nih!gov)p%bme)1 50/ /00! ri&$ Johnstone, Kelly ora Hran$lin, .ong Pil Foon, Joseph %rris, an Cheryl higa$i, LRelationships Among Religio%sness, pirit%al* ity, an :ealth #or +nivi%als 'ith tro$e,M Jo%rnal o# Clini&al Psy&hology in ?ei&al ettings , (ol! 15, "o! 4, .e&ember 2006, pp! 06*1, https3))'''!n&bi!nlm!nih!gov)p%bme)110466! 6 Peter C! :ill an Kenneth +! Pargament ;see #ootnote 1=, p! /6! ame , p! /6! 40 .anny Cohen*Uaa an 8illiam aner, LReligio%s Parti&ipation vers%s hopping3 8hat ?a$es People :appierGM Jo%rnal o# a' an D&onomi&s !, (ol! 54, "o! 4, 2011, pp! 66*0/, http3))iea s!repe&!org)a)%&p)la'e&)oi10!106/*/566/2!html, http3))#tp!iB a!org)p516!p#! 41 ?arta Dlliott an R! .avi :ay'ar, LReligion an i#e atis#a&* tion 8orl'ie3 The Role o# overnment Reg%lation,M o&iology o# Religion , (ol! 0, "o! , 200, pp! 265*10, http 3))'''!resea r&hgate!net)p%bli&ation)124511SRelgionSanSi#eSatis#a&tio nS8orl'ieSTheSRoleSo#SovernmentSReg%lation)#ile)12# 50b1a100!p#! 42 Ronal +nglehart, C%lt%re hi#t in Avan&e +n%strial o&iety , 10, pp! 22*2! 4 iesbeth noep, LReligio%sness an happiness in three nations3 a re* sear&h note,M Jo%rnal o# :appiness t%ies , (ol! , 2006, pp! 20* 211, http3))&ms!springerpro#essional!e)o%rnals)J>71002)(> 2006!)+72)ART045)oyRe#)P.H)1002S200SAr ti&leS045!p#! 44 Aran 8! raam, Dri$ :ein, .orly J! :! .eeg, Jos 8! R! T'is$, Aartan T! H! ee$man, an 8illem (an, LReligio%s involvement an /*year &o%rse o# epressive symptoms in oler .%t&h &itiBens3 re* s%lts #rom the ongit%inal Aging t%y Amsteram,M Jo%rnal o# Ag* 40
T:D TR+PD PAT: ing an :ealth , (ol! 1/, "o! 4, 2004, pp! 4/*6, http3))'''!me
neley!&om)resear&h)religio%s*involvement*/*year*&o%rse*epressiv e*symptoms*oler*%t&h*&itiBens*res%lts*longit%inal*ag! 45 Anre KirbiV an erge Hlere, LConventional religiosity an "e' age belie#s as prei&tors o# s%be&tive 'ell*being in D%rope,M >%t o# the o9 Con#eren&e , ?ay 15*1, 2002, http3))ob&2012!o%to#theb o9!si)sites)e#a%lt)#iles)absKirbis#lere!p# ! 4/ D .iener, o%is Tay, an .avi ! ?yers, LThe Religion Parao93 +# Religion ?a$es People :appy, 8hy Are o ?any .ropping >%tGM Jo%rnal o# Personality an o&ial Psy&hology , (ol! 101, "o! /, .e&ember 2011, pp! 126*0, http3))psy&net!apa!org)ine9!&# mG#ab%y!optionTo%yi2 011*1/524*001! 4 r%&e :eaey, J%ergen &h%pp, +ngri T%&&i, an ert ! 8agner, LA%thenti& happiness theory s%pporte by impa&t o# religion on li#e satis#a&tion3 A longit%inal analysis 'ith ata #or ermany,M The Jo%rnal o# Positive Psy&hology , (ol! 5, "o! 1, 2010, pp! *62, http3))papers!ssrn!&om)sol)papers!&#mGabstra&tSi1255! 46 ame ! 4 .anny Cohen*Uaa an 8illiam aner ;see #ootnote 40=! 50 Peter C! :ill an Kenneth +! Pargament ;see #ootnote 1=, p! 1! 51 Christopher ! Dllison an Je##rey ! evin ; see #ootnote 2=, p! 06*E .avi ! ?yers ; see #ootnote 2=, pp! 2/*26E ona y%bomirs$y, Kennon ?! helon, an .avi &h$ae, LP%rs%ing happiness3 The ar&hite&t%re o# s%stainable &hange,M Revie' o# en* eral Psy&hology , (ol! , "o! 2, 2005, pp! 111*1, http3))sonaly %bomirs$y!&om)'p*&ontent)themes)sonaly%bomirs$y) papers) 2005!p#! 52 Peter C! :ill an Kenneth +! Pargament ;see #ootnote 1=, p! /6E see also Christopher ! Dllison an Je##rey ! evin ; see #ootnote 2=, p! 0*6! 5 Ri&har osis an Cana&e Al&orta ;see #ootnote 15=, p! 2/4! 54 Peter C! :ill Kenneth +! Pargament ; see #ootnote 1=, p! /E Christopher ! Dllison Je##rey ! evin ; see #ootnote 2=, p! 05* E .avi ! ?yers ; see #ootnote 2=, pp! /*6! 55 iesbeth noep ;see #ootnote 4=, p! 20*10! 41
C>?>>F 5/ Peter C! :ill an Kenneth +! Pargament ;see #ootnote 1=, p! /E Christopher ! Dllison an Je##rey ! evin ; see #ootnote 2=, p! 05*! 5 Peter C! :ill an Kenneth +! Pargament ;see #ootnote 1=, p! /! 56 yna :! Po'ell, eila hahabi, an Carl D! Thoresen ;see #ootnote 2=, p! 41E see also Christopher ! Dllison an Je##rey ! evin ; see #ootnote 2=, p! 04 an a%ra ! Koenig an eorge D! (aillant ;see #ootnote 4=E .avi ! ?yers ;see #ootnote 2=, pp! /*6! 5 yna :! Po'ell, eila hahabi, an Carl D! Thoresen ;see #ootnote 2=, p! 41! /0 .avi ! ?yers ;see #ootnote 2=, p! ! /1 Aran 8! raam, Dri$ :ein, .orly J! :! .eeg, Jos 8! R! T'is$, Aartan T! H! ee$man, an 8illem (an ;see #ootnote 44=! /2 Peter C! :ill an Kenneth +! Pargament ;see #ootnote 1=, p! 0! / ame ;internal &itations omitte=E see also Kenneth +! Pargament, :arol ! Koenig, "alini Tara$esh'ar, J%ne :ahn, LReligio%s tr%ggle as a Prei&tor o# ?ortality Among ?ei&ally +ll Dlerly Patients,M Ar&hives o# +nternal ?ei&ine , (ol! 1/1, "o! 15, 2001, pp! 1661*5, https3))'''!n&bi!nlm!ni h!gov)p%bme)11410! /4 Dvelyn ! ehrer an Carmel 7! Chis'i&$, LReligion as a .etermi* nant o# ?arital tability,M .emography , (ol! , "o! , A%g%st 1, pp! 65*404, http3))'''!stor!org)stable)20 /1/4! /5 Peter C! :ill an Kenneth +! Pargament ;see #ootnote 1=, p! 0! // arry A! Kosmin, Ariela Keysar, Ryan Crag%n, an J%hem "avarro* Rivera, Ameri&an "ones3 The Pro#ile o# the "o Religion Pop%la* tion , +nstit%te #or the t%y o# e&%larism in o&iety C%lt%re, 200, http3))&ommons!trin&oll!e%)aris)#iles)2011)06)">"D S06!p#! / Dnvironmentalists@ &on&erns #or rit%al imp%rity an a&hieving rit%al &leanliness merely repla&e religio%s obe&ts 'ith a ne' set o# se&%lar obe&ts ;nat%ral #oo avo&ates are similarly motivate=! Their atti* t%es are more shape by a reverential a'e #or Lnat%reM than #or a&* t%ally minimiBing their environmental impa&t! Their %asi*religio%s &on&ern #or avoiing L%ngreenM pro%&ts an %sing rit%ally p%re obe&ts o#ten &omes 'itho%t rationally eval%ating their behavior to 42
T:D TR+PD PAT: #ig%re o%t ho' they &an a&t%ally ma$e the most impa&t! The impor* tant thing to them be&omes the rit%al p%rity, an only se&onarily a&hieving the most environmentally positive o%t&ome! Hor e9ample, animal loving environmentalists hol 7( rivers in &ontempt #or their %n&lean gas*g%BBling behavior even tho%gh many o# those same environmentalists $eep pet ogs an &ats that have a greater averse environmental impa&t than the 7( ! ee Robert (ale an rena (ale, Time to Dat the .ogG3 The Real %ie to %stainable iving , 200! Another e9ample is many environmentalists@ %nyieling op* position to n%&lear po'er, in spite o# its s%bstantial environmental bene#its over b%rning #ossil #%els to generate ele&tri&ity! ?any in the environmental movement also isplay as&eti& tenen&ies that in pre* vio%s years might have le them to a monasti& li#e3 the a&t o# sa&ri* #i&e is itsel# 'hat they val%e most, rather than rationally eval%ating the evien&e an ma$ing the optimal &hoi&e! Their environmental* ism be&omes a 'ay to isplay their innate religio%s tenen&ies, rather than to ma9imiBe having a positive impa&t on the environment! /6 ee , teven Pin$er, The lan$ late3 The ?oern .enial o# :%* man "at%re , 2002 an Thomas J! o%&har, Jr!, Leneti& +n#l%en&e on :%man Psy&hologi&al Traits3 A %rvey,M C%rrent .ire&tions in Psy&hologi&al &ien&e, (ol! 1, "o! 4, A%g%st 2004, pp! 146*51, http3))&p!sagep%b!&om)&ontent)1)4)146, http3))'''16!hom epage!villanova!e%)iego!#ernaneB%%e)Tea&hing)Physiologi&al Psy&hology)BC%rr.ir4200)C%rr.ireneti&sTraits!p#! / Ri&har ynn, John :arvey, :elm%th "yborg&, LAverage intelli* gen&e prei&ts atheism rates a&ross 1 nations,M +ntelligen&e , (ol! , "o! 1, Jan%ary*Hebr%ary 200, pp! 11*15, https3))'''!s&i en&eire&t!&om)s&ien&e)arti&le)pii)01/026/0600026E :el* m%th "yborg, LThe intelligen&eIreligiosity ne9%s3 A representative st%y o# 'hite aoles&ent Ameri&ans,M +ntelligen&e , (ol! , "o! 1, Jan%ary*Hebr%ary 200, pp! 61*, https3))'''!s&ien&eire&t!&o m)s&ien&e)arti&le)pii)01/026/0600101! 0 ee Proe&t Reason, Contrai&tions in the ible ;Poster=, http3))' ''!proe&t*reason!org)gallery)image)105)! 4
C>?>>F 1 "athaniel ambert, Hran$ Hin&ham, &ott raith'aite, teven ra* ham, an teven ea&h, LCan Prayer +n&rease ratit%eGM Psy&hol* ogy o# Religion an pirit%ality , (ol! 1, "o! , A%g%st 200, pp!
1I14, http3))'''!#in&ham!in#o)pape rs)200Can20Prayer 20+n&rease20ratit%e!p# ! 2 Peter Jan$o's$i an teven anage, L?eitative Prayer, :ope, A%lt Atta&hment, an Horgiveness3 A Propose ?oel,M Psy&hol* ogy o# Religion an pirit%ality , (ol! , "o! 2, ?ay 2011, pp! 115I11, http3))psy&net!apa!org)o%rnals)rel))2)115)! Hran$ Hin&ham, "athaniel ambert, an teven ea&h, LHaith an 7n#aith#%lness3 Can Praying #or Fo%r Partner Re%&e +n#ielityGM Jo%rnal o# Personality an o&ial Psy&hology , (ol! , "o! 4, >&to* ber 2011, pp! /4I/5, http3))'''!#in&ham!in#o)papers)2010*p sp*prayer!p# ! 4 "athaniel ambert, Hran$ Hin&ham, .ana a(allee,an Ci&ely rantley, LPraying Together an taying Together3 Co%ple Prayer an Tr%st,M Psy&hology o# Religion an pirit%ality , (ol! 4, "o! 1, 2012, pp! 1*, http3))'''!#in&ham!in#o)papers)2012*prs*pray*together! p# ! 5 ame , p! 5! / .avi R! :oge, LA ystemati& Revie' o# the Dmpiri&al iterat%re on +nter&essory Prayer,M Resear&h on o&ial 8or$ Pra&ti&e , (ol! 1, "o! 2, ?ar&h 200, pp! 14*16, http3))rs'!sagep%b!&om)&onten t)1)2)14!abstra&t, http3))'''!sagep%b!&om)va%ghnst%y)arti &les)intervention):oge!p#E K! ?asters, ! pielmans, an J! ooson LAre there emonstrable e##e&ts o# istant inter&essory prayerG A meta*analyti& revie',M Annals o# ehavioral ?ei&ine (ol! 2, "o! 1, A%g%st 200/, pp! 21*2/, https3))'''!n&bi!nlm!nih!go v)p%bme)1/62/2/E b%t see Ranolph C! yr, LPositive thera* pe%ti& e##e&ts o# inter&essory prayer in a &oronary &are %nit pop%la* tion,M o%thern ?ei&al Jo%rnal , (ol! 61, "o! , J%ly 166, pp! 62/*, https3))'''!n&bi!nlm!nih!gov)p%bme), http3)) '''!goans&ien&e!org)apologeti&s)sm!p# ;:oge is&o%nts yr@s res%lts be&a%se only / o# the 2/ meas%re problem &onitions ha positive res%lts, raising the strong possibility that yr@s res%lts 'ere 44
T:D TR+PD PAT: #alse positives= an 8illiam ! :arris, ?anohar o'a, Jerry 8! Kolb, Christopher P! try&ha&B, James ! (a&e$, Philip ! Jones, Alan Hor$er, James :! >@Kee#e, an en .! ?&Callister, LA Ranom* iBe, Controlle Trial o# the D##e&ts o# Remote, +nter&essory Prayer on >%t&omes in Patients Amitte to the Coronary Care 7nit,M Ar&hives o# +nternal ?ei&ine , (ol! 15, "o! 1, >&tober 25, 1, pp! 22*22, https3))'''!n&bi!nlm!nih!gov)p%bme)10 541//, http3))'''!nts$epti&s!org)iss%es)prayer)prayer*pap*ioi 004!p#! ! Roberts, +! Ahme, ! :all, A! .avison, L+nter&essory Prayer #or the alleviation o# ill health,M Co&hrane .atabase o# ystemati& Re* vie's , "ovember , 2011, http3))s%m maries!&o&hrane!org)C.000 /6)inter&essory*prayer*#or*the*alleviation*o#*ill*health ;LN+Ot is only possible to state that inter&essory prayer is neither signi#i&antly bene* #i&ial nor harm#%l #or those 'ho are si&$! H%rther st%ies 'hi&h are better esigne an reporte 'o%l be ne&essary to ra' #irmer &on* &l%sions! ! ! ! NAOltho%gh some o# the res%lts o# inivi%al st%ies s%ggest a positive e##e&t o# inter&essory prayer, the maority o not an the evien&e oes not s%pport a re&ommenation either in #avo%r or against the %se o# inter&essory prayer!M= 6 "ational +nstit%tes o# :ealth, "ational Center #or Complimentary an Alternative ?ei&ine, LTerms Relate to Complementary an Alternative ?ei&ine,M http3))n&&am!nih!gov)health)proviers)&a mterms!htm ;a&&esse ?ay 12, 201=! Ramesh ?ano&ha L?eitation, min#%lness an min*emptiness,M A&ta "e%ropsy&hiatri&a ! (ol! 2, "o! 1, Heb! 2011, pp! 4/*4, http3))onlinelibrary!'iley!&om)oi)10!1111)!1/01*5215!2010!0 051!9)abstra&tE see also Ramesh ?ano&ha, .! la&$, an J! arris, LA RanomiBe, Controlle Trial o# ?eitation #or 8or$ tress, An9iety an .epresse ?oo in H%ll*Time 8or$ers,M Dvien&e* ase Complementary an Alternative ?ei&ine , (ol! 2011, J%ne 2011, https3))'''!n&bi!nlm!nih!gov)p%bme)211/06, http3)) sahaayoga!&om!a%)#oryogis)'p*&ontent)%ploas)mei&alSresear&h ) A20RanomiBe,20Controlle20Trial20o#?eitation2 0#or8or$20tress,20An9iety20an20.epresse?oo2 45
C>?>>F 0in20H%ll*Time8or$ers!p#! 60 ! Rael Cahn an John Poli&h, L?eitation states an traits3 DD, DRP, an ne%roimaging st%ies,M Psy&hologi&al %lletin , (ol! 12, "o! 2, ?ar&h 200/, pp! 160*211, http3))psy&net!apa!org)o%rnals )b%l)12)2)160)! 61 Pa%l rossman, %ger "iemann, te#an &hmit, an :aral 8ala&h, L?in#%lness*base stress re%&tion an health bene#its A meta*analysis,M Jo%rnal o# Psy&hosomati& Resear&h, (ol! 5, "o! 1, J%ly 2004, pp! 5*4, https3))'''!n&bi!nlm!nih!gov)p%bme)152 5/2, http3))'''!&ommonsenseatheism!&om)'p*&ontent)%ploa s)2011)0)rossman*?in#%lness*base*stress*re%&tion*an* health*bene#its!p#! 62 Teresa D! eeman, ina Hagan .%bin, an ?elvin eeman ;see #ootnote 26=! 6 %&iano ernari, Peter leight, abriele aninelli, imone Cen&etti, amberto Hattorini, Johanna 8o'&By&*B%l&, an Al* #onso agi, LD##e&t o# rosary prayer an yoga mantras on a%to* nomi& &ariovas&%lar rhythms3 &omparative st%y,M ritish ?ei&al Jo%rnal , (ol! 2, "o! 2, .e&ember 22, 2001, pp! 144/*144, https3))'''!n&bi!nlm!nih!gov)pm&)arti&les)P?C/104/), http3) )'''!bm!&om)&onte nt)2)2)144/! 64 Robert .! roo$, a'ren&e J! Appel, ?elvyn R%ben#ire, benga >geegbe, John .! isognano, 8illiam J! Dlliott, Hlavio .! H%&hs, Joel 8! :%ghes, .aniel T! a&$lan, eth A! ta##ileno, Raymon R! To'nsen, an anay Raagopalan, Leyon ?ei&ations an .iet3 Alternative Approa&hes to o'ering loo Press%re3 A &ien* ti#i& tatement Hrom the Ameri&an :eart Asso&iation,M :yperten* sion , vol! /1, "o! /, J%ne 201, p! 1/0*16, http3))hyper!ahao% rnals!org)&ontent)/1)/)1/0, http3))hyper!ahao%rnals!org)&ont ent)early)201)04)22):FP!0b01e162/45#!#%ll!p#! 65 Dlisha .avi olstein, La&re ?oments3 +mpli&ations on 8ell* eing an tress,M Jo%rnal o# Clini&al Psy&hology , (ol! /, "o! 10, 200, pp! 1001*101, http3))elishagolstein!&om)assets)golstein **o#*&lini&al*psy&hology*200*/10*1001*101!p#! 6/ 8hi&h is not to say that this might not &hange or that this area is 4/
T:D TR+PD PAT:
6 66 6 0 1 2
4
5
not 'orthy o# #%rther investigation! Hor e9ample, &ases s%&h as those etaile in T'enty Cases %ggestive o# Rein&arnation by psy* &hiatrist +an tevenson are 'orth #%rther investigation an resear&h! Peter C! :ill an Kenneth +! Pargament ;see #ootnote 1=, pp! /* //! ame , p! /! ame ;&itations omitte=! ame , p! /6! ame ! ame , p! /*/6! .avi :! Rosmarin, Joseph ! iga*Peyton, arah J! KertB, "asya mith, &ott ! Ra%&h, ThrWst%r Wrgvinsson, LA test o# #aith in o an treatment3 The relationship o# belie# in o to psy&hiatri& treatment o%t&omes,M Jo%rnal o# A##e&tive .isorers , (ol! 14/, "o! , April 25, 201, pp! 441I44/, https3))'''!s&ien&eire&t!&om) s&ien&e)arti&le)pii)01/50212005Q, http3))'''!a*o%rn al!&om)arti&le)01/5*0226122005*Q)abstra&tE see also Timothy ! mith, ?i&hael D! ?&C%llo%gh, J%stin Poll, LReligio%s* ness an .epression3 Dvien&e #or a ?ain D##e&t an the ?oerat* ing +n#l%en&e o# tress#%l i#e Dvents,M Psy&hologi&al %lletin , (ol! 12, "o! 4, 200, pp! /14*//, http3))'''!psy!miami!e%)ehbla b)Religion20Papers)ReligS.epressSPsy&20%ll!p# ! The a%thors also #o%n that some o# this relationship bet'een hap* piness an theism 'as e9plaine by a &%lt%re@s level o# pre#eren&e #or %n&ertainty avoian&e! Ale$sanr Kogan, Joni asa$i, Christopher Uo%, :ee%ng Kim, an Ce&ilia Cheng, L7n&ertainty avoian&e moerates the lin$ bet'een #aith an s%be&tive 'ell*being aro%n the 'orl,M The Jo%rnal o# Positive Psy&hology , 201, http3))'''! tan#online!&om)oi)#%ll)10!1060)14/0!201!6120, htt p3))&p'lab!aB%re'ebsites!net)P%bli&ations)8(20Haith20an 208ellbeing20201!p#! C%la ?al%n$yovaa %tta, The horter +nstr%&tions to ?al%n$ya, translate #rom the Pali by Thanissaro hi$$h%, http3))b%has%tr a!&om)#iles)&%laSmal%n$yovaaSs%tta!htm!
4
The three boo$s o# Part T'o #ollo' the style o# ?ar&%s A%re* li%s@s ?eitations! They &ontain my personal tho%ghts, mostly 'ritten in the se&on person! + 'rote them as reminers an tea&hings to mysel# an my &hilren o# 'hat + aspire to be an ho' + aspire to a&t, an ho' + thin$ they sho%l aspire to a&t an be! Thro%gho%t, + o#ten aapt the 'ors o# many o# the 'orl@s great religio%s an philosophi&al thin$ers! The #ootnotes list the so%r&es that inspire ea&h se&tion@s ieas an 'ors! :ere are the main 'or$s that + relie on, along 'ith some e9* planatory notes abo%t abbreviations3 The ible ;+ ass%me the reaer@s $no'lege o# the names o# the boo$s o# the ible an re#er in the #ootnotes only to spe &i#i& boo$s=! The %ha, .hammapaa Ch%ang TB%, Ch%ang TB% Jes%s, ospel o# Thomas Joseph mith, The oo$ o# ?ormon ;abbreviate as Lo?M= Joseph mith, .o&trine an Covenants ;abbreviate as L.CM= ?ar&%s A%reli%s, ?eitations Tao Te Ching + relie on many other 'or$s as 'ell, 'hi&h are all &ite in the #oot* notes! The meitations in ea&h boo$ are arrange by s%be&t matter! The #ollo'ing table o# &ontents list the s%be&ts an page n%mbers #or ea&h &hapter! •
• • • • •
• •
50
1! The Triple Path!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 55 2! 8isom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 5/ ! Hoolishness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 5 4! The 7n$no'able!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! /1 5! A&tion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! / /! :%mility!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! /4 ! Patien&e!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! /5 6! The 7nprei&tability o# i#e!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! /5 ! The D##e&t o# 8isom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! /5 10! Dmptiness an tillness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! /5 11! Dngagement!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! /6 12! Tho%ghts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! / 1! ratit%e!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! / 14! Prayer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! / 15! 8orship!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 0 1/! Cosmology!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 0 1! Transien&e!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2 16! The Changing el#!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 4 1! .eath an +mmortalityE Hame an Praise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!4 20! Per&eptions an the >pinions o# >thers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 5 21! ee$ing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 5 22! el# Kno'lege, el#*?astery, an el#lessness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2! The Ri&hes o# 8isom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 6 24! The (oi&e o# 8isom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 25! Cosmology3 .%ality an Hree 8ill!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2/! ages!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 60 2! ee$ing an e&oming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 60 26! Hlo'ers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 61 2! This oo$!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 61 0! +mprovement an +mper#e&tion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 61 1! e&oming 8ise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 62
51
1! The Triple Path!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 6 2! (irt%e!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 0 ! (irt%e Comes #rom 8ithin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 4! Dmpathy an The olen R%le!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 4 5! ove!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 5 /! Anger an :atre!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 5 ! J%ging!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 5 6! Competition an Cooperation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! / ! Charity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! / 10! el#lessness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 11! Joy an &ontentment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 6 12! Horgiveness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 6 1! Hree 8ill an A&&o%ntability!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 14! Tho%ghts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 100 15! A&tions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 101 1/! Patien&e!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 102 1! Pra&ti&e!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 102 16! Persisten&e in (irt%e!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 102 1! Priorities!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 10 20! Personal Responsibility!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 105 21! Ca%se an D##e&t!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 105 22! ?otivation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 105 2! .is&ipline!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 105 24! ?aterialism, .esire, an ree!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!10 25! el# Restraint!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 10 2/! Killing an ?%rer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 110 2! (iolen&e, el#*.e#ense, an Anger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 110 26! :onesty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 111 2! +ntegrity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 112 0! Chastity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 112 1! ?arriage an Hamily!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 112 2! :%man 8ea$nessesE Con#li&ts 8ith >thers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 11 ! Kinness an Relationships 8ith >thers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 114 4! e&re&y an Priva&y!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 115 52
5! haring the Triple Path!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 115 /! The oliarity o# :%man$in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11/ ! A :armonio%s o&iety!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 11/ 6! eaership!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 116 ! Po'er an +n#l%en&e!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 120 40! overnment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 122 41! earning Hrom >thers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 122 42! Criti&iBing >thers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 122 4! Hriens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 12 44! Controlling Fo%r Per&eptions o# >thers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 12 45! oo Chara&ter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 12 4/! :ypo&risy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 124 4! oasting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 125 46! alan&e!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 125 4! :ar 8or$!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 12/ 50! .ay o# Rest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 12/ 51! el#*Relian&e!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 12 52! .ebt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 12 5! D%&ation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 126 54! oo :ealth an .iet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 126 55! ?%si&!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 12 5/! Hlo'ers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 12 5! This oo$!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 12 56! +mprovement an +mper#e&tion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!12 5! e&oming (irt%o%s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 10
5
1! The Triple Path!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 1 2! :ope!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 140 ! .is&ontent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 141 4! ratit%e!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 142 5! Ho&%s on Things Fo% Can Control!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 142 /! %iling a etter 8orl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 14 ! 8ise ?oeration!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 14 6! Persisten&e!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 144 ! The reat "o'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 144 10! Tragey an %##ering!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 144 11! .eath an +mmortality!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 145 12! ?a9imiBing +mpa&t!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 145 1! Tr%st in >thers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 145 14! The H%t%re!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 14/ 15! Paraise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 14/ 1/! overnment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 14/ 1! Hlo'ers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 14 16! This oo$!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 14 1! +mprovement an +mper#e&tion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!146 20! :aving :ope!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 146
54
1 Hollo' the triple path to enlightenment3 see$ 'isom, o goo, an labor 'ith hopeInothing is more important than these! 2 etter than 'ealth or po'er is ta$ing yo%r #irst step on the triple path! 7nerstaning 'isom, virt%e, an hope is li$e loo$ing at three straight parallel lines that stret&h o%t to in#inity! +n the istan&e, at the #arthest pla&e yo% &an see, the lines &onverge into one point! The triple path is really the single path! 8isom, virt%e, an hope are the same thing! 4 8hat goo is it i# yo% say yo% have 'isom, b%t yo% o not have virt%e an hopeG +s 'isom eno%ghG "oX Fo% nee all three! Fo% &annot have real 'isom 'itho%t also having virt%e an hope! 5 8hen yo% %nerstan the triple path, yo% #ollo' it #or its o'n sa$e, not #or e9ternal re'ar or bene#it! Hor this reason, no matter the opinions o# others, to themselves, the 'ise have no a%thority, the virt%* o%s have no sel#, the labors o# the hope#%l are never &omplete! / 8hen yo% begin to %nerstan the triple path, yo% start to see that yo% are limite in an in#inite n%mber o# 'ays, b%t that yo%r &apa&* ity to #in 'isom is still limitless! Animals that eat grass o not 'orry abo%t a &hange o# past%reE #resh'ater #ish o not 'orry abo%t a &hange o# stream! They a&&ept the minor shi#t so long as the all*important &onstant remains! Fo%r impor* tant &onstants are 'isom, virt%e, an hope! Dns%re that these are &on* stants in yo%r li#e no matter yo%r &ir&%mstan&es, an yo% 'ill never have &a%se #or tr%e 'orry! 6 8hat is the p%rpose o# li#eG 8hat is the res%lt o# a li#e 'ell* liveG Joy an enlightenment! :o' o yo% attain oy an enlightenmentG y #ollo'ing the triple path an by 'orrying more abo%t helping others a&hieve oy an en* 55
8+.>? lightenment than abo%t getting them #or yo%rsel#! 8hen yo% stop #o&%s* ing on yo%rsel#, the oy an enlightenment &ome on their o'n! 8hen yo% begin to #ollo' the triple path, yo% see the 'orl in a ne' lightE it is as i# everything has be&ome ne' again! 10 >n&e yo% have starte to #ollo' the triple path, press #or'ar %ntil the en 'ith steainess, having a per#e&t brightness o# hope, &on* tin%ally see$ing 'isom an a&ting 'ith virt%e, sho'ing love #or all people! 11 8a$e %p an #ollo' the triple path! The ay seems short 'hen yo% sleep thro%gh itE li#e seems meaningless 'hen yo% are not see$ing 'isom, oing goo, an laboring 'ith hope! 12 8isom, virt%e, an hope are #ree to yo%, i# yo% see$ them! 8isom, virt%e, an hope 'ill save yo% i# yo% have them to bring #orth #rom 'ithin yo%rsel#! 8isom, virt%e, an hope 'ill estroy yo% i# yo% o not re&eive them 'ithin yo% to bring #orth! 1 et yo%r resolve to live the triple path an yo%r pra&ti&e o# it be li$e a #orti#ie &ity b%ilt on a mo%ntain, strong an not hien! 14 ?a$e see$ing 'isom, oing goo, an laboring 'ith hope yo%r highest priorities! Ho&%sing on less important things ma$es it im* possible to &on&entrate on the best things! "ever vie' yo%r pra&ti&e o# the triple path as a istra&tion or an a#tertho%ght! +# yo% o, yo% are not really #ollo'ing it any'ay! Time spent 'anering a'ay #rom the triple path is time yo% have lost #ining the 'isom, gooness, an hope yo% &o%l have ha! 15 e&ome an e9perien&e traveler on the triple path! Then, even 'hen yo% #eel li$e yo% $no' little, yo% 'ill #in great 'isomE even 'hen yo% o not #eel li$e oing goo, yo% 'ill a&t 'ith e9emplary virt%eE an even in the most esperate o# times, yo% 'ill labor 'ith hope! 1/ There are many 'ho #ollo' the triple path, b%t &all it some* thing else, or &all it nothing at all! All 'ho see$ 'isom, o goo, an labor 'ith hope #ollo' the triple path! 1 8hat is 'isomG +t is ophia! +t is a ?ystery! +t has no real name! 8hen yo% begin to %nerstan it, it seems still an #ormless, 5/
T:D TR+PD PAT: staning alone, an %n&hanging, rea&hing every'here an in no anger o# being e9ha%steE yet 'ithin yo% it &a%ses a&tion an &hange an gives #orm an %nerstaning to 'hat yo% per&eive! 8isom is the mother o# all things! 8isom is the &enter o# the %niverseE it is a goo man@s trea* s%re, an a ba man@s re#%ge! 8isom oes not &ompete, yet 'ins! +t oes not spea$, yet it al'ays respons! +t &annot be s%mmone, b%t &omes o# its o'n volition! +t oes not &omman, yet is obeye! 2 +t 'o%l be better to live %st one ay 'ith 'isom, than to live a h%nre years as a #ool! 8isom is an el%sive thing! Fo% &annot #or&e it into yo%rsel# or into others! 8hen yo% try to #or&e 'isom, yo% %st en %p estroy* ing it! 4 Dven tho%gh 'isom is simple an small, no one has ever #%lly %nerstoo or emboie it! 5 8hen yo% re&eive 'isom it is li$e re&eiving light into yo%r min! Contin%e see$ing 'isom an yo% 'ill re&eive more light, an that light 'ill gro' brighter an brighter! 8isom entering yo%r min is li$e t%rning on a light in a ar$ roomIit lets yo% per&eive yo%r s%r* ro%nings! J%st as 'al$ing in the light lets yo% move abo%t 'itho%t trip * ping, living 'ith 'isom lets yo% e9ist 'ith pea&e an ass%ran&e! The more 'isom yo% have, the better yo% %nerstan gooness an moral* ity, li#e, h%man relationships, an the realities o# the %niverse! / e'are o# being e&eiveE to avoi this, see$ earnestly #or 'is* om! Dven tho%gh yo% see$ yo%r 'hole li#e to %nerstan 'isom, yo% 'ill never #%lly grasp it! .o not be ismaye! The more yo% grasp to* 'ar the %n$no'able, the more %nerstaning yo% gain! Dven tho%gh yo% 'ill never have all 'isom, a li#e o# see$ing brings yo% to an ever* &loser %nerstaning an emboiment o# tr%e 'isom! .evelop a habit o# &are#%l in%iry in all matters o# 'isom an $no'lege! e persistentE o not stop investigating an see$ing, even tho%gh yo% thin$ yo% are satis#ie 'ith initial appearan&es an 'ith 'hat yo% #irst thin$ yo% have is&overe! Consier things &are#%lly, as i# yo% have an ab%nan&e o# time, an 'itho%t &on#%sion, in an or* erly 'ay, vigoro%sly an &onsistently! 6 8isom &omes bit by bit! e patient in see$ing #or it! The 5
8+.>? large re'oo gro's #rom the tiniest seeE the &onstr%&tion o# the tallest b%iling begins 'ith a single shovel#%l o# irtE the o%rney o# a tho%san miles starts 'ith a single step! Fo% o not sho' 'isom by m%&h tal$ingE yo% sho' 'isom by being patient, #ree #rom hatre an #ear an by re&ogniBing that yo%r $no'lege is al'ays in&omplete! 10 reat 'isom is broa an %nh%rrieE #oolishness is &rampe an b%sy! 11 +# yo% are 'ise, yo% have the proper perspe&tive on things that are &lose an #ar a'ay! Fo% re&ogniBe small things 'itho%t &onsiering them paltry an re&ogniBe large things 'itho%t &onsiering them %n* 'iely! Fo% o not elight i# yo% a&%ire something, nor o yo% 'orry 'hen yo% la&$ something or lose it! 12 The 'ise rest 'here there is rest an o not try to rest 'here there is no rest! The #oolish try to rest 'here there is no rest an o not rest 'here rest is to be #o%n! 1 ive al'ays see$ing greater 'isom, %st li$e a s'i#t river that is al'ays #lo'ing to'ar the great e9panse o# the sea! 14 8isom is the great p%ri#ier an re#iner! 8hen yo% #in 'is* om, it 'ill re#ine an p%ri#y yo%r &hara&ter so that only 'isom, virt%e, an hope remain! 8hen yo% %nerstan the triple path, yo% realiBe that 'isom, virt%e, an hope are all really the same thing! 15 Real 'isom &annot be 'ritten in in$ on a page! +t is 'ritten in the mins an hearts o# the 'ise! 1/ The 'ise hol onto every goo thing they #in, no matter its so%r&e! 1 8isom is better than might or po'er! +t is better than 'eapons o# 'ar! 16 8hen a $ni#e ege is bl%nt, yo% nee m%&h e##ort to &%t 'ith it! 8isom is li$e a sharp blae, helping yo% e##ortlessly &%t thro%gh the obsta&les o# li#e! 1 8hen yo% are 'ise, yo% o not ta$e &reit #or yo%r 'isom or boast prie#%lly o# yo%r o'n merit! The 'ise %nerstan their 'ea$* nesses an re&ogniBe ho' m%&h o# their merit &omes #rom 'hat they have learne #rom others! They o not see$ to isplay s%periority! 56
T:D TR+PD PAT: 20 :o' &an yo% re&ogniBe 'hen yo% are a&ting 'ith 'isomG y the #r%its o# yo%r a&ts! Fo% 'ill never harvest grapes #rom thorn b%shes! The i##eren&e bet'een a thorn b%sh an yo% is that thorn b%shes &an never &hange the #r%it they pro%&e! Fo% &an! 21 A&ting 'ith 'isom brings goo #r%its! .o not espair i# yo% o not see the goo #r%its right a'ay! They 'ill &ome! 22 +# yo% imagine tr%th in %ntr%th, an see %ntr%th in tr%th, yo% 'ill never #in 'isom! +# yo% believe that 'hi&h is %nimportant to be essential an that 'hi&h is essential to be %nimportant, yo% 'ill never #in 'isom! >ne o# the #irst steps to 'isom is learning to re&ogniBe that 'hi&h is essential an that 'hi&h is %nimportant! 2 ee$ 'isom every'here! .o not be s%rprise to #in it in the %nli$eliest o# pla&es, even in the mins o# yo%r opponentsespe&ially in the mins o# yo%r opponents! 24 "ever stop see$ing to #ill yo%rsel# 'ith 'isom, no matter ho' slo'ly it seems to ta$e! +# yo% see$ it, yo% 'ill be&ome #%ll o# 'is* om, even i# yo% gather it little by little! A b%&$et &an still be #ille rop by rop! %t a b%&$et 'ill never be #ille i# there are no ropsX .o not thin$ lightly o# #oolishness, #lippantly e9&%sing yo%r mista$es an #ollies! A b%&$et &an also be emptie rop by ropE yo% may be&ome empty o# 'isom an #%ll o# #oolishness, even i# it hap* pens little by little! 25 Fo% &annot re&eive 'isom #rom someone else, yo% m%st #in it yo%rsel#! >thers &an point yo% to'ar the path that leas to 'isom, b%t yo% &an only arrive at 'isom by traveling that path in the 'iler* ness yo%rsel#! The o%rney 'ill be a str%ggle, b%t 'hat an in&omparable vi&tory yo% 'ill a&hieve 'hen yo% #inally #in 'isom along the 'ayX 1 :o' blin an impenetrable are o%r %nerstanings, #or 'e 'ill not see$ 'isom, neither o 'e esire that she sho%l r%le over %sX 2 ?any are bline by the #oolishness they a&&ept #rom the #alse traitions o# their an&estors or the ignoran&e o# those aro%n them! Hools #ight against 'isom 'hen they en&o%nter it! 4 The 'orst #ool is the one 'ho #ools himsel#! +t is too easy to tell yo%rsel# lies that seem li$e tr%th! .o not #ool yo%rsel#! This is the 5
8+.>? #irst step to es&aping #rom #oolishness into 'isom! 5 The #ool 'ho $no's his #oolishness, is 'ise at least so #ar! %t a #ool 'ho thin$s himsel# 'ise, he is a #ool inee! / A #ool s%rro%ne by 'isom all his li#e 'ill per&eive the tr%th as little as a spoon per&eives the taste o# so%p! A is&erning person s%r* ro%ne by 'isom #or %st one min%te 'ill soon per&eive the tr%th, as the tong%e per&eives the taste o# a hearty meal! As a #ool, yo%r greatest enemy is yo%rsel#, #or yo%r #oolish an ba ees 'ill event%ally bear bitter #r%its! As long as the ee oes not bear #r%it, it 'ill seem to yo% li$e honeyE b%t 'hen it ripens, then yo% 'ill s%##er bitter grie#! 6 Hools #ly o## li$e a b%llet, &ertain that they are the arbiters o# right an 'rong! They st%bbornly &ling to their position, s%re that they are holing on to vi&tory! They ro'n in 'hat they oyo% &annot ma$e them t%rn ba&$ to #irm gro%n! As they gro' oler, their mins gro' ar$erthe oler they get, the harer it be&omes to restore them to the light! The #oolish are o#ten so 'ee to their #oolishness that they are p%BBle, s%rprise, or even angry 'hen 'hen they en&o%nter 'is* om! 10 8hen a bir stops momentarily to rest near yo%r home, o yo% invite it in an share 'ith it the ban%et yo% 'ere #easting %ponG ># &o%rse not, i# yo% i the bir 'o%l only be&ome %nhappy an &on#%se, an yo%r #oo 'o%l li$ely ma$e it si&$! Fo% o not no%rish a bir 'ith 'hat 'o%l no%rish yo%! ?any people are irreeemably #ool* ishE sharing 'isom 'ith them is li$e ta$ing a mo%se #or a rie in yo%r &ar or trying to elight a %ail 'ith bea%ti#%l m%si&! :o' &o%l he help b%t be &on#%se, startle, or angryG 11 ?any 'ho are #ools 'ill %nerstan an a&&ept 'isom 'hen they en&o%nter it, b%t the %n#ort%nate tr%th is that many never 'ill a&* &ept or %nerstan it, inee many &annot ! Fo% &an re&ogniBe a bir by loo$ing at it! Fo% &annot re&ogniBe a #ool, tho%gh, %st by loo$ing at one! Th%s, try to prepare everyone to re&eive 'isom! hare 'isom 'ith all, b%t %nerstan that many 'ill not %nerstan it, b%t 'ill in* stea be &on#%se, s%rprise, or angere! /0
T:D TR+PD PAT: 12 The #oolish stare at their haBy re#le&tion in m%y 'ater an thin$ they have a &lear vie' o# the 'orl! Hools hear, yet o not %ner* stan, they see an o not per&eive! 1 Hoolishness is born o%t o# inertia, laBiness, &arelessness! "o one is born 'ise! ?any a%lts never #in 'isom be&a%se they let the inertia o# their yo%th#%l #oolishness &arry them thro%gh li#e! They are too laBy or too &areless to p%ll themselves o## o# the path o# #oolishness an onto the triple path! 14 The #oolish reap estr%&tion as their event%al re'arE they are so shortsighte, tho%gh, that they harly ever realiBe the estr%&tion is &oming %ntil it is too late! 15 The greatest #ools o# all are the materialisti& ri&h an the igno* rant learne! The materialisti& ri&h are those 'ho spen their 'ealth on themselves, 'ho are &on&erne 'ith &onspi&%o%s &ons%mption an sta* t%s symbols, an 'ho 'aste their 'ealth on ile pastimes! They ass%me that their #oolish 'aste o# reso%r&es 'ill bring happiness, 'hen it only brings estr%&tion! The ignorant learne are those 'ho ogmati&ally &ling to 'hat they have been ta%ght 'itho%t see$ing ne' an better ieas an approa&hes! They ass%me 'hat they have alreay been ta%ght is the #%ll e9tent o# 'isom an enlightenment, an so live all their lives in imness! 1/ +t is better to hear the reb%$e o# the 'ise than the song o# #ools! 1 The 'ise have eyes to seeE #ools grope aro%n in ar$ness! 16 Hools, la&$ing %nerstaning, la%gh at 'isom! 1 >ne heeless #ool &an estroy m%&h goo! 20 Hools ret%rn again an again see$ing 'ater #rom a b%&$et ippe into a ry 'ell! 21 The 'or$ o# #ools 'ears them o%t, #or they 'aste their e##orts in vain p%rs%its! The 'or$ o# the 'ise brings the satis#a&tion o# a&&om* plishment, #or they e9pen their e##orts a&hieving 'orthy ens! 1 A #rog in a 'ell &annot imagine the o&ean, nor &an an inse&t in s%mmer &on&eive o# i&e! :o' then &an someone 'ho thin$s he is al* reay 'ell*in#orme %nerstan 'isomG :e is restri&te by his o'n /1
8+.>? learning! Fo% &annot have tr%e 'isom %nless yo% o goo ees, an are #%ll o# love an hope, b%t these are not eno%gh! "o one &an be tr%ly 'ise 'itho%t %nerstaning that o%r h%man mins are limite an that m%&h is %n$no'able! 2 +t is not %ntil yo% &ome to the shore that yo% &an begin to %n* erstan the vastness o# the o&eanE it is not %ntil yo% %nerstan the limits o# yo%r $no'lege an ability that yo% &an begin to %nerstan the limitlessness o# tr%e 'isom! Anyone 'ho &laims to have all the an* s'ers is lying! Anyone 'ho &laims to have easy ans'ers is el%e! There are no %i&$, easy ans'ers! There are no short&%ts to 'isom! Hirst re&* ogniBe the magnit%e o# the %n$no'able, an then yo%r min 'ill start to rea&h into enlightenment! Fo%r min is li$e a small semipre&io%s stone sitting hal#'ay %p a big mo%ntain! ee the smallness o# yo%rsel#E &ease yo%r sel#*prie in the l%ster o# yo%r little stone! oo$ aro%n yo% an see the great, bea%* ti#%l mo%ntain o# 'isom that has been beneath yo%, s%rro%ning yo% all along! 4 8e loo$ at 'isom an o not see it, 'e listen to 'isom an o not hear it, 'e try to grasp 'isom an &annot get hol o# it! +t &an* not be es&ribe! +t is %n&hanging an tran%il, ina%ible, an s%btle! 5 Those 'ho most aamantly &laim &ertainty in their 'isom are the least 'iseE even i# there is m%&h goo in their tea&hings or belie#s, their #alse &ertainty impees their #%rther progress! Their #alse &ertainty leas them to ree&t ne' an more &orre&t tr%ths 'hen they en&o%nter them! This is ho' yo% may re&ogniBe the tr%ly 'ise3 they o not &laim to have a monopoly on tr%th or 'isomE they o not &laim e9&l%sive $no'legeE they see$ to learn ne' things an #reely &hange their opin* ion 'hen &on#ronte 'ith better in#ormation that &ontrai&ts their ol belie#s! An be&a%se o# their &ontin%al %n&ertainty, yo% 'ill #in more tr%th an &ertainty in their tea&hings than in someone 'ho &laims abso* l%te tr%th, &ertainty, an $no'lege! / People begin li#e so#t an yielingE at eath they are sti## an har! iving an gro'ing plants are tener an #le9ible 'hile alive, b%t 'ithere an rie 'hen ea! The %nbening rigor o# yo%r belie#s an opinions is a sign o# yo%r intelle&t%al an spirit%al eath! Hle9ibility is a /2
T:D TR+PD PAT: sign o# living, intelle&t%al, an spirit%al gro'thIit is a tr%e sign o# 'is* om! To $no' an yet $no' that yo%r $no'lege is in&omplete an may be 'rong is a high attainment! To thin$ yo% $no' 'hen yo% o not is a isease! Re&ogniBing this isease as a isease is to be #ree o# it! +# yo% are 'ise, yo% 'ill la&$ this isease! Hirst, tho%gh, yo% m%st be&ome si&$ o# being si&$! Al'ays see$ 'isom, b%t never be&ome so evote to 'hat yo% have alreay learne that yo% be&ome %nable to re&ogniBe higher, p%rer, more &orre&t 'isom 'hen yo% en&o%nter it! 6 A blin person &annot %nerstan a #ine painting, nor &an a ea# person &omprehen bea%ti#%l m%si&! The blin $no' they &annot seeE the ea# $no' they &annot hear! They hone their other senses an learn to &ompensate! The #ools 'ho thin$ they have all the ans'ers to li#e@s %estions are blin an ea# to 'isom an o not even $no' it! %&h people o not even $no' 'hat the real %estions areX 8hen a blin tea&her tries to lea a blin st%ent, they 'ill both #all into a pit! Tally %p everything that yo% $no', an it &annot &ompare to all the things that yo% o not $no'! Cal&%late the time yo% have been alive, an it &annot &ompare to the time be#ore yo% 'ere born, or the time that 'ill pass a#ter yo% ie! 10 8hen yo% ta$e a step, yo%r #eet only step on a small part o# the gro%n! Dven tho%gh yo%r #eet only rest on a small area, they also epen on the s%pport that &omes #rom the rest o# the s%rro%ning gro%n! Dven tho%gh yo%r $no'lege an %nerstaning are paltry, they epen on the s%pport that &omes #rom all the things yo% o not $no'! 8isom is re&ogniBing this s%pport an #ining &om#ort an repose in the %n$no'n an the %n$no'able! 11 Fo%r %nerstaning o# tr%th is as limite an inistin&t as a re#le&tion seen in a small mirror in a ar$ room! 1 8isom is not mere passive learning an &ontemplation! Real 'isom leas to a&tion! +# yo% 'ant to gain 'isom, then prepare yo%r* sel# #or a&tion! :o' o yo% $no' yo% have #o%n 'isomG +t rives yo% to a&tion! 2 RealiBing the limits o# yo%r $no'lege is not an e9&%se #or in* /
8+.>? a&tion! .o not let yo%r o%bts paralyBe yo%only a #ool 'o%l o that! e proa&tive, going #or'ar a&&oring to the best $no'lege an 'isom yo% have! tan #irm in the 'isom yo% have #o%nE be %nre* lenting an iligent in oing goo an laboring 'ith hope, yet al'ays striving #or greater $no'lege an 'isom! e pr%ent an brave, as 'ell as 'ise! +# yo% are pr%ent an 'ise, yo% 'ill anti&ipate i##i&%lties be#ore they arise, 'hen their sol%* tion is easy, an ta$e a&tion to prevent the problem #rom arisingE yo% 'ill o small things that 'ill be&ome great! +# yo% are brave an 'ise, yo% 'ill not be a#rai to eal 'ith great i##i&%lties yo% en&o%nter, an yo% 'ill solve themE yo% 'ill o great things that others #ear to o! e pr%ent, brave, an 'ise, an yo%r many small a&ts 'ill bring abo%t many great things, an yo%r great a&ts 'ill solve many a%nting prob* lems! 1 The root o# h%mility is re&ogniBing that there is m%&h yo% o not $no', an that there is m%&h yo% 'ill never $no'! 2 8hen yo% are h%mble yo% o not min reproo# or &riti&ism, no matter yo%r station in li#e an no matter the station o# 'homever is &riti&iBing! Fo% honestly &onsier the reproo# an a&tively see$ to &or* re&t yo%r mista$es an #ailings, a&ting 'ith 'isom, virt%e, is&ernment, an hope! Too o#ten, yo% try to e9&%se yo%r #a%lts an &laim yo% o not eserve to s%##er the &onse%en&es o# yo%r a&tions! Too rarely, yo% a&* &ept yo%r mista$es an #a%lts 'itho%t trying to e9&%se them an a&&ept the &onse%en&es o# yo%r a&tions! e h%mble, an ma$e the rare be&ome #re%ent an #re%ent be&ome rare! 4 .o not &laim to be 'iser than yo% are! Keep in min too, that it is nearly impossible #or yo% to $no' ho' m%&h 'isom yo% really have! Also remember that yo% are more li$ely to thin$ yo% have more 'isom than yo% a&t%ally o than yo% are to thin$ that yo% have less! 5 i$e every person, yo% are #%ll o# 'ea$nesses an short&om* ings! 8or$ to t%rn yo%r 'ea$nesses into strengths3 see$ to is&over them, #ran$ly a&$no'lege them, 'or$ to over&ome them, an o not let yo%r #ail%res to over&ome them is&o%rage yo%instea let them re* /4
T:D TR+PD PAT: min yo% al'ays to be h%mble! Dven i# yo% only %se yo%r 'ea$nesses to tea&h yo%rsel# h%mility, they have starte to be&ome strengths to yo%! 1 e tireless in yo%r sear&h #or 'isom an in yo%r pra&ti&e o# the triple path, b%t also patient! 8isom &omes slo'ly, li$e a b%&$et be* ing #ille rop by rop! Fo% &annot get 'isom %nless yo% are patient eno%gh to let it #ill yo%r min! 1 8ho $no's 'hat the #%t%re bringsG The ra&e oes not al'ays go to the s'i#t, neither the battle al'ays to the strong! Time an &han&e happen to everyone! Fo% &an never $no' 'hen yo% 'ill en&o%nter times o# mis#ort%ne! J%st li$e the #ishes that are &a%ght in a net or the birs &a%ght in a trap, ea&h person is s%be&t to the ranom vi&issit%es o# li#e! The triple path is no g%arantee o# a #avorable estiny! 7npre* i&table mis#ort%ne be#alls the 'ise, the virt%o%s, an the hope#%l %st li$e everyone else! The 'ise %nerstan this an still #ollo' the triple path, no matter 'hat happens to them! 1 8hen yo% n%rse 'isom 'ithin yo%rsel#, it 'ill bring goo 'or$s an hope into yo%r li#e! 8hen 'isom r%les in a #amily, more happiness an s%&&ess 'ill be #o%n! 8hen a &omm%nity pra&ti&es 'is* om, its &onition improves! 8hen a &o%ntry@s leaers an representa* tives a&t 'ith 'isom, it 'ill have more pea&e an prosperity! The e##e&t o# 'isom &an be &learly observe in inivi%als, &omm%nities, an &o%ntries! %t o not &on#%se &a%se #or e##e&t ! The ranomness o# li#e an the limits o# o%r per&eption mean that inivi%als, &omm%nities, an &o%ntries may temporarily appear to enoy the #r%its o# 'isom, even 'hen they are pra&ti&ing #oolishness! Hor this reason, 'ise inivi%* als, &omm%nities, an &o%ntries #ining themselves in goo &ir&%m* stan&es never ta$e their goo #ort%ne as a sign o# their 'isom, virt%e, or hope! +nstea, they h%mbly try to ens%re they ever more #aith#%lly #ollo' the triple path! .o not be blin to yo%r o'n la&$ o# 'isomE never interpret s%&&ess as a sign o# gooness or 'isom! 1
till yo%r min an yo% 'ill #in tran%ility an insight! /5
8+.>? 2 P%rge yo%rsel# #rom all the tro%bles o# the min! Fo%r min is limite an #initeE 'isom is notE pea&e is not! The #inite &annot &ontain the in#inite! till yo%r min an empty it, an let the in#inite 'isom an pea&e #lo' thro%gh it! The &olness o# &on#%sion #reeBes yo%r min into #oolishness, li$e a gla&ier in 'inter! till yo%rsel#, an pea&e#%l 'armth 'ill shine thro%gh yo%r #roBen min an melt it, ma$ing it #l%i li$e spring r%no##! Th%s #ree, yo%r min 'ill #lo' 'itho%t e##ort li$e 'ater mov* ing o'nhill to #ill the eepest pla&es, nat%rally going to the eepest an most pro#o%n 'isom, #lo'ing to an in#inite o&ean! 4 To be #%ll o# 'isom, yo% m%st also be empty! Fo% &an &lear yo%r tro%ble min %st as yo% 'o%l &lear &h%rning, &lo%y, m%y 'ater! et it be still, an it 'ill gra%ally be&ome &lear on its o'n! Th%s emptying yo%r min o# 'hat &lo%s it, yo% 'ill #in &lear 'isom le#t behin! 5 Fo% &annot &learly see the re#le&tion o# yo%rsel# an yo%r s%r* ro%nings 'hen yo% loo$ into t%rb%lent 'aterIonly 'hen yo% stare into the still 'ater &an yo% really see! The per&eptions o# yo%r a&tive min are b%t a bl%rre an trembling re#le&tion o# reality, o#ten inae%ate an misleaing! A re#le&tion seen in still 'ater is small an in&omplete, b%t at least it is &lear! tare into the stillness o# yo%r min an begin to %nerstan! / .o not #ill yo%r min 'ith yo%rsel#! Dmpty yo%r min an #in the 'isom that &omes 'hen yo% are not #%ll o# yo%rsel#! till yo%r min an be&ome serene, li$e a eep, smooth, an still la$e! Hree yo%rsel# #rom 'orries, #ears, an istress! 6 The empty spa&e in the mile o# a 'heel ma$es the a9le move! A &ontainer is %se#%l be&a%se it is empty! A home is inviting be* &a%se o# the empty living spa&e 'ithin! These physi&al obe&ts are m%&h val%e, b%t it is the emptiness 'ithin them that a&t%ally ma$es them %se#%l! +# yo%r min is al'ays #%ll, ho' &an it be %se#%lG till yo%r tho%ghts! Dmpty yo%r min! +n the stillness an emptiness, yo% 'ill #in 'isom, pea&e, an p%rpose! Root yo%rsel# in tr%e 'isom! :o' &an yo% root yo%rsel# in anything i# yo%r min is al'ays #litting to an #roG //
T:D TR+PD PAT: 10 8hen yo% still yo%r min, yo% nat%rally gain toleran&e an great &apa&ity to o goo! Fo% #eel &onne&te to all things! Fo% are bet* ter able to hanle 'hatever happens to yo%! Fo% evelop a noble &hara&* ter an #in 'isom! 11 People see$ retreats #or themselves, ho%ses in the &o%ntry, sea* shores, an mo%ntainsE s%&h things are pleasant! There is no harm in en * oying s%&h es&apes in moeration! %t obstinately striving #or s%&h things is a mar$ o# #oolishness! +t is in yo%r po'er at any time to retire into yo%rsel#! Fo% &an never #in more %iet or more #reeom #rom tro%ble than by stilling an emptying yo%r min! Constantly then, give to yo%rsel# this retreat, an rene' yo%rsel#! oo$ 'ithin an #in 'is* om, tran%ility, an pea&e! 12 J%st li$e a #ish ta$en o%t o# the 'ater an thro'n on ry gro%n, yo%r tho%ghts tremble an %mp %n&ontrollably! Fo%r min, in its nat%ral state, is i##i&%lt to grasp, #lighty, r%shing 'herever it 'ants, #ollo'ing every #leeting 'him! A tame min brings happiness! till yo%r tho%ghts an tame yo%r min! 1 Fo%r min nat%rally varies bet'een stages o# greater t%rb%len&e an greater serenity, b%t its nat%ral state is t%rb%len&e! earn to ampli#y the serenity an ma$e it be&ome yo%r nat%ral state! +n all yo%r t%rb%lent a&tivity, #in time to ret%rn to yo%r nat%ral stateIempty an still, &on* ne&te to 'isom! 14 +n meitation, yo%r min be&omes eep an smooth! 8itho%t meitation, yo%r min h%stles to an #ro, yo%r tho%ghts mire ay a#ter ay in stri#e, #looe 'ith %ivering mean little #ears an heavy 'ith great #ears that are over'helming an leave yo% aBe! 15 Fo%r min is li$e a &olorless transl%&ent &rystal! +t ta$es on the &olor o# 'hatever s%rro%ns it! Dmpty yo%r min an s%rro%n it 'ith stillness, an it 'ill be&ome %nblemishe an p%re! 1/ it an #orget! +gnore yo%r boy! ilen&e yo%r tho%ghts! eave $no'lege behin! e&ome one 'ith 'isom! 1 A traveler lost his min an be&ame a#rai o# his o'n shao' an gre' to hate his #ootprints! :e trie to #ree himsel# by r%nning a'ay! :is r%nning %st &reate even more #ootprints, an his shao' never le#t him no matter ho' #ast he ran! "ot realiBing that he 'as the /
8+.>? so%r&e o# 'hat 'as &a%sing his anger an hatre, he ran #aster an #aster 'itho%t stopping %ntil his strength gave o%t an he &ollapse %ner a tree! >nly then, in %iet ina&tion in the shae, i he #in respite #rom his shao' an #ootprints! A#ter resting li$e this #or some time, he #i* nally &ame to himsel#! Hearless an 'itho%t hate, he got %p an 'al$e into the s%nlight! oo$ing #or'ar, the traveler i not even noti&e his #ootprints behin him or his shao' to his sie as he %i&$ly move to* 'ar his estination! Fo% are the so%r&e o# yo%r #ears an hatres! .o not be a#rai o# yo%rsel#yo% &annot es&ape #rom yo%rsel#! Fo% 'ill never #ree yo%r* sel# by r%shing yo%r min thro%gh trivialities or vain p%rs%its! +nstea, still yo%r min an #in pea&e an 'isom! Then, &oming to yo%rsel#, yo% 'ill move s'i#tly along the triple path, %na'are o# yo%rsel#! 16 +# yo% o physi&al 'or$ an o not rest, yo%r boy 'ill 'ear o'n! Fo%r 'or$ 'ill be &areless an #%ll o# mista$es! Fo%r 'or$ 'ill remain %n#inishe! +# yo% o mental 'or$ 'itho%t stilling an emptying yo%r min, yo%r min 'ill 'ear o'n! Fo%r thin$ing 'ill be &areless, &lo%e, an #%ll o# errors an #oolishness! Fo%r li#e@s 'or$ 'ill remain %n#inishe! 1 Al'ays ma$e time to still yo%r min an remove yo%rsel# #rom the istra&tions o# the o%tsie 'orl, b%t also o not &%t yo%rsel# o## #rom the 'orl, 'ith an al'ays*empty min! Fo% m%st also %se yo%r min #or &are#%l tho%ghts! Fo% also m%st #ill yo%r li#e 'ith eliberate an iligent a&tion, i# yo% are to o goo an labor 'ith hope! ?a$e time #or emptiness, b%t also #ill yo%r li#e 'ith engagement! 2 +t 'o%l be easy to #in &onstant serenity an pea&e by &losing yo%rsel# o## #rom the 'orl an #rom o%tsie obligations! %t this is the 'ay o# the sel#ish #ool! There is no 'isom in shir$ing yo%r obliga* tions to others! +# everyone a&te th%s, it 'o%l be the en o# h%manity! Real 'isom &omes 'hen yo% learn ho' to #in stillness an pea&e even 'hile b%sily engage in oing goo an laboring 'ith hope! et yo%r stillness an a&tion be li$e 'ater! 8hen it is at rest, nothing is more so#t an still than 'ater, b%t 'hen it moves to a&tion, it reshapes the lans&ape an over&omes the harest obsta&les it en* /6
T:D TR+PD PAT: &o%ntersIeven a small tri&$le o# 'ater &an &arve a eep &anyon! 1 %ar yo%r tho%ghtsE %ng%are, they are i##i&%lt to per&eive an they r%sh 'herever they esire 'itho%t is&ipline! +# yo%r tho%ghts are %nsteay an yo%r min is tro%ble, yo% &annot tr%ly %nerstan 'isom! 2 Fo%r misire&te tho%ghts o more harm to yo%rsel# than an enemy! .is&iplining yo%r tho%ghts oes more goo #or yo%rsel# than a great vi&tory in battle! As a very small r%er g%ies a large ship, so also yo%r tho%ghts g%ie the &o%rse o# yo%r li#e! 1 C%ltivate gratit%e 'ithin yo%rsel#! Fo% have m%&h #or 'hi&h yo% sho%l be than$#%l! ?a$e time every ay to &onsier the things #or 'hi&h yo% &an be grate#%l! 2 .o not thin$ o# yo%rsel# as being entitle to the goo things that yo% have! Consier all o# the goo things in yo%r li#e to be %n&on* itional gi#ts yo% have re&eive %nsoli&ite an %neserve, an then &%ltivate a level o# gratit%e in proportion to yo%r having re&eive s%&h genero%s gi#ts! .o not ever let yo%rsel# be&ome so a&&%stome to all the goo things in yo%r li#e that yo% lose yo%r appre&iation #or them! 4 .o not thin$ abo%t 'hat yo% o not have, b%t abo%t 'hat yo% o have! ># the things yo% have, thin$ on the best ones, an then re#le&t ho' eagerly yo% 'o%l see$ them i# yo% i not have them, an then be grate#%l that yo% o have them! At the same time, ho'ever, ta$e &are that yo% o not let yo%r gratit%e #or them lea yo% to overval%e them, so that yo% 'o%l be ist%rbe, angry, or isappointe i# yo% sho%l ever not have them! 5 "o matter yo%r sit%ation, yo%r li#e has m%&h goo in it! +t is too easy to #o&%s on 'hat yo% la&$ an be&ome %ngrate#%l! "ever #orget ho' m%&h goo there is in yo%r li#e! et asie time ea&h ay to 'ell on all o# the things #or 'hi&h yo% sho%l be grate#%l! ist them! Contem* plate them! e grate#%l! 1
Pray al'ays that 'isom be po%re o%t %pon yo%! Pray al'ays /
8+.>? #or sel#lessness, that yo% o not enter into temptation or #all prey to evil esires! 2 .o not be a #ool 'ho thin$s that prayer is #or gaining personal bene#it! Prayer@s p%rpose is to &%ltivate a grate#%l heart an love #or all h%man$in, an to #o&%s yo%rsel# on that 'hi&h is most important! 8hen yo% pray, give than$s #or all that is goo in yo%r li#e! ratit%e over&omes sel#ishness! 8hen yo% pray, e9press yo%r esire #or goo to &ome to others! ee$ing the betterment o# others ma$es yo%r sel#ishness e&rease! %t as$ing blessings #or others &arries no magi& to ma$e those blessings a reality! The blessings to others &ome only 'hen yo% 'or$ to ma$e them happen! Also pray to e9press yo%r esire to see$ more 'is* om, o more goo, an labor 'ith more hope, an then 'or$ to ma$e yo%r esires reality! 1 8hat sho%l yo% 'orshipG Reveren&e that 'hi&h is best in the %niverseE reveren&e that 'hi&h is 'ise an virt%o%s an hope#%l! :o' o yo% reveren&e an 'orship these thingsG The best 'orship is by em%la* tion, by a&ting to em%late the goo %alities o# the things yo% reveren&e! Th%s, the #ollo'er o# the triple path 'orships by see$ing 'isom, o* ing goo, an laboring 'ith hope! 2 .o not 'orship any person! .o not tr%st in any g%r%! "o one has per#e&t 'isom! "o one has per#e&t virt%e or hope! Certainly, yo% sho%l em%late the goo yo% see in others, b%t never #ool yo%rsel# that yo% 'ill ever #in someone 'orthy o# per#e&t em%lation! e not a #ol* lo'er o# any person! +nstea, be a #ollo'er o# 'isom, virt%e, an hope! 1 .o not 'orry abo%t %nseen spirit%al 'orls! Hirst re&ogniBe 'hat yo% &an see aro%n yo%, an the hien 'ill event%ally be&ome &lear! 2 .o yo% have a so%lG +s it eternalG +s yo%r so%l the same as yo%r boy, or separate #rom itG 8ill yo% &ontin%e to e9ist a#ter eathG +s there a heaven or hellG 8ill yo% be reborn againG <%estions li$e these are %nans'erable! These %estionsan the ans'ers yo% believe abo%t themare li$e a net trapping yo% in ogma an spe&%lation! 8e are all #oreigners, empty vessels born 'itho%t $no'lege or 0
T:D TR+PD PAT: 'isom, relying on 'hat others have passe on to %s o# their $no'lege an 'isom! "ever #orget yo%r obligation to o the same #or the ne9t generation! hare 'ith yo%r &hilren an others 'hat yo% have learneE yo%r generation inherite a great store o# h%man $no'lege an yo% m%st see$ to a to an improve it #or the ne9t generation! o oing, 'ith ea&h generation that passes, o%r h%man #amily &an gro' in 'isom an $no'lege, better %nerstaning 'ho an 'hat 'e are, an o%r pla&e in the %niverse! 4 +s e9isten&e a &on#%se ranom ispersion o# the elements, or is it %nity, orer, p%rpose, an provien&eG +t matters little! +# it is all &on#%se isorer, then yo% &an trans&en the nat%ral state o# things an &reate orer an happiness in the &haos by #ollo'ing the triple path! +# it is orere p%rpose, then %nity an provien&e lea to the prin&iples %nerlying the triple path! 5 +# there is a go 'ho has &reate yo% an etermine yo%r #ate, then he has le yo% to the triple path! +# there is a go 'ho has &reate yo% an le#t yo% to &hoose, then yo% sho%l &hoose the 'isom an gooness inherent in the triple path! +# there is not a go 'ho &reate yo% or etermines yo%r #ate, then yo% &an an sho%l %se yo%r po'ers o# reason an #eeling to etermine the right 'ay to live! 8hen yo% o this, yo% 'ill #in the triple path! / .o not overly &on&ern yo%rsel# 'ith 'hether there is an a#ter* li#e! Al'ays see$ 'isom, o goo, an labor 'ith hope 'itho%t regar to the re'ars yo% may or may not re&eive! +# there is no a#terli#e, then a li#e 'ell*live 'ill have been its o'n re'ar! +# there is an a#terli#e, then all the better! .o not #o&%s on #antasti&al myths or %nproven &osmologies, these istra&t #rom tr%e 'isom! Fo% &o%l 'aste yo%r entire li#etime trying to #in hien $no'lege in the 'il imaginings o# the an&ients 'itho%t ever rea&hing the #ont o# tr%e 'isom! 6 A 'ise healer &ame among a &omm%nity o# the blin! he ta%ght the people 'hat they neee to o to &%re their o'n blinness! The people 'hom she ta%ght 'ere so in a'e o# her 'isom an &om* passion that they 'ante to $no' more abo%t 'ho she 'as! eing blin, they %se their hans to #eel her to %nerstan her #eat%res! Da&h person 1
8+.>? to%&he a i##erent part o# her! >nly being able to be&ome a&%ainte 'ith a small part o# the healer, they ea&h &on&l%e i##erent things abo%t her nat%re an traits! Da&h person 'as so sel#*ass%re abo%t his or her limite per&eption o# the healer, tho%gh, that ea&h pres%me to %n* erstan the #%ll tr%th abo%t her! The healer 'as only 'ith the people a short time! Almost as soon as she le#t, the people began arg%ing abo%t 'ho an 'hat she 'as! "e's o# her visit, as 'ell as ne's o# the isagreements abo%t her na * t%re, passe %i&$ly thro%gh the &omm%nity! Da&h person 'ho ha en* &o%ntere her in person tol a i##erent story abo%t her visit an gave a i##erent interpretation o# her nat%re! As the stories sprea, the etails 'ere slightly &hange 'ith ea&h retelling, an ea&h person #orme an opinion abo%t the healer base on 'hi&h story they ha #irst hear or base on 'hi&h story mae them #eel best! "one o# them a&$no'lege her imper#e&tionsthey &o%l not ioliBe an imper#e&t being! The people began to ivie into gro%ps base on 'hi&h opin* ions abo%t the healer they believe! There 'as great isagreement be* t'een the i##erent gro%ps, an the people spent m%&h time ebating the min%te etails o# all aspe&ts o# the healer@s s%per#i&ial nat%re! Al* most all o# their opinions 'ere either 'rong or misleaing be&a%se they 'ere ta$en o%t o# &onte9t! The people 'ere so obsesse 'ith valiating their #a%lty per&eptions an opinions abo%t the healer that they ene %p ignoring her tea&hings abo%t ho' to heal their blinness! They live o%t their lives in %nne&essary ar$ness, &linging to #alse, misleaing, triv* ial, an petty belie#s abo%t the healer, rather than applying her 'ors to heal themselves! 1 Fo% nee not #ear &hange! Change is 'hat &reate yo%! 8hat &an ta$e pla&e 'itho%t &hangeG Fo% &annot even be no%rishe %nless the #oo yo% eat goes thro%gh a &hange! Dverything yo% see, even the most seemingly soli an permanent, is al'ays &hanging! 8hat yo% see toay is alreay &hanging an 'ill never e9ist again e9a&tly as yo% see it! Re* member ho' many o# these &hanges yo% have alreay 'itnesse! The %niverse is trans#ormationE yo%r interpretation o# reality is opinionE li#e is #leeting! 2
T:D TR+PD PAT: 2 .o not be istra&te by a p%rs%it #or 'ealth, po'er, or praiseE i# yo% are istra&te by s%&h p%rs%its, eath 'ill &ome an &arry yo% a'ay %st li$e a #loo s'eeping a'ay a sleeping village! .o not a&t as i# yo% are going to live #orever! .eath hangs over yo%! 8hile yo% are alive an it is in yo%r po'er, see$ 'isom, o goo, an labor 'ith hope! .oes someone o##en yo%G .o yo% #eel some other person is 'orthy o# a%lationG ear this in min3 'ithin a very short time all o# yo% 'ill be eaE an soon not even yo%r names 'ill be le#t behin! All things soon pass a'ay an be&ome a mere taleE &omplete oblivion soon b%ries them! 8ith 'hat then, sho%l yo% o&&%py yo%r time an e##ortG Ho&%s yo%r tho%ghts an a&tions on #ollo'ing the triple path rather than in #ining o##ense, or in gossip, or in a%lation, or in trivialities an #rivolity! 4 Fo% &annot hol o## the progression o# the yearsE yo% &annot stop time! .e&ay, gro'th, #%llness, an emptiness en an then begin again! 5 The rising s%n is the setting s%n! The thing born is the thing ying! / oo$ at yello' san passing thro%gh an ho%rglass to mar$ the time! The san in the bottom has alreay gone, it is the past! The san #lo'ing thro%gh the ne&$ is the present! The san in the top is 'aiting #or its moment to move o'nit is the #%t%re! %t it is all the same yello' san! At its #inish, t%rn the ho%rglass %psie o'n'hat 'ere on&e past, present, an #%t%re %mble together an the #lo' starts ane'! Da&h grain o# san #alls a i##erent 'ay this time, in a i##erent orer! %t the same thing happens every timethe top b%lb empties into the bottom b%lb! +t is all the same yello' san! Dverything #lo's! "o one steps in the same river t'i&e! 6 ?ore than t'o tho%sans years ago, a list o# the seven 'oners o# the 'orl &ataloge the granest an most bea%ti#%l things b%ilt by man! i9 o# the seven have been &ompletely estroyethe :anging arens, Temple o# Artemis, tat%e o# Ue%s, Coloss%s o# Rhoes, ightho%se o# Ale9anria, an ?a%sole%m at :ali&arnass%s are all gone! The reat Pyrami remains, b%t only a r%inits &asing stones
8+.>? gone, an the ri&hes in its tomb &ompletely loote! 1 Fo% are al'ays &hanging! Dven 'hen yo% are per#e&tly still, &o%ntless &hanges are happening in yo%r boy as yo%r heart p%mps an as &ells ivie, regenerate, rea&t, an ie! Fo%r brain@s ne%rons are &ease* lessly &onne&ting an re&onne&ting in ne' 'ays that alter 'ho yo% are! Fo% only e9ist as yo%r present sel# only #or one inivisible point in time! All the rest o# yo%r li#e is either past ;an %n&hangeable= or #%t%re ;an %n&ertain=! The time %ring 'hi&h yo%r present sel# lives an e9ists is very short, b%t the past is 'hat mae yo% 'ho yo% are no', an living #or the #%t%re is 'hat &arries yo%r e9isten&e #or'ar! Re&ogniBe the &hanging nat%re o# yo%r present sel#! ive in the present moment, b%t be al'ays min#%l o# past an #%t%re3 learn #rom the mista$es o# yo%r past selves, an live yo%r present li#e to ma9imiBe the 'ell*being o# yo%r #%* t%re selves! 1 +n the %niverse, the 'hole earth is %st a small pointE ho' small a pla&e in the 'orl is yo%r home an ho' #e' the n%mber 'ho live in it! 2 "either the in#amy o# the #ool nor the reno'n o# the 'ise 'ill en%re #orever! +n the &oming ays 'e 'ill all be #orgotten! The 'ise ie %st li$e #ools! %t even tho%gh they $no' their lives are temporary an 'ill be #orgotten, the 'ise %nerstan the intrinsi& val%e o# #ollo'ing the triple pathE to them, it is sel#*evient! All 'ho remember yo% a#ter yo% ie 'ill also ie very soon, as 'ill the ne9t generation a#ter themE then again also they 'ho s%&&ee them, %ntil no one remembers yo%! %t s%ppose even i# yo%r #ame 'as immortal, 'hat is that to yo%G 8hat are #ame an praise to the eaG "othing! 8hat are #ame an praise to the livingG ess than nothing! An in#late ego leas a'ay #rom the triple path! 4 .o not set yo%r heart on #ame or 'orlly s%&&ess! ee ho' soon everything is #orgotten! oo$ at the &haos o# in#inite time on ea&h sie o# the present! Then, yo% 'ill %nerstan the emptiness o# ap* pla%se, an the &hangeableness an la&$ o# %gment in those 'ho pre* ten to give praise! Hinally, %iet yo%r vanities at last! Thin$ on the 4
T:D TR+PD PAT: serenity an pea&e o# #ollo'ing an spreaing the triple path an &on* tent yo%rsel# 'ith that! 5 As a soli ro&$ is not sha$en by the 'in, 'ise people #alter not amist blame or praise! / There never 'as an never 'ill be a person 'ho is al'ays blame'orthy or al'ays praise'orthy! trive to be ini##erent to praise so that yo% o not be&ome vain or blin to yo%r 'ea$nesses! ear&h &riti* &isms to learn 'ays to improve yo%rsel#, b%t o not be&ome so im* merse in them that they sap yo%r 'ill to see$ 'isom, o goo, an la* bor 'ith hope! Po'er estroys 'isomE #ame estroys 'isom! ee$ a#ter nei* ther! +# po'er &omes to yo%, ens%re that it is limite an share 'ith others! tay a&&o%ntable to others 'ho &an $eep yo% in &he&$ an stop yo% #rom ab%sing yo%r po'er! ee$ an #ollo' 'ise &o%nsel both #rom tr%ste asso&iates an o%tsiers! +# #ame &omes to yo%, live yo%r li#e transparently an openly so that it be&omes impossible to a&t hypo&riti* &ally an #oolishly 'itho%t it being %i&$ly is&overe! 1 .o not let the opinion o# others etermine 'hat yo% &onsier to be o# 'orth! +t is tr%e that 'e are all &onne&te, that 'e live in a &omm%nity an #amily o# h%manity! %t yo%r per&eptions o# a thing@s val%e sho%l al'ays be base on its &ompatibility 'ith the triple path! enerally, a thing@s val%e in this regar is not mae better or 'orse by being praise by others! +s 'isom, virt%e, or hope any more val%able to yo% be&a%se they are praiseG .o 'isom, virt%e, or hope lose their val%e i# #ools blame or &riti&iBe themG 2 +t is in yo%r po'er to &ontrol yo%r opinion o# a thing an not let it ist%rb yo%E things themselves have no nat%ral po'er to &ontrol yo%r %gments! The 'ise learn 'hat others o not learn! e&a%se o# this, the 'ise esire 'hat others o not esire, an o not priBe 'hat others priBe! >#ten, the 'ise val%e 'hat the m%ltit%e has passe by an &ast asie as 'orthless! 1
e less &on&erne abo%t having the right ans'ers than 'ith 5
8+.>? as$ing the right %estions! 2 ee$ to improve yo%rsel# by maintaining an attit%e o# honest sel#*appraisal! ee$ o%t i##erent perspe&tivesE relish is&overing ne' ieas an ne' 'ays o# loo$ing at thingsE listen to the 'ors o# those 'ith 'hom yo% isagreeE &onsier &riti&isms an &ontrary arg%mentsE an in&orporate 'hatever yo% #in that is o# 'orth into yo%r minset an aily a&tivities! The #oolish loo$ only to so*&alle Ltea&hersM 'ho parrot ba&$ to them the same things they alreay believe or thin$ they alreay $no'E the #oolish elevate those 'hose 'ors ass%age their g%ilt an tell them there is nothing 'rong 'ith their #oolishness! An be&a%se the #oolish o not see$ to e9pan their perspe&tive an o not see$ &ontrary ieas an opinions, they blin themselves to the ab%nant 'isom easily available in the 'orl aro%n them! 4 Keep see$ing 'isom %ntil yo% #in it! 8hen yo% #in it, yo% may #irst be&ome tro%ble, then yo% may be astonishe! %t #inally, yo% 'ill realiBe yo% have something more pre&io%s than 'ealth or po'er! 5 e vigilant to see$ #or the tr%th an not #or sel#*serving lies, #or it is easy to get &on#%se bet'een the t'o! +# yo% are really see$ing tr%th, then 'hat yo% #in 'ill sometimes be &riti&al o# yo%E it 'ill at times &ontrai&t yo%r previo%s ees an tho%ghts an sho' that yo% ha been oing 'rong! Tr%th 'ill o#ten eman that yo% &hange! +# yo%r %est #or tr%th only ever &on#irms the righteo%sness o# yo%r &%r* rent path, then yo% sho%l be'are 'hether yo% have really been see$ing tr%th! "o one is per#e&t! "o one is al'ays right! 8hen yo% #in real tr%th, it 'ill sometimes highlight yo%r #ail%res an errors! The most val%able tr%ths yo% &an is&over are the ones that lea yo% to stret&h an sa&ri#i&e to improve an &hange, #or that is the tr%th that leas to 'is* om! / Chilren are born p%re, b%t 'itho%t 'isom or %nerstaning! 8or$ to over&ome yo%r &hilren@s nat%ral ignoran&e by tea&hing them! 7n#ort%nately, the #oolishness o# a%lts is o#ten 'orse than that o# their &hilren! They mi9 their innate inborn ignoran&e 'ith a i##erent $in o# #oolishnessthat 'hi&h &omes #rom a li#etime o# heeing the #alse, sel#ish, &ontorte 'ors o# those see$ing to %sti#y #oolishness, /
T:D TR+PD PAT: evil, an espair! ee$ o%t 'isom t'i&e! Hirst, she the ignoran&e yo% 'ere born 'ith! Then, she the #oolishness yo% have learne! .o not live yo%r 'hole li#e &haine o'n by the b%rens o# ignoran&e an #ool* ishness! 1 The harest person to master is yo%rsel#! 2 "ot %nerstaning 'hat is in the min o# another person is selom &a%se #or %nhappinessE real %nhappiness &omes #rom not %ner* staning 'hat is in yo%r o'n min! Fo%r &ons&io%sness an its &ontents are all that e9ist o# yo% there is no separate inner sel# 'ho is also &ons&io%s an observing! 4 8hen yo% $no' other people, yo% are is&erningE 'hen yo% $no' yo%rsel#, yo% are intelligent! 8hen yo% over&ome others, yo% are strongE 'hen yo% over&ome yo%rsel#, yo% are mighty! 8hen yo% $no' yo%rsel#, over&ome yo%rsel#, an live 'ith virt%e an hope, then yo% are on the path to 'isom! 5 Kno' yo%rsel#, b%t o not 'ell on yo%rsel#E love yo%rsel#, b%t also love everyone else! Aopt the &on&erns o# 'isom, virt%e, an hope as yo%r o'n! / +t is easy to see other people@s #a%lts, b%t not so easy to see yo%r o'n! .o not see$ o%t an gather %p $no'lege o# other people@s #a%lts, li$e someone gathering %ng to #ertiliBe a #ielE s%&h #ertiliBer only gro's 'ees an poisono%s plants in yo%r min! .o not hie yo%r #a%lts! ee$ to #in them o%t, an then to strip them #rom yo%rsel# li$e someone &learing a ne' plot o# lan! Th%s having prepare the #iel o# yo%r &hara&ter, yo% may so' the sees o# 'isom into yo%r li#e an gather a bo%nti#%l harvest! "o matter 'hat yo%r e9ternal environment, no one may stop yo% #rom see$ing 'isom, oing goo, an laboring 'ith hope in 'hat* ever &ir&%mstan&e yo% #in yo%rsel#! Fo% are the master o# yo%r minE yo% &ontrol ho' yo% rea&t to e9ternal in#l%en&es, even tho%gh they may leave %n'el&ome mar$s on yo%! 6 ?ost o#ten, i# yo% ta$e a'ay yo%r opinion, then yo% ta$e a'ay the &omplaint, L+ have been harme!M ?ost o#ten, 'hen yo% ta$e a'ay the &omplaint, L+ have been harme,M then the harm is ta$en a'ay!
8+.>? Fo%r &hara&ter is etermine by yo%r habit%al tho%ghtsE yo%r very being is ye by them! .ye it then 'ith a &ontin%o%s series o# s%&h tho%ghts as these3 L+ 'ill see$ 'isom, o goo, an labor 'ith hope!M 10 +# yo% have lost &ontrol an a&te %n'isely or %nvirt%o%sly, %i&$ly ret%rn to yo%rsel#E o not &ontin%e o%t o# t%ne! +t is al'ays bet* ter to ret%rn to the triple path 'henever yo% leave than it is to &ontin%e in yo%r state o# lost &ontrol! 11 "ever believe that yo%r %ltimate goal or p%rpose in li#e is #in* ing pleas%re! ?%rerers, tyrants, an thieves have all #elt m%&h pleas%re! 12 ?oeration 3 +# yo% are 'ise, yo% are neither someone 'ho eats too m%&h or 'ho oes not eat at allE yo% are not someone 'ho sleeps too m%&h or 'ho eprives yo%rsel# o# sleep! The 'ise are moerate in their eating, re&reation, 'or$ing, sleeping, an 'a$ing! 1 .o not see$ #or ri&hes, b%t #or 'isomE 'hen yo% #in 'is* om, the mysteries o# li#e 'ill be&ome &learer to yo%E 'hen yo% have &larity o# %nerstaning, yo% 'ill be ri&h inee! 2 Dven i# yo% have 'ealth an possessions, yo% are poor &om* pare to someone 'ho has 'isom! 8hen yo% have #o%n some o# the ri&hes o# 'isom, ta$e o# that ab%nan&e an share 'ith all 'ho esire it! There is no en to the 'ealth o# 'isomthe more yo% share it, the more yo% get ba&$! 4 The 'ise priBe three things3 #r%gality, gentleness, an &ompas* sion! 8ith #r%gality, the 'ise &an be liberal in gathering an sharing tr%e 'ealth! 8ith gentleness, the 'ise &an be bol in gaining an sharing 'isom! 8ith &ompassion, the 'ise &an be &olhearte in #ighting igno* ran&e, #oolishness, an senselessness! The #oolish, not %nerstaning, sh%n gentleness an see$ only bolnessE they sh%n #r%gality an see$ only liberalityE they sh%n &ompassion an see$ only &olhearteness! 5 e moest in yo%r apparel an possessions, an &arry the pri&e* less treas%res o# the triple path insie yo%rsel# instea! +# yo% have phys* i&al 'ealth, live moestly an %se yo%r 'ealth 'itho%t arrogan&eo not sel#ishly %se it to satis#y yo%r vanity, b%t instea to bless the #%t%re o# h%manity! / The #oolish are ile, yet 'ith eyes #%ll o# greeinessE they o 6
T:D TR+PD PAT: not see$ the ri&hes o# the triple path! A poor 'ise yo%th is better than a ri&h #oolish ol man 'ho 'ill not listen to avi&e or see$ 'isom! 6 T'o yo%ng men starting on their &areers both sai to them* selves3 L+ 'ill 'or$ har to earn 'ealth an prosperity! Then, 'hen + am ri&h + 'ill %se the leis%re + have earne to see$ 'isom, o goo, an la* bor 'ith hope!M These 'ere their intentions, b%t that same night the #irst ie 'itho%t 'ealth, 'isom, virt%e, or hope! The se&on toile many years, getting m%&h money, b%t he never attaine eno%gh to satis#y him* sel#! :e 'as too b%sy 'or$ing #or money an never mae the time to p%rs%e 'isom, virt%e, an hope! :e too ie 'itho%t 'ealth, 'isom, virt%e, or hope! 1 Tr%st in the voi&e o# 'isom! Fo% 'ill re&ogniBe the voi&e o# 'isom by its #r%its! +t spea$s tr%th an leas yo% to o goo, a&t %stly, 'al$ h%mbly, an labor 'ith hope! +t enlightens yo%r min an #ills yo%r so%l 'ith oy! +t th%s leas to 'isom! 2 :ee the %iet voi&e o# 'isom rather than the sho%ts o# the #oolish &ro'! 1 >bserve &haos set against orer, highness vers%s lo'ness, e9is* ten&e against non*e9isten&e, i##i&%lty vers%s ease, bea%ty &ontraste 'ith %gliness! Da&h e9ists be&a%se o# the other! :ope e9ists be&a%se there is espair! oo e9ists be&a%se there is evil! 8isom e9ists be&a%se there is ignoran&e! %t this oes not mean yo% sho%l tolerate or see$ o%t #oolishness, evil, or espair to $no' 'isom, gooness, an hope! Fo% 'ill e9perien&e espair, evil, an ignoran&e as a nat%ral part o# li#e 'itho%t ever see$ing them o%t! An even i# everyone 'ere #%ll o# 'is* om, gooness, an hope, their opposites 'o%l still e9ist be&a%se ea&h o# %s 'o%l still be #ree to &hoose them! 2 The #or&es o# opposition are not e%ally strong! 8isom, virt%e, an hope &on%er ignoran&e, evil, an espair! +n the mist o# ignoran&e, see$ 'isom! %rro%ne by espair an evil, #in the hope an goo! .o not be #oole into thin$ing yo% &an easily &ategoriBe 'hat
8+.>? yo% e9perien&e into one opposite or the other! There are many shaes o# grey bet'een bla&$ an 'hite! Th%s, as yo% move along the triple path, al'ays see$ a eep perspe&tive! >ther'ise, yo% might not see #ar eno%gh ahea to %nerstan 'hether the shae o# grey yo% are heaing to'ar is lighter or ar$er than the shaes behin yo%! >nly 'ith this eep per* spe&tive &an yo% tell 'hether yo% are moving #or'ar or ba&$'ar on the triple path! 4 Fo% are #ree to &hoose! "o matter the e9ternal in#l%en&es, yo% are a&&o%ntable #or yo%r a&ts! The &on#li&t bet'een evil an &haos in op* position to virt%e an orer is %niversal, #rom the history an evelop* ment o# the great &iviliBations all the 'ay o'n to the li#e o# ea&h ini* vi%al! tan #irm in yo%r #reeom to &hoose, an %se that #reeom to &hoose 'isom, virt%e, an hope! :elp others to o li$e'ise, to bring a ay 'hen all people &hoose 'isom an gooness! 1 .o not tr%st in some great sage to sho' yo% per#e&t 'isom! "o s%&h sage e9ists! "o one is per#e&tE no one $no's everything! +# yo% pla&e blin tr%st in another, 'hen yo% &ome to $no' their #oolishness, yo% 'ill either tri&$ yo%rsel# into believing that their #oolishness is 'is* om, or yo% 'ill be&ome isill%sione an ree&t the goo things yo% ha learne #rom them! 2 et %s &ease relying on so*&alle sages! +nstea, 'e m%st rely on ea&h other! 8e ea&h have an obligation to share the 'isom 'e have, to learn #rom others@ 'isom, to help others over&ome their o'n personal #oolishness, an to a&&ept others@ help in over&oming o%r o'n! e'are o# those promising hien 'isom or esoteri& $no'l* ege! .o not be bline by the all%re o# #alse hien mysteries! :ien esoteri&a is almost al'ays pro%&e by mere invention! 8isom is in#i* nite, b%t it is plain an simple! Tr%th an 'isom sho%l not be hien, inee &annot ! 1 &%lptors &hisel stoneE &arpenters 'or$ timberE bla&$smiths #orge ironE #armers till the soil an ire&t irrigation 'aterE the 'ise trans#orm themselves! 2 Fo% 'ill be&ome 'hat yo% see$! Th%s, see$ o%t 'hat yo% 'ish 60
T:D TR+PD PAT: to be&ome! +ntelligen&e hols #ast to intelligen&eE 'isom re&eives 'is* omE tr%th embra&es tr%thE virt%e loves virt%eE light &lings to lightE mer&y has &ompassion on mer&y an &laims her o'nE %sti&e &ontin%es its path an &laims its o'n! 1 The #ine b%t #r%itless 'ors o# a hypo&rite are li$e a bea%ti#%l #lo'er that is #%ll o# &olor, b%t 'itho%t s&ent! The #ine an #r%it#%l 'ors o# the #ollo'er o# the triple path are li$e a bea%ti#%l #lo'er that is #%ll o# &olor an #%ll o# s&ent! A #lo'er@s s&ent oes not move against the 'in, b%t a 'ise person@s in#l%en&e travels #ar in all ire&tions, per* vaing every pla&e! Among all #ragran&es, the s'eet smell o# 'isom is %ns%rpasse! 2 A lily 'ill gro' #%ll o# s'eet per#%me an elight even on top o# a garbage heap! Hollo' the triple path an yo%r 'isom 'ill also gro', no matter yo%r &ir&%mstan&es! 1 .o not %st be a reaer o# these 'ors, b%t a oer o# them! This is %st a boo$, it is not the triple path! The triple path is an e9peri* en&e, not a set o# tea&hings! +t is a 'ay o# li#e, not 'ors on a page! 8hen yo% have rea these 'ors, thin$ abo%t them, an see$ greater %n* erstaning! +t is yo%r &hoi&e 'hether to embar$ on the path to 'isom! 2 A map sho's yo% the &o%rse o# yo%r #%t%re travel, b%t a o%r* ney oes not begin %st by loo$ing at a map! +t starts 'hen yo% ta$e yo%r #irst step! This boo$ is %st a mapIit mar$s the 'ay o# the triple path! Reaing it 'ill ire&t yo% onto the path an orient yo%, b%t yo% &an only #ollo' the triple path by living its prin&iples in yo%r tho%ghts an a&tions! Fo%r o%rney on the triple path &an never be &ompleteE it 'ill only en 'ith yo%r eath! Fo% have the po'er, tho%gh, to help these prin&iples live on #orever! They &an never ie so long as there is someone le#t 'ho thin$s on them an lives them! +t is in yo%r po'er to #an these tho%ghts into a #lame, an $eep the 'ays o# 'isom, gooness, an hope bright an &lear #or #%t%re generations to #ollo'! 1
:o' o yo% get betterG ?eitateE st%yE #in areas 'here yo% 61
8+.>? nee to improveE set attainable, meas%rable, an is&rete goalsE re&or yo%r progress in a&hieving yo%r goalsE #ollo' %p to eval%ate yo%r progressE an then set ne' goals! ?a$e this an ever*repeating &y&le o# improvement an progression! 2 .o not be is&o%rage 'hen yo% ma$e mista$es! "o one is per#e&t! 8hen yo% #alter, ret%rn ba&$ again to the triple path! e &ontent i# the greater part o# 'hat yo% o is &onsistent 'ith the pathE be &on* tent i# yo% are improving an more #aith#%lly #ollo'ing the path! +# yo% are not improvingi# yo%r progress has stagnate or i# yo% have 'ors* enethen something in yo%r li#e an o%tloo$ nees to &hange! 8hat &o%l be more agreeable, satis#ying, enlightening, an %pli#ting than #ol* lo'ing the triple pathG 8hat is more agreeable than 'isom, virt%e, an hopeG 1 etter than a tho%san senseless 'ors is one 'or o# 'isom, 'hi&h brings stillness an pea&e 'hen yo% %nerstan it, an even more 'hen yo% share it! 2 The 'ors o# this boo$ 'ill have no val%e to yo% i# yo% o not #ollo' them! Dven i# yo% &o%l re&ite every 'or #rom memory, it 'o%l mean nothing i# yo% i not #ollo' them! Fo% 'o%l be li$e an investor 'ho &are#%lly tra&$s someone else@s money, 'hile negle&ting his o'n #inan&es! +t oes not matter i# yo% ever learn these 'ors i#, having #orsa$en #oolishness, yo% al'ays see$ greater 'isom an remember the limitations o# yo%r #inite min! +nternaliBe these prin&iples an #ollo' them %ntil see$ing 'is* om be&omes an inseparable part o# yo%r &hara&ter! J%st as a p%re ia* mon is al'ays &lear an soli no matter 'here it is, so too sho%l 'is* om al'ays be a part o# yo%r nat%re, no matter yo%r &ir&%mstan&e! 4 +# yo% rea these 'ors an a&t on them, then yo% are li$e a 'ise man 'ho b%ils his ho%se on a #o%nation o# ro&$! 8hen rain #alls, #loos &ome, an 'ins blo', that ho%se 'ill not #all o'n! 8hen yo% see$ an #in 'isom, yo% strengthen yo%r &hara&ter an min, so that 'hen li#e@s i##i&%lties &ome, yo% 'ill stan #ast against them! +# yo% o not #ollo' these prin&iples, then yo% are li$e a #oolish man 'ho b%ils his ho%se on a #o%nation o# san! 8hen rain #alls, #loos &ome, 62
T:D TR+PD PAT: an 'ins blo', that ho%se 'ill #all! 8hen yo% #ail to see$ 'isom, then yo% be&ome more an more #oolish, yo% 'ea$en yo%r &hara&ter an min, an yo% ma$e yo%rsel# less able to eal e##e&tively 'ith li#e@s i##i* &%lties an &hallenges! 5 +t is impossible #or yo% to relive yo%r li#e so that yo% 'o%l have #ollo'e the triple path at all times %p %ntil no'! 8hatever yo%r past, tho%gh, yo% &an still pro#it #rom it! 7se the mista$es in yo%r past to %nerstan ho' m%&h better it is to #ollo' the triple path! +t is in yo%r po'er to &hoose ho' to live the rest o# yo%r li#e #rom no' on! ho' more 'isom than yo% have in the past! ive the triple pathX
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8+.>?
* ?eitations 3/E * .hammapaa 16E * James 2314*16 an James 31E * Ch%ang TB%, e&tion 1 ;Hree an Dasy 8anering=, 8atson translation, p! 2/E * Ch%ang TB%, e&tion 21 ;T@ien TB%*Hang=, 8atson translationE * o?, 2 "ephi 2325E * 2 Corinthians 531E * o?, 2 "ephi 1320E * .hammapaa /0E * ospel o# Thomas 0E * ospel o# Thomas 2 an ?atthe' 5314E * ?eitations 3/E * Tao Te Ching 2! * Tao Te Ching 2531, Tao Te Ching 231, Tao Te Ching /231 ;teve ?it&hell Translation=, Tao Te Ching 3 ;yrn an 8al$er Transla* tions=E * .hammapaa 110*115E * Tao Te Ching 231E * Tao Te Ching 232E * .C 5032*25E * .C 4/36E * ?eitations 131/E * Tao Te Ching /432E .C 312*1E * .hammapaa 256E * Ch%ang TB%, e&tion 2 ;.is&%ssion on ?a$ing All Things D%al=, 8atson translation, p! 2E * Ch%ang TB%, e&tion 1 ;A%t%mn Hloos=, 8at* son translation, p! 6E * Ch%ang TB%, e&tion 1 ;A%t%mn Hloos=, 8atson translation, p! 6E * o?, 1 "ephi 23E * hagava ita 436, hagava ita 534*/E * 2 Corinthians 3E * o?, ?oroni 320E * D&&lesiastes 31/, 16E * D&&lesiastes 10310E * Tao Te Ching 3*4E * ospel o# Thomas 45E * o?, "ephi 1431/* 20 ;see also ?atthe' =E * .hammapaa 11*12E * Jonathan :ait, The :appiness :ypothesis , 200/, p! 242E * .hammapaa 121, 122E * ?ar&el Pro%st, +n ear&h o# ost Time 3 (ol%me 2, 8ithin a %ing rove , 11, Chapter ! * o?, ?osiah 6320E * :esio, Theogony , 2 ;"orton Anthology, Thir Dition, (ol! A, p! 40=E * .hammapaa /E * .hammapaa /4*/5E * .hammapaa //, /E * Ch%ang TB%, e&tion 2 ;.is&%ssion on ?a$ing All Things D%al=, 8atson translation, p! 2E * Ch%ang TB%, e&tion 1 ;?astering i#e=, 8atson translation, pp! 12*0E Ch%ang TB%, e&tion 20 ;The ?o%ntain Tree=, 8atson translation, o?, 2 "ephi 1/3, +saiah /3E * hagava ita 1436E * o?, 2 64
T:D TR+PD PAT: "ephi 2/310E * o?, 2 "ephi 342E * D&&lesiastes 35E * D&&le* siastes 2314E * Tao Te Ching 4131E * D&&lesiastes 316E * ospel o# Thomas 4E * D&&lesiastes 10315! * Ch%ang TB%, e&tion 1 ;A%t%mn Hloos=, 8atson translation, p! , .C 1236, an &omments #rom KE * Ch%ang TB%, e&tion 1 ;A%t%mn Hloos=, 8atson translation, p! an &omments #rom KE * Ch%ang TB%, e&tion 1 ;A%t%mn Hloos=, 8atson translation, p! E * Tao Te Ching 1431, Tao Te Ching 21 ;?it&hell Translation=E * Tao Te Ching 5/E * Tao Te Ching /31* ;8al$er, Chan, an yrn transla * tions=E * Tao Te Ching 131*2 ;egge, e&$, an eHarg%e transla* tions=E * Ch%ang TB%, e&tion 1 ;Hree an Dasy 8anering=, 8atson translation, p! 2, ospel o# Thomas 4E * Ch%ang TB%, e&tion 1 ;A%t%mn Hloos=, 8atson translation, p! E * Ch%ang TB%, e&tion 24 ;:s% 8%*K%ei=, 8atson translationE * 1 Corinthians 1312! * 1 Peter 131E * ertran R%ssell, ?ortals an >thers , ;LThe #%na* mental &a%se o# the tro%ble is that in the moern 'orl the st%pi are &o&$s%re 'hile the intelligent are #%ll o# o%btM=E * Tao Te Ching /32E Pitta&%s ;as %ote in .iogenes aerti%s, ives o# the reat Philoso* phers, *6=! * .hammapaa 14*144E * Ch%ang TB%, e&tion 5 ;The ign o# (irt%e Complete=, 8atson translation, p! //E * Romans 1231/E * Dther 1232! * .hammapaa 121, 122, an ! * D&&lesiastes 311*12, 10314! * Tao Te Ching 54! * Ang%ttara "i$aya 434E * .hammapaa 66 an Ch%ang TB%, e&* tion ;The e&ret o# Caring #or i#e=, 8atson translation, p! 4/E * Tao Te Ching 1532, 2/31, an 431E * Tao Te Ching 632, 153, 22 65
8+.>? ;?it&hell Translation=E * Ch%ang TB%, e&tion 5 ;The ign o# (irt%e Complete=, 8atson translation, p! /5E * Tao Te Ching 1534E * .hammapaa 62 an 205E * Tao Te Ching 1131E * Tao Te Ching 2/ ;?it&hell translation=E * Tao Te Ching 1/32 ;?it&hell Translation=E * ?eitations 43E * .hammapaa 4*5E * Tao Te Ching 1/31E * Ch%ang TB%, e&tion 2 ;.is&%ssion on ?a$ing All Things D%al=, 8atson translation, p! 2E * 'ami (ive$anana, Complete 8or$s (ol 4E * :%ainanBi 12E * Ch%ang TB%, e&tion 1 ;The >l Hish* erman=, 8atson translationE * Ch%ang TB%, e&tion 15 ;Constraine in 8ill=, 8atson translation! * Tao Te Ching 431! * .hammapaa / an 6E * .hammapaa 42*4E * James 34! * ona y%bomirs$y, Kennon ?! helon, an .avi &h$ae, LP%r* s%ing happiness3 The ar&hite&t%re o# s%stainable &hange,M Revie' o# eneral Psy&hology , (ol! , "o! 2, 2005, pp! 111*1, http3))sonaly%b omirs$y!&om)'p*&ontent)themes)sonaly%bomirs$y)papers)2005 !p# E Robert A! Dmmons an ?i&hael D! ?&C%llo%gh, LCo%nting blessings vers%s b%rens3 An e9perimental investigation o# gratit%e an s%be&tive 'ell*being in aily li#e,M Jo%rnal o# Personality an o&ial Psy&hology , (ol! 64, "o! 2, Hebr%ary 200, pp *6, http3))'''!n& bi!nlm!nih!gov)p%bme)12565611E Je##rey J! Hroh, 8illiam J! e#i&$, Robert A! Dmmons, LCo%nting blessings in early aoles&ents3 An e9* perimental st%y o# gratit%e an s%be&tive 'ell*being,M Jo%rnal o# &hool Psy&hology , (ol, 4/, 2006, pp! 21*2, http3))people!ho#str a!e%)e# #reySS#roh)#iles)JP52SHinalS2!11!06!p#E * ?eitations 32! * .C 136 an 1312! * ?eitations 5321! * ospel o# Thomas 5E * rahmaala %tta 2, ?ahima "i$aya / 6/
T:D TR+PD PAT: an 2E * ?eitations /310E * ?eitations /344E * .hammapaa 15*16E * 1 Timothy 134! * ?eitations 43 an 316E * .hammapaa 26 an ?eitations 431E * ?eitations 43/ an 43E * Ch%ang TB%, e&tion 1 ;A%* t%mn Hloos=, 8atson translation, p! 10E * Ch%ang TB%, e&tion ;The 8orl=, 8atson translation ;this is one o# :%i h%i@s ten theses=E * :era&lit%s, as %ote in Plato, Cratyl%s , 402a! * ?eitations 310! * ?eitations 43E * D&&lesiastes 231/E * ?eitations 431E * ?e* itations 43E * .hammapaa 61E * hagava ita 12316 an .hammapaa 226E * Ch%ang TB%, e&tion 4 ;+n the 8orl o# ?en=, 8atson translation, p! 51! * ?eitations 4320E * ?eitations /352E * Tao Te Ching /434! * o?, :elaman 132/*26E * o?, :elaman 13 2/*26E * ospel o# Thomas 2E * Joseph mith, e&t%res on Haith /3! * .hammapaa 15E * ?eitations 236E * am :arris, 8a$ing 7p , p! 15 ;o# e*reaer version=E * Tao Te Ching 31E * Tao Te Ching 23 ;8al$er=E * .hammapaa 252E * ?eitations 23E * ?eita* tions 43E * ?eitations 531/E * ?eitations /311E * ?eitations 1/34E * hagava ita /31/*1! * .C 113E * .C 113E * Tao Te Ching 3*4E * Tao Te Ching /32*E * ?eitations 131/ an Tao Te Ching 03 ;8orl transla* tion=E * .C /631E * D&&lesiastes 431E * ospel o# Thomas /! * .C 11312*1E * D&&lesiastes 31! * o?, 2 "ephi 2311 an Tao Te Ching 231*2E * .C 235*42 an o?, ?osiah 231! 6
8+.>?
* reg Co&hran, http3))'esth%nt!'orpress!&om)2014)10)1)th e*avent*o#*&holera)! * .hammapaa 60E * .C 66340! * .hammapaa 51*55E * .hammapaa 56*5 * James 1322 an o?, "ephi 13E * ?eitations 32! * ?eitations 53 an D&&lesiastes 320! * .hammapaa 100E * .hammapaa 1*20E * ?eitations 315E * ?atthe' /324*2E * ?eitations 631!
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1 Hollo' the triple path to enlightenment3 see$ 'isom, o goo, an labor 'ith hopeInothing is more important than these! 2 etter than 'ealth or po'er is ta$ing yo%r #irst step on the triple path! 7nerstaning 'isom, virt%e, an hope is li$e loo$ing at three straight parallel lines that stret&h o%t to in#inity! +n the istan&e, at the #arthest pla&e yo% &an see, the lines &onverge into one point! The triple path is really the single path! 8isom, virt%e, an hope are the same thing! 4 8hat goo is it i# yo% say yo% have virt%e, b%t yo% o not have 'isom an hopeG +s virt%e eno%ghG "oX Fo% nee all three! Fo% &annot have real virt%e 'itho%t also having 'isom an hope! 5 8hen yo% %nerstan the triple path, yo% #ollo' it #or its o'n sa$e, not #or e9ternal re'ar or bene#it! Hor this reason, no matter the opinions o# others, to themselves, the 'ise have no a%thority, the virt%* o%s have no sel#, the labors o# the hope#%l are never &omplete! / 8hen yo% begin to %nerstan the triple path, yo% start to see that yo% are limite in an in#inite n%mber o# 'ays, b%t that yo%r &apa&* ity to o goo is still limitless! Animals that eat grass o not 'orry abo%t a &hange o# past%reE #resh'ater #ish o not 'orry abo%t a &hange o# stream! They a&&ept the minor shi#t so long as the all*important &onstant remains! Fo%r impor* tant &onstants are 'isom, virt%e, an hope! Dns%re that these are &on* stants in yo%r li#e no matter yo%r &ir&%mstan&es, an yo% 'ill never have &a%se #or tr%e 'orry! 6 8hat is the p%rpose o# li#eG 8hat is the res%lt o# a li#e 'ell* liveG Joy an enlightenment! :o' o yo% attain oy an enlightenmentG y #ollo'ing the triple path an by 'orrying more abo%t helping others a&hieve oy an 6
(+RT7D enlightenment than abo%t getting them #or yo%rsel#! 8hen yo% stop #o* &%sing on yo%rsel#, the oy an enlightenment &ome on their o'n! 8hen yo% begin to #ollo' the triple path, yo% see the 'orl in a ne' lightE it is as i# everything has be&ome ne' again! 10 >n&e yo% have starte to #ollo' the triple path, press #or'ar %ntil the en 'ith steainess, having a per#e&t brightness o# hope, &on* tin%ally see$ing 'isom an a&ting 'ith virt%e, sho'ing love #or all people! 11 8a$e %p an #ollo' the triple path! The ay seems short 'hen yo% sleep thro%gh itE li#e seems meaningless 'hen yo% are not see$ing 'isom, oing goo, an laboring 'ith hope! 12 8isom, virt%e, an hope are #ree to yo%, i# yo% see$ them! 8isom, virt%e, an hope 'ill save yo% i# yo% have them to bring #orth #rom 'ithin yo%rsel#! 8isom, virt%e, an hope 'ill estroy yo% i# yo% o not re&eive them 'ithin yo% to bring #orth! 1 et yo%r resolve to live the triple path an yo%r pra&ti&e o# it be li$e a #orti#ie &ity b%ilt on a mo%ntain, strong an not hien! 14 ?a$e see$ing 'isom, oing goo, an laboring 'ith hope yo%r highest priorities! Ho&%sing on less important things ma$es it im* possible to &on&entrate on the best things! "ever vie' yo%r pra&ti&e o# the triple path as a istra&tion or an a#tertho%ght! +# yo% o, yo% are not really #ollo'ing it any'ay! Time spent 'anering a'ay #rom the triple path is time yo% have lost #ining the 'isom, gooness, an hope yo% &o%l have ha! 15 e&ome an e9perien&e traveler on the triple path! Then, even 'hen yo% #eel li$e yo% $no' little, yo% 'ill #in great 'isomE even 'hen yo% o not #eel li$e oing goo, yo% 'ill a&t 'ith e9emplary virt%eE an even in the most esperate o# times, yo% 'ill labor 'ith hope! 1/ There are many 'ho #ollo' the triple path, b%t &all it some* thing else, or &all it nothing at all! All 'ho see$ 'isom, o goo, an labor 'ith hope #ollo' the triple path! 1 8hen yo% %nerstan 'hat is virt%o%s an 'hat is not, yo% &annot help b%t embra&e tr%th an enter into the triple path! 0
T:D TR+PD PAT: 2 8hat is virt%eG (irt%e is oing goo an esiring goo! +t is a&ting 'ith love an sel#lessness! :o' o yo% sho' virt%eG +t is impossi* ble to list all the 'ays! There are too many 'ays to o goo an too many 'ays to o evil #or anyone to e9plain all o# them to yo%! This boo$ only lists a #e'! Fo% &annot rely %st on 'hat others tell yo% to $no' ho' to be virt%o%s! :aving virt%e means %nerstaning 'hat is goo an oing it 'itho%t being tol by others! Fo% sho%l not nee r%les #or everything! +# yo% are al'ays &ompelle to a&t, yo% la&$ virt%e an 'isom! Fo% sho%l be an9io%sly engage in a goo &a%se, an o m%&h goo o# yo%r o'n #ree 'ill! The po'er is in yo%! Fo% are #ree to &hoose virt%e or evil! +t 'o%l be better to live %st one ay o# oing goo, than to live a h%nre years o# sel#ishness! 4 et yo%rsel# al'ays elight in oing goo! 5 Fo%r evil a&ts &ome #rom 'ithin yo%rsel# an 'ill &ons%me yo% #rom the insie o%t, li$e termites estroying a bea%ti#%l ho%se! / To #ools, it seems easy to o ba ees an i##i&%lt to o goo ones! 8hen yo% really start to #ollo' the triple path it 'ill be* &ome easy to o goo ees an har to o ba ones! Fo% o ba a&ts by yo%rsel#E yo% e#ile yo%rsel#! Fo% o goo a&ts by yo%rsel#E yo% p%ri#y yo%rsel#! >thers may in#l%en&e yo% in one ire&tion or another, b%t in the en, p%rity an imp%rity belong to yo%rsel#! "o one &an p%ri#y another! 6 :ave stillness an 'isom o# min, an virt%e in yo%r a&tions, an yo% &an #ree yo%rsel# #rom 'orries, #ears, an istress! >ver&oming 'ith (irt%e 3 Fo% &on%er evil 'ith goonessE yo% &on%er anger 'ith loveE yo% &on%er gree 'ith generosityE yo% &on* %er lies 'ith the tr%th! 10 ho' virt%e in all yo%r a&tions, an also in yo%r tho%ghts an spee&h! :aving virt%e means a&ting 'ith sel# &ontrol in boy, min, an spee&h! 11 "either tal$ing abo%t goo ees nor pretening to a&t 'ith virt%e 'ill ever ma$e yo% virt%o%s i# yo%r a&tions or &hara&ter are #ille 'ith envy, gree, ishonesty, or sel#ishness! >%t'ar appearan&es or others@ per&eptions 'ill never ma$e yo% virt%o%s! 1
(+RT7D 12 8hen yo% o not %nerstan virt%e, yo% are ashame o# 'hat yo% sho%l not be ashame o#, an are not ashame o# 'hat yo% sho%l be! Fo% #ear 'hen yo% o%ght not to #ear, an o not #ear 'hen yo% o%ght to! Fo% #orbi 'hen there is nothing to be #orbien, an o not #orbi 'hen there is something that sho%l be! Fo% embra&e #alse ieas an are not on the triple path, b%t on a path to no'here or, 'orse yet, on a path es&ening to ever*greater evil! 1 e li$e a tall mo%ntain3 #irm, stea#ast, an immovable in a&t* ing 'ith virt%e! 14 (irt%e is the great p%ri#ier an re#iner! 8hen yo% #in virt%e, it 'ill re#ine an p%ri#y yo%r &hara&ter so that only hope, 'isom, an virt%e remain! 8hen yo% %nerstan the triple path, yo% realiBe that 'isom, virt%e, an hope are all really the same thing! 15 Real virt%e &annot be #o%n 'ritten in in$ on a page, b%t in the a&tions o# the virt%o%s! 1/ 8hen yo% o goo, or see others o goo, it inspires an ele* vates yo% so that yo% esire to o goo! oo an ba people both sometimes #eel so inspire, b%t this #eeling never stays #orever! The real meas%re o# yo%r virt%e is ho' yo% a&t 'hen yo% o not #eel inspire to o goo an ho' yo% a&t 'hen yo% have strong esires to o evil! The virt%o%s are not virt%o%s be&a%se o# their per#e&t esires, b%t be&a%se o# their goo a&tions ;altho%gh they also 'or$ to &%ltivate goo esires=! Their goo a&tions &ome #rom their great sel# &ontrol an their evo* tion to the ieals o# their best moments, even 'hen those moments have passe an they #eel %ninspire! 1 (irt%e is more than %st a&tions! +t means eveloping a virt%* o%s &hara&ter as 'ell! oo a&tions an goo &hara&ter #ee ea&h other! A virt%o%s &hara&ter leas yo% to o goo, even 'hen yo% o not #eel li$e oing so! .oing goo 'hen yo% o not #eel li$e oing so evelops yo%r &hara&ter #or virt%e! 16 "ever let yo%rsel# tire o# a&ting 'ith virt%e! 1 pen yo%r time on oing goo rather than on 'orrying abo%t %nseen spirit%al re'ars! ?a9imiBe the goo yo% &an o, an the hien possibilities 'ill be&ome mani#est on their o'n! 20 :o' &an yo% #ig%re o%t 'hether yo% are a&ting 'ith virt%eG y 2
T:D TR+PD PAT: the #r%its o# yo%r a&ts! Fo% 'ill never harvest grapes #rom thorn b%shes! The i##eren&e bet'een yo% an a thorn b%sh is that thorn b%shes &an never &hange 'hat they pro%&e! Fo% &an! 21 (irt%o%s a&ts bring goo #r%its! .o not espair i# yo% o not see the goo #r%its right a'ay! They 'ill &ome! 22 .o not be bline by evil! ?any are bline by the evil they a&&ept #rom the #alse traitions o# their an&estors or the ignoran&e o# those aro%n them! 2 The evil #ight against virt%e 'hen they en&o%nter it! 24 These things lea yo% to evil an a'ay #rom virt%e3 'ealth 'itho%t 'or$E pleas%re 'itho%t &ons&ien&eE $no'lege 'itho%t &hara&* terE &ommer&e 'itho%t moralityE s&ien&e 'itho%t h%manity an h%man* ity 'itho%t s&ien&eE spirit%ality 'itho%t sa&ri#i&eE politi&s 'itho%t prin* &ipleE rights 'itho%t responsibilities! 25 .o not thin$ lightly abo%t oing goo! +# yo% o goo, yo%r &hara&ter 'ill be&ome #%ll o# virt%e, even i# it happens little by little! A b%&$et &an still be #ille rop by rop! %t a b%&$et 'ill never be #ille i# there are no ropsX .o not thin$ lightly o# evil, e9&%sing yo%r inis&retions an eviloing! A b%&$et &an also be emptie rop by ropE yo% may be&ome empty o# virt%e, even i# it happens little by little! An 'hen yo% are emptie o# virt%e, it is easy #or evil to seep in an #ill the voi! 2/ Avoi evil an see$ to o goo! Fo% o this most easily not by resisting temptation, b%t by avoiing sit%ations 'here yo% 'ill be tempte an by p%tting yo%rsel# instea in sit%ations that stim%late yo% to o goo! 1 (irt%e oes not &ome #rom o%tsie r%les or p%nishments! a's an p%nishments that &ompel goo a&ts only ma$e the %nvirt%o%s o goo 'hen they thin$ they 'ill be &a%ght or that someone is 'at&hing! They 'ill al'ays be thin$ing o# e9&eptions to the r%les an o# %sti#i&a* tions #or 'hy the r%les o not apply! (irt%e &annot &ome #rom o%tsie #or&es, b%t #rom an internal &ommitment to oing goo! The 'ise an virt%o%s nee #e' la's to govern themIonly the bare essentials to en* s%re an organiBe so&iety!
(+RT7D a's, r%les, an e9ternal p%nishments still serve t'o #%n&tions! Hirst, goo la's an r%les give g%ian&e abo%t proper a&tion! The virt%* o%s &omply 'ith s%&h r%les not #rom #ear o# p%nishment, b%t o%t o# their o'n internal esire to o goo! e&on, la's, r%les, an e9ternal p%nishments help prote&t the inno&ent #rom the %nvirt%o%s! J%st la's, r%les, an p%nishments bring orer an sa#ety to so&iety an prote&t the inno&ent by at least #or&ing the %nvirt%o%s into an in&omplete e9ternal &omplian&eE they bring partial orer, 'here &haos an evil 'o%l other* 'ise reign! A &omm%nity 'ith evil or #oolish la's an r%les is th%s on a path to'ar estr%&tion! 2 o' virt%o%s a&ts, an yo% 'ill reap a virt%o%s &hara&ter an the s'eet &onse%en&es o# oing goo! +# yo% so' sparingly, yo% 'ill reap sparingly, i# yo% so' bo%nti#%lly, yo% 'ill reap bo%nti#%lly! The &apa&ity o# the h%man min #or sel#*e&eption is nearly limitless! The &apa&ity o# the h%man min to %sti#y an rationaliBe %n* virt%o%s a&ts is almost bo%nless! 8at&h that yo% o not lea yo%rsel# into error or evil! 4 +# yo% pla&e the greater 'eight on e9ternal rites or minless a* heren&e to arbitrary r%les, yo% 'ill never %nerstan tr%e virt%e or 'is* om! 1 .o to others as yo% 'o%l have them o to yo%! .o to others 'hat they 'o%l 'ant one to them! .o not o to others 'hat they 'o%l not 'ant one to them! .o not o to others that 'hi&h is harm* #%l to them, 'hi&h 'rong#%lly inter#eres 'ith their a%tonomy or a&* &o%ntability, or 'hi&h 'o%l harm others or the &omm%nity! 2 ee$ to %nerstan others! Treat others as they 'ant to be treate, %nless s%&h a&tion 'o%l re%ire yo% to a&t immorally! This is tr%e &ompassion! This is tr%e %nerstaning o# others! D9amine the sit%ation #rom the perspe&tive o# the other per* sonE be in their min! 4 Al'ays say to yo%rsel#, LTo those 'ho are goo to me, + am gooE an to those 'ho are not goo to me, + am also goo! To those 'ho are sin&ere 'ith me, + am sin&ereE an to those 'ho are not sin&ere 'ith me, + am also sin&ere!M 4
T:D TR+PD PAT: 5 ?o%rn 'ith those 'ho mo%rn! Com#ort those 'ho nee &om* #ort! e %i&$ to listen an slo' to spea$! 1 ove yo%r neighbor as yo%rsel#! .o not love %st those 'ho love yo%, b%t also love yo%r enemies! 2 et yo%r love be gen%ine, an let yo%r love be never*ening! ove is patientE love is $inE love is not envio%s or boast#%l or arrogant or r%e! +t oes not insist on its o'n 'ayE it is not irritable or resent#%lE it oes not reoi&e in 'rongoing, b%t reoi&es in the tr%th, 'isom, virt%e, an hope! +t bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, en%res all things! Real love oes not en! 4 ove bins everything together in per#e&t harmony! 5 ?aintain a &onstant love #or everyone! +# yo% have this love #or others, it is easy to overloo$ their #a%lts! +# others #eel yo%r love #or them, it is easy #or them to overloo$ yo%r #a%lts! / .o not love merely in 'or or spee&h, b%t in tr%th an a&tion! This is ho' yo% may $no' that a people has love3 'hen they bear ea&h other@s b%rens! 1 There is no 'ea$ness more estr%&tive than anger an hatre! 2 ive happily! Among even those 'ho hate yo%, let yo%rsel# live #ree #rom hatre! >nly hate %nvirt%o%s a&ts! >nly hate #oolishness! .o not hate the %nvirt%o%s or #oolish person! "ever lose hol o# that 'hi&h is 'ise, an virt%o%s an brings hope! 4 ive #ree o# anger, 'rath, an mali&e! .o not let yo%r lips spea$ slaner or ab%sive lang%age! 5 .o not rea&t to %nvirt%o%s a&ts 'ith %nvirt%o%s a&ts o# yo%r o'n! +nstea, respon 'ith love, virt%e, an 'isom! / e slo' to anger! Anger selom leas to virt%e! 1 .o not %ge others! 8hy o yo% see the spe&$ in yo%r neigh* bor@s eye, b%t yo% &annot is&over the log in yo%r o'nG .o not be a hyp* o&rite 'ho says to yo%r neighbor Let me ta$e the spe&$ o%t o# yo%r eye,M 'hile the log is in yo%r o'n eye! Hirst ta$e the log o%t o# yo%r o'n 5
(+RT7D eye, an then yo% 'ill see &learly that there is only a spe&$ in yo%r neigh* bor@s! 2 Fo% have no e9&%se, no matter 'ho yo% are, to %ge others@ &hara&terE 'hen yo% pass %gment on the &hara&ter o# others, yo% are &onemning yo%rsel# be&a%se yo%r &hara&ter is also eeply #la'e! 8hen yo% %ge, yo% are really sho'ing that yo% espise $inness, #or* bearan&e, an patien&e! 1 i#e is not a &ontestE yo%r relationships an intera&tions 'ith others are not battles to be 'on! >nly a #ool believes that s%&&ess &omes 'hen others lose! ee$ in every sit%ation to ma$e s%re that everyone ens %p better o## than 'hen they starte! "ever ma$e any e&ision or o anything 'itho%t as$ing yo%rsel# ho' yo% &an o it in a 'ay that brings bene#it 'itho%t &a%sing harm to others! 2 8inning brees hatre be&a%se the loser is %nhappy! +# yo% 'ant to live in happiness an pea&e, then give %p ieas o# both vi&tory an e#eat! 1 Remember in all things the poor, the neey, the si&$, an the a##li&te! Aminister to their relie#! 2 +n all o# yo%r e##orts to li#t %p the poor, give 'isely o# yo%r re* so%r&es! ive in 'ays that 'ill help the poor be&ome sel#*s%##i&ient, not epenent on &ontin%al hano%ts! :elp the poorest meet their basi& physi&al nees! ive so that yo%r reso%r&es 'ill have the ma9im%m e#* #e&t! ive #irst to those 'ho have the most potential to bene#it, an 'ho have sho'n thro%gh their a&tions that they 'ill %se yo%r gi#t to be&ome sel#*s%##i&ient an pro%&tive! ee$ to help all, b%t sin&e yo%r reso%r&es are limite, give #irst to those 'ho are most eserving! +n see$ing to ma9imiBe the impa&t o# yo%r &harity, never 'ith* hol help 'ith the tho%ght Lthis person has bro%ght %pon himsel# his misery, so + 'ill re#%se to help!M Fo%r hypo&riti&al nat%re ma$es it i##i* &%lt to be a #air %geE it is too easy to eny ai to someone 'ho is tr%ly eserving! Are 'e not all beggarsG :ave yo% not also bene#ite #rom the &are o# others an #rom goo #ort%neG +# yo% 'ithhol help #rom some* one be&a%se yo% have given all that yo% &an in other 'ays that yo% be* /
T:D TR+PD PAT: lieve 'ill have a greater impa&t #or goo, yo% sho%l al'ays have the tho%ght L+ give not be&a%se + have not eno%gh, b%t i# + ha more, + 'o%l give!M 4 +# yo% are ri&h an yo% o not give o# yo%r s%bstan&e to the poor, yo%r ri&hes 'ill &an$er yo%r so%l! +# yo% are poor an loo$ 'ith eyes #%ll o# greeiness at others@ possessionsE i# yo% o not labor 'ith yo%r o'n hans #or yo%r #%ll s%pport, b%t instea rely on ai that &omes #rom others@ in&ome an e##orts, then yo%r ileness an la&$ o# motiva* tion an pro%&tivity 'ill be a &%rse in yo%r li#e an yo%r &hilren@s lives! 5 Thin$ o# ea&h person li$e yo%rsel#! e #amiliar 'ith all an #ree 'ith yo%r s%bstan&e, that they may be ri&h li$e yo%! / .o not #o&%s on a&&%m%lating e9&ess physi&al 'ealth #or yo%r* sel#! The more yo% sel#lessly give to help others, the more o# the greater 'ealthI'isom, virt%e, an hopeyo% 'ill have #or yo%rsel#! 1 8hen yo% have one something goo, 'hy o yo% 'ant more to &ome o# it, s%&h as gaining a goo rep%tation or getting some re'arG (irt%e is its o'n re'ar! .o goo be&a%se it is the right thing to o, not be&a%se yo% 'ill re&eive any re'ar #rom it! Real virt%e means a&ting 'itho%t sel#ishness! 2 (irt%e is only possible 'ith sel#lessness, an only the sel#less obtain tr%e 'isom! .o not let yo%rsel# hate any &reat%reE be #rienly an &ompas* sionate! .o not let yo%r &apa&ity #or virt%e be &ripple by the notion o# L+M an Lmy!M 4 Fo%r obligation to be sel#less is not %nlimite an generaliBe! Fo%r relationships 'ith others ma$e &on&entri& &ir&les o# obligation! Fo% have greater obligations to those 'ho are &losest to yo% an 'aning obligations to those #arther #rom yo%! Fo%r greatest obligation is to yo%r &hilren an spo%se, then to other &lose #amily members, then to #riens, then to other members o# yo%r &omm%nity, an then to others more broaly! el#lessness oes not re%ire that yo% estroy yo%rsel#! >n&e yo%r obligations to yo%r &hilren an spo%se have been met, yo% sho%l a&t 'ith pr%en&e to ens%re that yo%r o'n 'el#are is not ispro* portionately or %nne&essarily &ompromise!
(+RT7D
1 8here o oy an &ontentment &ome #romG Hrom loving an being love! Hrom å #or others an being &are #or! Joy &omes #rom oing goo 'ithin the &onne&teness o# h%man relationships! 2 Joy &omes #rom ma$ing virt%o%s progress, not #rom a&hieving some spe&i#i& 'orlly en! The pleas%re #rom a&hievement, s%&&ess, or prosperity is #leeting! Joy an &ontentment &ome #rom having righteo%s goals an ma$ing progress to'ar a&hieving them! Joy &omes #rom vir* t%o%s living %ring the o%rney, not #rom rea&hing a estination! "ever set a goal that 'o%l re%ire yo% to sa&ri#i&e yo%r prin&iples to a&hieve it! Dven i# yo% rea&h the goal, yo%r pleas%re at a&hieving it 'ill be mo* mentary, an yo% 'ill have sa&ri#i&e yo%r integrity an the oy yo% &o%l instea have ha in p%rs%ing virt%o%s goals! P%rs%ing material prosperity is a #oolish 'ay to see$ oy or &ontentment! Da&h gain brings momentary pleas%re, b%t the pleas%re %i&$ly #aes! (irt%o%sly see$ to obtain s%##i&ient #or yo%r nees, b%t o not &on&ern yo%rsel# 'ith be&oming ri&h! Fo% 'ill never #in lasting oy or #%l#illment in 'ealth or in see$ing to a&%ire it! 4 A $ey to #ining oy is simply learning to re&ogniBe the many reasons yo% have to be oy#%l! C%ltivate gratit%e 'ithin yo%rsel#! Fo% have m%&h #or 'hi&h yo% sho%l be than$#%l! ?a$e time every ay to &onsier the things #or 'hi&h yo% &an be grate#%l! 5 Tea&h yo%rsel# to #in pleas%re in that 'hi&h is goo an virt%* o%s, an yo% 'ill be happy! 1 e #orgiving! .o not see$ revengeE a venge#%l attit%e brings hate, an hates leas a'ay #rom the triple path! :ate stains yo%r &hara&* ter, $eeps yo% #rom appre&iating the goo an bea%ti#%l parts o# li#e, an ma$es yo% into an %npleasant person! 2 :ave yo% been 'rongeG .o yo% #eel hate#%l or venge#%lG .o not let these #eelings linger 'ithin yo%! Fo% have the best vengean&e by not letting yo%r enemy &ontrol yo%r #eelings! Fo% have the best venge* an&e by not letting e9ternal events lea yo% to evil a&tions, tho%ghts, an #eelings! Fo% have the best revenge by #ran$ly #orgiving 'hoever has 'ronge yo%! Fo% have the best revenge by not letting yo%rsel# be&ome 6
T:D TR+PD PAT: li$e the 'rongoer! Fo% are %sti#ie in ta$ing a&tions to e#en yo%rsel# against in%ry an #%t%re harm, b%t never in ta$ing a&tion to satis#y a esire #or vengean&e! +# yo% ever thin$ a &o%rse o# a&tion is %sti#ie to e#en or prote&t, 'ait be#ore a&ting ;%nless real ne&essity ma$es immeiate a&tion re%ire=! ?eitate an still yo%r minE try to ispassionately e9amine yo%r propose &o%rse o# a&tionE see$ the avi&e o# isintereste o%t* siers! Then, eval%ate 'hether yo%r a&tion is %sti#ie, or 'hether it is only motivate by vengean&e or hate! 4 +# someone 'rongs yo%, go an privately is&%ss the problem 'ith that person! +# that person listens to yo% an the t'o o# yo% re* solve the problem, yo% have t%rne a potential enemy into a #rien! +# that person oes not listen to yo%, see$ help #rom others to meiate the isp%te! +# still there is no resol%tion, then #orgive in yo%r heart ;b%t it may be pr%ent to avoi #%t%re ealings 'ith that person=! 8hen yo% have &alme yo%r ill 'ill or anger, then yo% may &onsier see$ing a #or* mal or legal resol%tion o# yo%r isp%te! 1 8hen people try to ans'er 'hether there is #ree 'ill, they are not even as$ing the right %estionX 2 Are o%r a&tions in#l%en&e by pre*e9isting &onitionsG Fes! Are 'e ea&h inivi%als &apable o# inepenent a&tionG Fes! Da&h o# %s enoys an e9isten&e separate #rom all others! 8e are all #ree be&a%se 'e are ea&h an inivi%al &apable o# inepenent a&tion! 8hile o%r previo%s e9perien&es an &%rrent &ir&%mstan&es have a strong in#l%en&e on o%r behavior an a&tions, o%r personal behavior is not &ompelle by any o%tsie #or&e, b%t by internal pro&esses an o%r %ni%e personal &hara&teristi&s an e9perien&e! As a%tonomo%s inivi* %als, 'e a&&%m%late e9perien&e an $no'lege an respon to o%r envi* ronment! 8e respon to in&entives an a%st o%r behavior! 4 oth inivi%als an so&ieties progress an #lo%rish only 'hen they are #ree #rom o%tsie &onstraints an are also hel a&&o%ntable #or the res%lts o# their a&tions! e&a%se a&tions also have e##e&ts on others an on the &omm%nity, to be hel tr%ly a&&o%ntable, 'e m%st ea&h bear the &onse%en&es o%r a&tions have on others an on the &omm%nity! Hor
(+RT7D this reason, it is right #or &omm%nities to impose reasonable r%les an p%nishments! 5 Dven 'hen someone see$s to e9ternally limit yo%r #reeom o# a&tion, yo%r min still belongs to yo%rsel#! The #irst lesson o# oing goo is that yo% are #ree to &hoose to o goo! The p%rpose o# o%r e9is* ten&e is to #in oy thro%gh oing goo! / The se&ret to a 'ell*orere an pleasant so&iety is to tea&h the people 'isom, virt%e, an hope, an then let them govern themselves! 8hen everyone is 'ise, then they 'ill #reely &hoose to o goo an la* bor 'ith hope! There is no nee #or &omp%lsion! 1 Fo%r &hara&ter is the res%lt o# 'hat yo% have tho%ght3 it is #o%ne on yo%r tho%ghts, it is mae %p o# yo%r tho%ghts! +# yo% spea$ or a&t 'ith an imp%re min, pain 'ill #ollo' yo%, %st as a &ar@s rear 'heels #ollo' its #ront 'heels 'herever they go! +# yo% spea$ or a&t 'ith a p%re min, happiness 'ill #ollo' yo%, %st li$e yo%r shao' al'ays #ol* lo's yo% 'hen yo% 'al$ in the light! 2 Avoi p%rposeless, %seless, or evil tho%ghts! 8hen they &ome, still yo%r min or thin$ on something 'orthy an virt%o%s! et this be yo%r g%ie #or eval%ating yo%r tho%ghts3 +# someone 'ere to as$ 'hat yo% are thin$ing abo%t, 'o%l yo% be able to ans'er %nashamely, 'ith per#e&t opennessG +s it something that is simple an benevolentG +s it something that is so&ially %se#%lG +s it something in 'hi&h rivalry, envy, an s%spi&ion play no partG +s it anything else that 'o%l &a%se yo% to bl%sh i# yo% ha to say it o%t lo% to othersG L:e ins%lte me, he ab%se me, he beat me, he e#eate me, he robbe me!M +# yo% harbor s%&h tho%ghts, hatre 'ill never &ease! +# yo% o not harbor those tho%ghts, hatre 'ill &ease! :atre &annot ever be riven o%t by hatreE love ma$es hatre &ease! Fo% &annot be&ome some* thing by thin$ing abo%t its opposite! et yo%r tho%ghts 'ell on 'is* om, gooness, an hope, an yo% 'ill be&ome 'iser, more virt%o%s, an more hope#%l! 4 J%st as rain po%rs thro%gh a ba roo# an #loos the ho%se 'ithin, passion 'ill po%r thro%gh an %nevelope min an over'helm yo%r &hara&ter an a&tions! J%st as rain #lo's along the o%tsie o# a 100
T:D TR+PD PAT: goo roo# an #alls harmlessly on the gro%n, passion 'ill #lo' harm* lessly on the periphery o# a evelope min, not a##e&ting yo%r &hara&* ter or a&tions! 5 ?ost o#ten, i# yo% ta$e a'ay yo%r opinion, then yo% ta$e a'ay the &omplaint, L+ have been harme!M ?ost o#ten, 'hen yo% ta$e a'ay the &omplaint, L+ have been harme,M then the harm is ta$en a'ay! 1 +# it is not right, o not o itE i# it is not tr%e, o not say it! 2 .o not o 'hat sho%l not be one! .o not negle&t oing 'hat sho%l be! Fo% o evil not only by oing something 'rong, b%t also by not oing 'hat is right! 4 .o not o %nvirt%o%s a&ts, #or yo% 'ill regret them a#ter'ars! .o virt%o%s ees! Fo% 'ill not regret them! 5 .o everything in its proper time! / "ot %st by yo%r esires, b%t also by yo%r 'or$s 'ill yo% $no' yo%r tr%e &hara&ter! .o not &on&ern yo%rsel# more 'ith tal$ing abo%t ho' to o goo than yo% &on&ern yo%rsel# 'ith a&t%ally oing goo! Tal$ing abo%t oing goo, listening to others tal$ abo%t ho' to o goo, or reaing abo%t being virt%o%s o not ma$e yo% virt%o%s! >nly a&t%ally oing goo 'ill bring virt%e! 6 +t is a rii&%lo%s thing to #lee #rom others@ baness, b%t not yo%r o'n! +# yo% o 'rong, yo% o 'rong against yo%rsel#! +# yo% a&t %n%stly, yo% a&t %n%stly to yo%rsel#! +t is possible that yo% may epart #rom li#e this very momentE &ontrol yo%r a&ts an tho%ghts, an is&ipline yo%rsel# a&&oringly! ee$ 'isom, o goo, an labor 'ith hope all the ays o# yo%r li#e! ive yo%r li#e so that yo% 'o%l not be ashame #or anyone to is&over any aspe&t o# it! 10 There is no s%&h thing as vi&ario%s virt%e! The a&ts o# others 'ill never ma$e yo% virt%o%s! The only 'ay yo% &an be virt%o%s is by oing goo an treating others 'ith love! 11 .o not try to %se the ens to %sti#y the meansE yo% &annot %sti#y %nvirt%o%s a&ts be&a%se yo% are oing them to a&hieve some s%p* 101
(+RT7D posely 'orthy goal! 1 e patient in s%##ering! Dn%re yo%r a##li&tions patiently, even i# yo% have many! Dven i# yo% s%##er ab%se, beating, or p%nishment, o not let yo%rsel# #eel anger or resentment! Patien&e oes not mean 'ea$* ness! 8ise patien&e brings po'er! e patient, b%t not passive! "ever stop persevering to resolve yo%r problems, &on%er yo%r tro%bles, an es&ape yo%r harships! %&h patien&e 'ill give yo% the greatest &han&e o# &on* %ering yo%r i##i&%lties! 2 e &o%rteo%s to everyone an patient 'ith their #la's! Dn&o%r* age the #ear#%lE help the 'ea$E o##er s%pport to those 'ho are str%ggling to see$ 'isom, o goo, an labor 'ith hope! Remember that yo% yo%rsel# 'ere on&e #oolish an la&$ing in virt%e an ;i# yo% are honest 'ith yo%rsel#= are still so no'! +# someone is angry 'ith yo%, respon 'ith &almness an pa* tien&eE &almness 'ill pa&i#y n%mero%s great o##enses an sooth many e9* plosive sit%ations! 1 Fo% evelop virt%e thro%gh &onsistent pra&ti&e! Fo% learn by oing! omeone be&omes a b%iler by b%ilingE a m%si&ian by playing an instr%mentE so too yo% 'ill be&ome %st by oing %st a&ts, temperate by oing temperate a&ts, brave by oing brave a&ts, an loving by oing loving a&ts! 2 Pra&ti&e 'hat yo% esire to be goo at! 8hat yo% pra&ti&e o* ing is 'hat yo% esire to be! Fo%r tr%e &hara&ter is best %nerstoo by observing 'hat yo% o ! Pra&ti&e gooness, an yo% 'ill be&ome goo! 8at&h yo%rsel# al'ays! Ta$e hee, meitate an pray al'ays, an al'ays see$ to o goo, so that yo% o not #all a'ay #rom the triple path! 4 .o not ile a'ay yo%r time! Fo% 'ill %nerstan 'hat yo% tr%ly val%e by loo$ing at ho' yo% &hoose to spen yo%r time! pen yo%r time see$ing 'isom, oing goo, an laboring 'ith hope! 1 +t is not eno%gh %st to start on the triple path, yo% m%st also en%re to the en! 102
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2 .o no nott 'ea 'eary ry in 'ell 'ell* *oi oing, ng, even even i# yo yo%% on only ly ha havve opp opport% ort%ni* ni* ties to o small things! >%t o# small things pro&ees that 'hi&h is great! (irt%e rt%e is in yo yo%! oo oo$$ 'ithi 'ithin! n! 8ith thin in is is a 'ell 'ell o# goo oon nes ess, s, an it 'ill never stop b%bbling %p, i# yo% 'ill never stop igging #or it! 4 e so some meone one 'ho 'ho iiss %n&o %n&onta ntamin minat ate e by by ple pleas% as%re re,, %nh %nharme arme by by pain, %nto%&he %nto%&he by ins%lts, an ye eep 'ith %sti&eE someone 'ho #eels no 'rong, #ights in the noblest #ight, &annot be overpo'ere by any passion, an a&&epts 'itho%t &omplaint or bitterness everything that happens to yo%, 'hile still al'ays see$ing to ma$e yo%r &ir&%mstan&es better! 5 e in in%st %stri rio%s o%s an ilig iligen entt in all all thin thingsE gsE al'a al'ays ys see$ see$ greate greaterr 'isom an to o more goo! Fo Fo%r a&tions sho%l al'ays be &al&%late &al& %late to ma$e the 'orl a better pla&e! / .o go goo o no matter matter the &ir&% &ir&%mst mstan& an&ee or or har hars ship hip yo yo%% are in! 1 .o yo% yo% #eel #eel b%s b%syG yG .oe .oess it seem seem yo% yo% neve neverr hav have eno%g eno%ghh time time to to get everything oneG A great part o# 'hat yo% o is %nne&essary! Cast asie yo%r %nne&essary an #rivolo%s tho%ghts! PrioritiBe yo%r goals an plans, an o #irst the things that are most important! 8hat is most im* portantG That 'hi&h helps yo% live the triple path! h%n plans an a&* tions that are %nne&essary! Ceasing to o %nne&essary things an priori* tiBing the ne&essary brings not only the tran%ility 'hi&h &omes #rom oing 'ell, b%t also the serenity 'hi&h &an only be ha by someone 'ho is not al'ays harrie an preo&&%pie! Al'ays as$ yo%rsel#3 Lis 'hat + am oing ne&essary, or is it %nne&essary, #rivolo%s, or trivialGM 2 Fo% ma$e ma$e time time #or #or that that 'hi 'hi&h &h is is most most importa important nt to yo% yo%!! Fo Fo% al'ays #in time to eat! 8hyG e&a%se yo%r li#e epens epens on it! it ! Fo Fo% may not have leis%re to o everything yo% 'ant, b%t yo% al'ays have the leis%re to &ontrol yo%r tho%ghts an a&tionsE yo% al'ays have the leis%re to p%rs%e the triple pathyo%r pathyo%r li#e epens on it! .o not b% b%sy sy yo yo%rs %rsel# el# 'ith tri#li tri#ling ng thin things gs!! .o .o not not giv give &re &reit it to the %ns%bstantiate &laims o# the s%perstitio%s! .o not give yo%rsel# %p passionately passionately to entertainment an sport! .o not be&ome a partisan o# sports teams, athletes, athletes, per#ormers, per#ormers, or 'or$s 'or$s o# #i&tion! #i&tion! eis%re, eis%re, re&re* ation, an so&ial intera&tion help yo% maintain balan&e an mental 'ell* 10
(+RT7D being! %t passion an partisanship in s%&h matters is 'aste#%l #rivolityE 'asting time on them etra&ts #rom 'hat is most important3 see$ing 'isom, oing goo, an laboring 'ith hope #or a better #%t%re! 4 ?ortality 3 8e all have some vag%e $no'lege that 'e are mor* tal! ?any in the 'orl, tho%gh, o not %nerstan that that 'e m%st all ieE those 'ho $no' it en their %arrels an ile p%rs%its! 5 ?ortality 3 Thin$ abo%t the times o# yo%r great*great*great* great gran#ather! +n that time yo% 'o%l have seen people marrying, bringing %p &hilren, si&$, ying, 'aring, #easting, tra##i&$ing, &%ltivating the gro%n, #lattering, being obstinately arrogant, s%spe&ting, plotting, 'ishing #or some to ie, gr%mbling abo%t the present, loving, heaping %p treas%re, an esiring po'er! All those people are no' ea! >r thin$ abo%t yo%r great*great*great gran#ather! Again, Again, all is the same! :is li#e too is gone! +n li$e manner &onsier also the other epo&hs o# time an o# 'hole nations, an see ho' many, many, a#ter great e##orts, soon ie an e&ompose! %t most most o# all, yo% sho%l sho%l thin$ abo%t those yo% yo%rsel# have $no'n ;in&l%ing yo%rsel#= 'ho istra&t themselves 'ith ile things, negle&ting to see$ 'isom, o goo, an labor 'ith hope! An th%s remember to prioritiBe the triple path in yo%r li#e, giv* ing proper val%e an proportion to a&tions an tho%ghts! / .o yo% yo% reall reallyy belie believe ve tha thatt the the highe highest st goo goo is in #ol #ollo lo'i 'ing ng the the triple pathG +# so, then yo% 'o%l #ollo' it! .o yo% believe that the tri* #ling istra&tions 'hi&h preo&&%py yo%, an 'hi&h preo&&%py so many others, are the highest gooG +# not, then 'hy o yo% 'aste yo%r time on them, 'hen so many other more important impor tant things a'aitG Fo%r 'ort 'orthh is et etermi ermine ne by the th thing ingss abo% abo%tt 'hi& 'hi&hh yo% yo% b%s b%syy yo%rsel#! yo%rsel#! As$ yo%rsel# these %estions3 :o' oes this a&tion a##e&t my 'orthG Are the things things 'ith 'hi&h 'hi&h + am b%sying mysel# mysel# o# real 'orthG 'orthG .o my a&tions help me #ollo' the triple pathG 6 Co Consi nsie err a man man 'ho 'ho %se %sess the the :op :opee .ia .iamo mon n as a hamm hammer er to po%n nails into a 'ooen toy he is b%iling! Certainly everyone 'o%l &onsier him a #ool! 8hyG 8hyG e&a%se he is %sing something o# s%&h great val%e to b%il something so tri#ling! .o not %se yo%r li#e, yo%r time, yo%r &ompassion, yo%r intelligen&e, an yo%r many gi#ts to b%il tri#les! 7se these things, an everything else yo% have, to see$ 'isom, o 104
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goo, an labor 'ith hope! .o no nott spe spen n mon money ey #or #or tha thatt 'hi 'hi&h &h is o# o# no 'o 'orth! rth! .o .o not not 'aste yo%r yo%r time an labor on trivialities! 1 Fo% are are yo%r yo%r o'n o'n g%ar g%ari ian! an! 8hat oth other er g%ar g%arian ian &o%l &o%l yo% yo% haveG 8hen yo% master yo%rsel#, then yo% 'ill have a rare an val%able g%arian inee! 1 "eve "everr #or #orge gett that that ther theree is a &on &onse se%e %en&e n&e #or #or eve every ry a&tio a&tionn yo yo%% ta$e an #or every e&ision yo% ma$e! .o not be s%rprise 'hen yo% ig a pit that yo% en %p #alling into it! 1 .o go goo o as as an en en in itsel itsel#, #, not be&a%s be&a%see yo% yo% e9pe& e9pe&tt some some re* re* 'ar! 'ar! +# yo% o goo in e9pe&tation o# either earthly re'ar or heavenly heavenly blessings, then yo% are a&ting o%t o# sel#ishness! Dnlightenment &omes #rom sel#lessness! sel#les sness! :ave yo% one gooG That That is re'ar eno%gh! 8hen 8hen yo% a&t o%t o# sel#lessness, sel#lessness, yo% &annot help b%t bring great re'ar re'ar to yo%rsel#, even tho%gh yo% o not esire it! The re'ar &omes 'hen yo% o not see$ it! +t &omes be&a%se yo% o not see$ it! 2 Al' Al'ays o 'hat 'hat o% o%gh ghtt to to be be on onee bbe& e&a% a%se se it is 'hat 'hat o%ght to be one! .o not a&t o%t o# a 'orry abo%t 'hat others 'ill thin$ or 'hat rep%tation yo%r a&tions 'ill bring yo%! .o not not a&t a&t 'it 'ithh %pli %pli&i &ity ty an an hi hie enn inte intent nt!! eav eavee no no room room in in yo%r &hara&ter #or these! 4 Ho Hools ols try try to sho sho' brav bravery ery by by aring aring to to o 'ron 'rong! g! Tr%e brave bravery ry is aring to o goo an sho' love love,, 'ith patien&e an en%ran&e, no matter the &ir&%mstan&e! 1 The &o &ons& ns&io% io%ss esi esire re o# most people people is %s%al %s%ally ly to o the righ rightt thing! The obsta&le obsta&le is most o#ten not la&$ o# esire, esire, b%t in #ollo'ing #ollo'ing thro%gh 'ith right a&tion! 8hen the mental emans on yo% gro' be* yon yo%r ability to hanle, yo%r &ons&io%s min starts to lose &ontrol! e'are o# h%nger, tireness, being overly overly b%sy, b%sy, or too many istra&tions ma$ing &laims on yo%r time! +n s%&h a state, yo%r 'ill be&omes ta9e an yo% lose yo%r is&ipline! +mprove yo%r is&ipline by in&reasing yo%r 105
(+RT7D mental &apa&ity to respon to emans! Al'ays be sear&hing ahea o# time #or tools to help $eep yo% #rom #altering in areas 'here yo% are 'ea$, an to re%&e %nne&essary e9traneo%s mental emans that 'ea$en yo%r resolve to a&t rightly! 2 Fo% are ne never ver %sti %sti#i #ie e in oin oingg evil evil mere merely ly to to satis satis#y #y yo% yo%rr e* sires, b%t it is e%ally tr%e that h%man esires are a #%namental part o# li#e! ?any esires &an be harm#%l or angero%s 'hen ta$en to e9tremes, b%t yo%r esires 'ill never go a'ay! +t is #oolish to try to erase them! +t is #oolish to #ear them! Dmbra&e yo%r esires! Rather than #ight them, p%t them to pro%&tive pro%&tive %se! Hin 'ays to satis#y yo%r esires that are not harm#%l to yo% or others! ee$ to &hannel them an harness them to help yo% o goo! %t also o not espair 'hen yo% ma$e mista$es! ?ista$es are part o# learning, an yo% sho%l e9pe&t them! et yo%r e9* pe&tations so that yo%r mista$es o not leave yo% in a state o# espair 'hen yo% err! Pla&e yo%rsel# in sit%ations 'here yo% 'ill be able to re* &over #rom yo%r mista$es! Th%s, yo% 'ill trans#orm potentially harm#%l or angero%s imp%lses into benign ones! There is almost no esire yo% have that yo% yo% &annot t%rn into something that leas yo% to o goo! Al'a Al'ays ys see$ see$ to to impro improvve yo%r yo%r &har &hara&t a&ter er an an is&ip is&ipline line yo yo%r %rsel sel#! #! :ave a love o# labor an perseveran&e! .o not let yo%rsel# be istra&te by trivialities! trivialities! .o not be a slave slave 'hose a&tions are &ontrolle by the %nis&ipline an %n#o&%se part o# yo%r minE no longer let these is* tra&tions p%ll yo%, yo%, li$e the strings strings o# a p%ppet! 4 ost opport%nities 3 :o' long have yo% been p%tting o## so many important things, an ho' o#ten have yo% ha opport%nities that yo% i not ta$e avantage o#X Fo%r time in this 'orl is temporary! Fo%r e9isten&e is #lo'ing a'ay! +# yo% o not %se yo%r time #or see$ing 'isom, oing goo, an laboring 'ith hope, that time 'ill have been 'aste, an it 'ill never ret%rn! 5 +# yo yo%% see$ see$ #%l #%l#i #illllme ment nt #rom #rom imm immo oer erat atee an an e9&e e9&ess ssiv ivee beha behav* v* ior, then yo% are ile an 'ea$! J%st J%st as a strong p%sh #rom someone 'ill $no&$ over a bi&y&le rier, li#e@s tro%bles 'ill $no&$ yo% o## the triple path! +# yo% see$ #%l#illment thro%gh e9er&ising sel#*&ontrol an moer* ation, then yo% are #aith#%l an strong! J%st li$e a strong p%sh #rom someone &annot move a tan$, so too 'ill yo% be immovable #rom the 10/
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triple path in the #a&e o# li#e@s tro%bles! / Fo% are are a slav slavee to 'hat 'hatev ever er maste masters rs yo% yo%!! >nly >nly 'hen 'hen yo% yo% master master yo%rsel# yo%rsel# &an yo% be #ree! #ree! There There is not nothin hingg 'ro 'rong ng 'ith 'ith normal normal h% h%man man esir esires es,, bb%t %t they they sho%l be enoye properly, 'ith moeration an 'isom! 6 Fo%r &on onss&io% &io%s, s, thi thin$ n$iing min min is a small mall part part o# yo%r &o &om* m* plete el#! ?%&h o# yo%r #eelings, esires, e&isions, an tho%ghts &ome #rom the a%tomati&, instin&tive parts o# yo%r min that 'or$ o%tsie o# yo%r &ons&io%s tho%ghts! Fo Fo%r &ons&io%s min is not li$e a river river steer* steer * ing a &ar, b%t li$e a rier on an elephant trying to &ontrol &ontrol an %nr%ly in* in * epenent beast 'ith its o'n agena! .is&ipline an sel#*restraint %s%* ally o not &ome #rom having the #ortit%e to &ons&io%sly &ontrol all o# yo%r tho%ghts, #eelings, an behavior, b%t #rom being able to train the elephant o# yo%r min so that yo% &an n%ge it into the right &o%rse yo% see$ to #ollo'! 1 et et yo%r yo%r onl only priBe priBe posse possess ssio ionn be virt% virt%e! e! Then hen,, no matt matter er 'hat else is ta$en #rom yo%, yo% 'ill say L+ have lost nothing,M #or no one &an rob yo% o# yo%r virt%e, an it &an never never be lost %nintentionally! %nintentionally! 2 ay ay asi asiee the the thing thingss o# o# th this is 'orl 'orl, , an see$ see$ #or #or the the th thing ingss o# a better! 8here yo%r treas%re is, there 'ill yo%r heart be also! .o not set yo%r heart on getting material possessions #or yo%rsel#! yo%rsel#! et it on oing goo an see$ing 'isomE on yo%r #amily an on yo%r #ello' beings! Phys Physi&a i&all pleas pleas%r %ree oes oes not not brin bringg last lasting ing #%l#i #%l#illm llment ent or pea& pea&e! e! Fo%r physi&al esires may be temporarily satiate, b%t are never perma* nently satis#ie! Fo% m%st meet yo%r physi&al nees, b%t yo% 'ill ie be* #ore yo% #in #%l#illment in physi&al pleas%res! 4 ive ive happil happilyy, #re #reee #rom #rom gree gree an an l%st! l%st! Dven Dven liv livin ingg among among th thee greey an l%st#%l, let yo%rsel# live 'itho%t 'itho%t gree or l%st! 5 LThes LThesee &hil &hilre renn belon belongg ttoo me, me, an an this this 'e 'ealth alth belon belongs gs to to me, me,M 'ith s%&h tho%ghts yo% #oolishly torment yo%rsel#! yo%rsel#! Fo Fo% o not even be* be * long to yo%rsel#E ho' m%&h less &hilren an 'ealthG / e'ar e'aree o# &easeles &easelessly sly see$i see$ing ng materi material al posses possessio sions ns an 'ealt 'ealth, h, #alsely believing that yo% are #%l#illing vali nees an esires! Fo%r real nees are #e', #e', an the virt%o%s virt %o%s e&rease their esires to a minim%m! 10
(+RT7D +# yo yo%% gi give yo yo%r %rse sel# l# over over to vanit vanityy an an esir esiree ins inste tea a o# o# givi giving ng yo%rsel# yo%rsel# to meitation an #ollo'ing #ollo'ing the triple path, yo% 'ill in time envy those 'ho have #ollo'e the triple path! 6 Th Thes esee &ome &ome #rom #rom sel# sel#iish shne ness ss33 gree gree,, esir esiree, mater materia iali lism sm,, an the p%rs%it o# pleas%re! These &reate sel#ishness! Fo% &annot live 'ith love an sel#lessness 'hen yo% spen yo%r time see$ing to grati#y those other esires! e on on yo% yo%rr g%ar g%ar aga again inst st all all $in $ins s o# o# gree gree an an es esir ireE eE th thee val%e val%e o# yo yo%r %r li#e oes not &onsist &onsist in its ab%nan&e ab%nan&e o# pleas%re pleas%re or pos* pos * sessions! 10 +# yo yo%% are greey greey,, yo% yo% &annot &annot bear bear givi giving ng %p yo%r yo%r in&omeE in&omeE i# yo% &rave &rave notoriety, notoriety, yo% &annot bear giving %p #ameE i# yo% l%st #or po'er, yo% &annot bear to han a%thority to others! .o not be li$e the #oolish #oolish an %nvirt%o%s %nvirt%o%s 'ho hol tight to these things, shivering shivering 'ith the #ear that letting go 'o%l &a%se sorro'! .o not be as those 'ho never stop #or a moment o# re#le&tion an stillness, 'ho al'ays gaBe 'ith greey eyes! 11 Fo% &annot &annot #in #in 'isom 'isom or a&t a&t 'ith 'ith real real virt%e i# i# yo yo%% are at at * ta&he to pleas%re an po'er! 12 :o' :o' &an &an yo% yo% &laim &laim to be be 'ise 'ise or virt%o%s virt%o%s i# i# yo yo%% a&t #or #or yo% yo%rr o'n immeiate pleas%re at the e9pense o# yo%r #%t%re health or happi* nessG :o' &an yo% &laim to be 'ise or virt%o%s i# yo% a&t #or yo%r o'n pleas%re at the e9pense o# othersG (irt%o%s (irt%o%s a&tions bring happiness! 8hen yo% a&t %nvirt%o%sly, yo% a&t to th'art yo%r #%t%re happiness loving pleas%re, vi&e, an gree more than happiness! 8hen yo% eat gl%ttono%sly gl%ttono%sly or live %nhealthily, %nhealthily, yo% th'art yo%r #%t%re health an 'ell* being, loving physi&al pleas%re more than li#e itsel#! A&ting so, yo% have neither 'isom, virt%e, nor hope! 1 The lov love o# mon money ey leas leas to many many %nv %nvirt%o% irt%o%ss a&ts! a&ts! Keep Keep yo%r yo%r li#e #ree #rom the love o# money! e &ontent 'ith 'hat yo% have! 14 ?%&h ?%&h evil evil &omes &omes #rom sel#i sel#ishn shness ess,, l%st, l%st, an gree! gree! eing sel#* sel#* ish, l%st#%l, or greey means letting yo%r esires overpo'er yo%r morals, be&oming 'illing to a&t %nvirt%o%sly to get 'hat yo% 'ant! 15 "ever "ever let yo%r yo%rsel# sel# lov love money, money, possess possessions ions,, or #inery #inery!! Things are never 'orthy obe&ts o# yo%r love! "ever let yo%r p%rs%it o# money, 106
T:D TR+PD PAT: possessions, or #inery hiner yo%r e##orts to help the poor, the neey, the si&$, an the a##li&te! 1/ +#, in spite o# eta&hment #rom gree, sel#ishness, an esire, yo% #in yo%rsel# 'ith 'ealth, be even ri&her in virt%o%s a&tsE be gener* o%s an reay to share! 1 8hen yo% prosper materially, it is easy to #orsa$e the triple path an t%rn to evil 'ays! .o not e9&hange yo%r esires to o goo #or a base an %seless #o&%s on a&%isitiveness! 16 +# money or 'ealth is 'hat yo% love, there 'ill never be eno%gh to satis#y yo%! 1 "o matter ho' #e' or ho' many material goos yo% a&&%m%* late, no matter ho' many pleas%rable or e9&iting e9perien&es yo% have, none o# them 'ill be yo%rs a#ter yo% ie! 20 The starving man most esires #oo! :is esires &ons%me an over&ome him! Avoi gl%ttony by avoiing &omplete sel#*enial! Keep yo%r esires #rom &ontrolling yo% by a&ting in moeration to meet yo%r simple, %st nees! 21 The momentary physi&al pleas%res o# li#e are not evil, so long as yo% enoy them in moeration an o not other'ise a&t %nvirt%o%sly or immorally to e9perien&e them! "ever #orget, tho%gh, that it is more important to %se yo%r time an yo%r strengths to o goo, to improve the 'orl, an to strengthen yo%r &onne&tions an relationships 'ith others! 1 e'are o# prie, lest yo% a&t %n'isely or %nvirt%o%sly! 8hen yo% stan on yo%r tiptoes, yo% &annot stan #irmE 'hen yo% isplay yo%rsel#, yo% o not shineE 'hen yo% boast abo%t yo%rsel#, yo% are %nisting%ishe an yo%r merit is not 'orthy o# a&$no'legmentE 'hen yo% are &on&eite or &ompla&ent, yo% la&$ any s%periority! 8hen yo% are not prie#%l, yo% are gro%ne, an so yo% stan #irm! e #ree #rom sel#*isplay, an yo% 'ill shineE be #ree #rom sel#*boasting, an yo% 'ill be isting%ishe an yo%r merit 'ill be a&* $no'legeE be #ree #rom &on&eiteness or &ompla&en&y, an yo% 'ill a&%ire s%periority! 2 +# yo% p%t yo%rsel# above others, yo% 'ill be h%mble! +# yo% 10
(+RT7D are h%mble, then yo% are great! 1 .o not &a%se the eath o# another h%man being thro%gh e* liberate a&tion or ina&tion! 2 Ta$e a##irmative a&tion to prevent the eath o# those 'ho are in anger or istress! Ta$ing the li#e o# another h%man being is only %sti#ie i# one in sel#*e#ense, an even then only i# absol%tely ne&essary to pro* te&t yo%r o'n li#e, or the li#e o# an inno&ent person! 4 Abortion is only permissible in the &ase o# rape, in&est, 'hen a pregnan&y physi&ally threatens the li#e o# the mother, or 'hen a #et%s has severe e#e&ts 'hi&h ma$e it &ertain it 'ill not s%rvive very long past birth! .o not get &a%ght %p in ebates abo%t 'hether a #et%s is a Lper* son!M +t is a i##i&%lt an probably %nsolvable problem to e#initively set* tle the proper e#inition o# personhoo! +t is &lear, tho%gh, that even i# a #et%s is not a person, it oes have the potential to be&ome a person! Presente 'ith s%&h a har, %nans'erable %estion ealing 'ith beings that at least have the potential to be&ome people, err on the sie o# pre* serving li#e! 8hen a mother vol%ntarily &hooses to have se9, she is &hoosing to o something that may ma$e her pregnant, an she sho%l bear the &onse%en&es o# that &hoi&e an &arry the #et%s to #%ll evelop* ment an birth! 8hen a 'oman has be&ome pregnant thro%gh no &hoi&e o# her o'n, or 'hen her pregnan&y has %n#oreseen &onse%en&es that physi&ally threaten her o'n li#e or ma$e the #et%s@s post*birth li#e inviable, then the balan&e &hanges an abortion is %sti#iable! 1 Dveryone trembles at p%nishment an #ears eathE everyone loves li#e! Remember that yo% are li$e them tooE th%s, treat everyone as yo% 'o%l 'ant to be treate! .o not $ill or o violen&e! 2 .o not harm others! .o not o violen&e to others, 'hether it be physi&al, emotional, or se9%al! The only e9&eption that is permitte is oing the minim%m amo%nt o# physi&al violen&e ne&essary to e#en yo%rsel#, or an inno&ent person, #rom harm! .o not let there be anything harsh, mer&iless, or violent in yo%r &hara&ter! 110
T:D TR+PD PAT: 4 .o not assert yo%r mastery by #orðis is a s%re 'ay o# provo$ing more violen&e an #or&e! 5 :e 'ho has $ille h%man beings, even i# %sti#iably, sho%l 'eep #or the ea 'ith the bitterest grie#! / earn ho' to e#en yo%rsel#, b%t only a&t 'ith violen&e as a last resort! +n #a&ing yo%r enemies, o not thin$ that yo% m%st a&t 'ith* o%t virt%e an 'isom to prevail! An 'hen yo% #ight, #ight 'ith sor* ro', regretting even the ne&essity o# the &on#rontation! Reno%n&e 'ar an pro&laim pea&e, an see$ iligently to t%rn the hearts o# all people to 'isom, virt%e, hope, an pea&e! 6 8ar is only %sti#ie to e#en #rom atta&$! 8ith 'hatever voi&e yo% have in yo%r &o%ntry@s a##airs, see$ to ens%re that yo%r &o%ntry is never the aggressorthat it never %ses violen&e, e9&ept to preserve in * no&ent li#e #rom atta&$! +# any nation or gro%p pro&laims 'ar or ma$es 'ar against yo%, #irst see$ a pea&e#%l resol%tion! +# they o not a&&ept yo%r #irst o##ers o# pea&e, an espe&ially i# they o not a&&ept se&on or thir o##ers, then yo% are %sti#ie in #ighting against them! :o' &an yo%, 'ho are see$ing yo%r o'n happiness, p%nish or $ill beings 'ho also long #or happinessG :o' &an yo% e9pe&t to o goo, be #ree #rom hatre, an #ille 'ith love, i# yo% see$ happiness by in#li&ting pain an s%##ering on othersG 10 Those 'ho live by the s'or most o#ten ie by the s'or as 'ell! 11 P%rs%e pea&e 'ith everyone! 12 .o not even let yo%rsel# get angry at others! .o not let there be animosity or hatre bet'een yo% an anyone! +# yo% #eel hatre against someone, or i# anyone #eels hatre to'ar yo%, %i&$ly re&on&ile yo%rsel# 'ith that person! 1 .o not threaten violen&e against others %nless yo% are prepare #or them to resort to violen&e against yo%! 1 .o not steal! .o not ta$e 'hat oes not belong to yo%! 2 .o not lie! .eal honestly 'ith everyone! The virt%o%s see$ a#* ter tr%th! .o not spea$ ill o# others! .o not gossip! 111
(+RT7D
1 Keep yo%r 'or! +t is better never to have mae a promise than to ma$e a promise an not $eep it! 1 ove yo%r spo%se 'ith all yo%r heart! .o not &ommit a%ltery! .o not have se9 o%tsie o# marriage! 2 +t is better to elay the time o# beginning se9%al a&tivity, than to begin too early! eyon avoiing se9 o%tsie o# marriage, it is goo to avoi even esiring it! .esire is the #irst step to a&tion! 1 ?onogamy an marriage are the #o%nations o# a healthy, pro* %&tive, avan&e so&iety! (al%e marriage an #amily above all other things! Fo%r ?arriage sho%l be li#elong, stable, &ommitte, e9&l%sive, an m%t%ally re'aring! Fo% sho%l only have one spo%se, an yo% sho%l have no se9%al partners other than yo%r spo%se! Fo% sho%l &ome together not only to love an s%pport one another, b%t also to have a #amily an have &hilren an th%s perpet%ate the h%man ra&e! Tea&h yo%r &hilren, starting 'hen they are yo%ng, to see$ 'isom, o goo, an labor 'ith hope, so that 'isom an gooness 'ill in&reaseE tea&h yo%r &hilren to love an serve others! Fo%r highest obligation is to love an n%rt%re yo%r &hilren in patien&e an sel#lessness, so that both yo% an yo%r &hilren in&rease yo%r love an &ompassion #or oth* ers! y 'or an e9ample, tea&h yo%r &hilren to love everyone! 2 .ivor&e is an evil, only %sti#ie in e9treme &ir&%mstan&es, s%&h as in &ases o# ab%se or e9tramarital a##airs! +# yo% are not happy in yo%r marriage, &omm%ni&ate 'ith yo%r partner to %nerstan ho' to ma$e it betterE sin&erely 'or$ to #%l#ill ea&h other@s nees! Attening to %rgent o%tsie obligations is never an e9&%se #or negle&ting yo%r #amily! Hamily &omes #irst! Hamily is yo%r most %rgent, pro#o%n obligation! 4 Fo%r obligations to yo%r &hilren, spo%se, an #amily o not %sti#y mistreatment o# others! +t is never right to a&t immorally to'ars o%tsiers to try to get some bene#it #or those 'ho are &lose to yo%! 5 +# yo% #all alone, there is no one to pi&$ yo% %p! T'o are better 112
T:D TR+PD PAT: than one! +# yo% #all, yo%r partner &an help yo% %p, an yo% &an o the same i# yo%r partner #alls! +# yo% both #all, yo% &an help ea&h other %p! +n the &ol, yo% $eep ea&h other 'arm! / Parents have primary responsibility to tea&h an n%rt%re their &hilren, b%t not sole responsibility! Chilren o not gro' %p only in their #amily, isolate #rom the rest o# the 'orl! Da&h member o# a &omm%nity has great responsibility #or the 'el#are an tea&hing o# all &hilren in the &omm%nity! "ever #orget yo%r responsibility to the &hil* ren o# yo%r &omm%nity! ove an s%pport yo%r spo%se! Consier yo%r spo%se@s nees #irst, be#ore yo%r o'n! 1 Dvery ay yo% 'ill meet the b%syboy, the %ngrate#%l, arrogant, e&eit#%l, envio%s, %nso&ial! .o not let yo%rsel# be o##ene by their ig* noran&e! +t is yo%r &hoi&e 'hether to #eel in%re or angry be&a%se o# them! 8e h%mans are mae #or &ooperation, li$e #eet, hans, or ro's o# %pper an lo'er teeth that 'or$ together! +t is %n'ise to a&t against oth* ersE avoi it! 2 e&ome #riens even 'ith the #oolish an %n'ise, the evil an &orr%pt, an 'ith those 'ho ree&t the triple path, an they 'ill not e* stroy yo%! ?ore importantly, yo%r e9ample may lea some o# them to see$ 'isom, o goo, an labor 'ith hope! top loo$ing #or others@ #a%lts! .o not be easily o##ene! 4 .o not spea$ ill o# someone o%tsie o# that person@s presen&e! .o not gossip! .o not mele in others@ a##airs! .o not reaily listen to slaner or gossip! 5 ?aintain not only steay %gment an a&tion in #ollo'ing the triple path, b%t also gentleness to those 'ho try to hiner or other'ise tro%ble yo%! +t is a 'ea$ness to let yo%rsel# #eel anger or ill 'ill to any person, %st as it is a 'ea$ness to let anything iss%ae yo% #rom living the triple path! / %ppose a person espises yo%! This is that person@s o'n a##air! Fo%r personal &on&ern sho%l be to never o or say anything eserving o# &ontempt! 8hether anyone hates yo% or not, let yo% yo%rsel# be mil an benevolent to'ars every person! 11
(+RT7D
+# anyone o##ens yo%, remember these eight prin&iples3 Hirst, that 'e are so&ial beings, an that 'e are mae #or one
another! e&on, that many people o 'rong o%t o# ignoran&e! Thir, that yo% also o many 'rong things an that even i# yo% manage to avoi &ertain #a%lts, yo% still have the isposition to &ommit them! Ho%rth, that be&a%se o# the limitations o# yo%r %nerstaning an $no'lege, yo% o#ten o not %nerstan 'hether someone@s a&tions are %nvirt%o%s, an yo% also o#ten o not %nerstan the &onte9t or ba&$gro%n behin many a&tions! Hi#th, that li#e is only a #leeting moment, that a#ter a short time both yo% an the person 'ho o##ens yo% 'ill be eaE is it 'orth let* ting yo%rsel# be&ome aggravateG i9th, it is not other@s a&ts that %pset yo%, b%t it is yo%r o'n opinions that %pset yo%! Fo% &hoose 'hether to ta$e o##ense or not! eventh, that yo% bring m%&h more pain on yo%rsel# by the anger yo% allo' yo%rsel# to #eel in response to s%&h a&ts than by the a&ts themselves! Dighth, that a $in an patient isposition that is gen%ine an %nyieling has the greatest po'er to bring others to yo%r opinion! Dven the most %nreasonable an angry person 'ill respon more #avorably to $inness than to anger, even i# treating that person 'ith anger 'o%l seem %sti#ie! 6 +# someone mistreats others or a&ts ishonestly, it is li$ely this person 'ill event%ally eal similarly 'ith yo%! +# someone gossips abo%t others 'ith yo%, it is li$ely they 'ill gossip abo%t yo% 'ith others! 8e most nat%rally %nerstan othersY mins in terms o# ho' o%r o'n mins 'or$! e 'ary, there#ore, o# people 'ho reaily or #re* %ently attrib%te to others #alse intentions, ne#ario%s or petty motives, or hien agenas! +t is very possible this is ho' their o'n min #%n&tions! 10 .o not let yo%rsel# be agitate by others, an o not be the $in o# person 'ho ma$es it easy #or others to be&ome agitate! 1
ove one another 'ith m%t%al a##e&tion! 114
T:D TR+PD PAT: 2 pea$ harshly to no oneE 'hen yo% spea$ harshly to others, they 'ill ans'er yo% in the same 'ay! Fo%r angry 'ors h%rt both yo%rsel# an the person yo% spea$ to, an that person@s angry retort 'ill h%rt both him an yo%! 8hy 'o%l yo% a&t to &a%se h%rt an pain to yo%rsel# an to othersG 4 .o not negle&t to sho' hospitality to strangers! 5 e $in! .o ranom a&ts o# $inness #or others every ay! 1 .o not $eep se&rets! e&rets poison relationships an &an$er yo%r &hara&ter! They are rarely %sti#ie! 2 ive yo%r li#e so that yo% 'o%l not 'orry i# anything yo% i 'as is&overe an mae p%bli&! ive 'ith the e9pe&tation that every* thing &overe %p 'ill be %n&overe, an everything se&ret 'ill be&ome $no'n! ive so that yo% o not #ear i# everything yo% have one in the ar$ is seen in the light, an 'hat yo% have 'hispere behin &lose oors is pro&laime #rom the ho%setops! +# there are things abo%t yo% or yo%r a&tions yo% o not 'ant others to $no', it is #oolish to stay that 'ayE instea, &hange yo%r a&* tions so that yo% have no nee #or se&rets or &hange yo%rsel# so that yo% are no longer ashame o# anything being is&overe! 4 A harmonio%s so&iety is one 'here no one &ares abo%t is&ov* ering the etails o# others@ lives be&a%se they are not gossips, an one in 'hi&h no one &ares 'hat others may #in o%t abo%t them, be&a%se they see$ to live a li#e above reproa&h! 1 8or$ to in&rease 'isom, gooness, an hope in the 'orl! +t is har #or someone 'hose basi& physi&al an emotional nees are %n* #%l#ille to evote time to 'isom, virt%e, an hope! Th%s, also see$ to bless the lives o# the s%##ering so that they are reay to hear 'isom! 2 .o not be a blin g%ie! :o' &an yo% in&rease 'isom in the 'orl i# yo% have not starte on the path to 'isom yo%rsel#G :o' &an yo% tea&h virt%e to others i# yo% o not pra&ti&e it yo%rsel#G :o' &an yo% tea&h others abo%t laboring 'ith hope i# yo% yo%rsel# o not so la* borG hare 'isom, virt%e, an hope in h%mility! .o not arg%e 'ith 115
(+RT7D those 'ho isagree 'ith yo%! +nstea, sho' to them yo%r 'isom, virt%e, an hope thro%gh yo%r a&tions, so that perhaps someay they 'ill remember yo%r e9ample an see$ 'isom, virt%e, an hope! 4 et yo%r e9ample in #ollo'ing the triple path be a light to oth* ers, so that it g%ies others to the sa#ety o# 'isom, virt%e, an hope, %st as a lightho%se g%ies ships on the 'ater to sa#ety! 5 All 'ho o goo are reay to re&eive 'isom! All 'ho re&eive 'isom 'ill start oing goo! / Da&h person@s 'orth is great! +#, thro%gh yo%r e##orts, yo% ma$e a positive i##eren&e in one person@s li#e, ho' great 'ill be yo%r oy! :o' m%&h greater 'ill it be i# yo% sho%l help many peopleX Dn the ignoran&e o# the #oolish by tea&hing 'isom an set* ting a goo e9ample o# virt%o%s living an hope#%l labor! 6 "o one gets a lamp, t%rns it on, an then p%ts a ar over it to &over it %p or hies it a'ay in a &loset! et the light o# 'isom, virt%e, an hope shine thro%gh in all yo% o! 1 Fo% may say to yo%rsel# L+ am a &itiBen o# this or that &ity,M or L+ am a &itiBen o# this or that &o%ntry!M Rightly so! %t yo% are a h%man being, a &itiBen o# the 'orl, a member o# the h%man #amily, an yo% have a responsibility to see$ the 'el#are o# all yo%r brothers an sisters! 2 People espise one another an #latter one anotherE they 'ish to raise themselves above one another, an &ro%&h be#ore one another! ive %p both hate an #lattery, an repla&e them 'ith tr%e love #or all, 'ith honesty in all yo% say! ive %p attempts to p%t yo%rsel# above or belo' anyone, b%t stan e%al 'ith everyone! There 'ill al'ays be i##eren&es bet'een ea&h o# %s! 8e all vary in o%r personal abilities an in o%r ei&ation an 'or$ ethi&! +t 'ill al'ays be so, an this nat%rally leas to ine%alities in o%t&omes! %t rarely &o%l it be sai that someone is ten tho%san times more &a* pable or val%able than another! The great ine%ality in h%man$in &omes #rom o%r la&$ o# virt%e an o%r sel#ishnessE #rom o%r ree&tion o# o%r soliarity 'ith ea&h other! 1
8e e9ist #or the sa$e o# ea&h other! :armony in so&iety &annot 11/
T:D TR+PD PAT: e9ist %ntil ea&h person a&ts as they sho%l! ?%si&al notes &reate har* mony thro%gh their relationship 'ith other notes! >ne 'rong note in the mist o# a per#e&t symphony &reates issonan&e an isharmony! Create harmony in yo%r li#e an relationships by oing goo an a&ting sel#lessly, by being 'ise an 'or$ing to b%il a better #%t%reE harmony 'ill &ome to o%r so&iety 'hen 'e ea&h see$ the 'el#are o# o%r neighbor! Tr%e sel#lessness, tho%gh, is only possible 'hen everyone else is also sel#less! 8hen the sel#ish live among the sel#less, they 'ill prey on them an ta$e everything they &an! ee$, there#ore, the &ompany o# those 'ho are also sel#less! reater oy &omes #rom asso&iating 'ith the virt%o%s! 8hen only the sel#less 'ell together, they 'ill live in paraise be&a%se they 'ill &reate it together! 7ntil that ay, live sel#lessly an bless the lives o# all, b%t o not let the sel#ish prey on yo%r gooness! The sel#less have the right, li$e every &reat%re, to preserve themselves! 2 Paraise &annot, an 'ill not, be given to %s by some o%tsie #or&e! 8e 'ill only get it i# 'e b%il itE this is the prin&iple o# &a%se an e##e&t! The paraise o# a harmonio%s, pea&e#%l, an prospero%s so&iety &an only &ome into being 'hen its members see$ 'isom, a&t 'ith virt%e, an labor 'ith hope! 8hen 'e have b%ilt paraise, 'e 'ill live together in love! o an labor 'ith all yo%r strength to b%il o%r h%man paraise! 8hen everyone oes li$e'ise, then 'e 'ill be in the promise lan! .o not hate yo%r neighbor an t%rn a'ay #rom him! 8hen yo% separate yo%rsel# #rom someone, yo% are separating yo%rsel# #rom part o# the &omm%nity! %&h separation is %sti#ie only 'hen ne&essary to prote&t yo%rsel# or yo%r love ones #rom harm! 4 That 'hi&h is not goo #or the s'arm, neither is it goo #or the bee! 8hat is not permitte to others is also not permitte to yo%! .o not be a hypo&rite 'ho tries to %sti#y a&tions #or yo%rsel# that yo% 'o%l &onemn i# ta$en by others! :ypo&risy estroys the #abri& o# a &omm%nity! A harmonio%s so&iety thrives on tr%st, honesty, an #air* ness! :ypo&risy estroys all three o# these! Hor this reason, healthy &om* m%nities p%nish hypo&rites, &asting o%t those 'ho are %nrepentant an e&laring #or#eit their ill*gotten gains! .o not be a sel#ish hypo&rite 'ho e9ploits yo%r &omm%nity by 11
(+RT7D #alsely ma$ing it appear yo% are tr%st'orthy, honest, an %st, 'hen yo% are not! +nstea, be tr%st'orthy, honest, an %st, 'ith no e&eption! 8hen hypo&rites are in &ontrol, the evil prosper an the virt%o%s s%##er! :ypo&rites@ o%ble stanars &orroe a &omm%nity, ma$ing everyone less in&line to o goo an be honest, &a%sing neighbors to lose tr%st in ea&h other, an ma$ing #airness an %sti&e isappear! .o not be a parasite 'ho see$s to bene#it yo%rsel# or yo%r #amily at the &omm%nity@s e9pense! 5 8hen everyone see$s 'isom, oes goo, an labors 'ith hope, they 'ill be o# one heart an minE they 'ill live in virt%e an happiness, an there 'ill be no poor among them! / 8hat starts o%t being sin&ere %s%ally ens %p being e&eit#%l! 8hat 'as simple in the beginning a&%ires monstro%s proportions in the en! :o' &an a harmonio%s so&iety avoi thisG The only hope is to stay vigilant to the angerE $eep the ambitio%s, aspiring, the sel#*impor* tant, an the sel#*aggraniBing o%t o# po'erE $eep instit%tions transpar* ent an simpleE an #ollo' the triple path! 1 Fo% are not reay to have responsibility over others %ntil yo% honor others as m%&h as yo% honor yo%rsel#! Fo% are not reay to have po'er over others %ntil yo% love them as m%&h as yo% love yo%rsel#! The best leaers be&ome servants o# their people! 2 Hoolish an %nvirt%o%s leaers ma$e a great sho' o# their po* sition an elevate themselves over others! The 'orst a&t as tyrants! A great leaer is one 'ho is instea the servant o# all! .o yo% 'ish #or po'er an &ontrol over othersG .o yo% long #or stat%s an re&ognitionG Alreay yo% #ail! The one 'ho most esires po'er is least eserving o# itE he 'ill sel#ishly see$ his o'n bene#it, rather than sel#lessly serve those in his &harge! 4 8hen a people lets the ambitio%s an po'er*l%sting ta$e &harge, too o#ten the en res%lt is that the g%ilty go %np%nishe be&a%se o# their money an the leaers %se their po'er to &ontrol others an en* ri&h themselves, to steal, &ommit a%ltery, an bring eath an violen&e! 5 The more po'er an a%thority someone has, the greater the harm that person &an &a%se by ab%sing po'er! The less a&&o%ntability 116
T:D TR+PD PAT: someone has, the greater the &han&e that person 'ill ab%se po'er! There is great anger in &on&entrating po'er an a%thority! There is great an* ger 'hen a&&o%ntability is la&$ing! imit, there#ore, the po'er an a%* thority entr%ste to any one person! ?a$e, there#ore, ea&h person a&* &o%ntable! / The greater a person@s po'er an a%thority, the more i##i&%lt it is to limit that person@s e9er&ise o# po'er! :aving po'er ma$es it easy #or a leaer to evelop a &onstit%en&y that s%pports his &ontin%e e9er* &ise o# po'er, no matter ho' %n%st! imit an &ir&%ms&ribe, there#ore, ea&h person@s po'er an a%thority so that no one may ever gro' so po'* er#%l that it be&omes i##i&%lt an estr%&tive to remove them! ?a$e it impossible #or any one person to evelop a &onstit%en&y so strong that they be&ome imm%ne #rom &orre&tion or &hallenge! .oes limiting po'er also prevent goo an 'ise leaers #rom e9er&ising greater po'er to o gooG "o! Po'er &orr%pts! +t spoils an taints even the best leaer@s 'isom an virt%e! The virt%o%s an 'ise o not 'ant po'er! +nstea, they tea&h &orre&t prin&iples to others an let them govern themselves! 6 .o yo% 'ant to have the %alities o# a 'ise an virt%o%s leaerG Then see$ 'isom, pra&ti&e virt%e, an labor 'ith hope! overn in moeration! .o not %se &omp%lsion or violen&e! Respe&t the #reeom an a%tonomy o# those in yo%r &harge! %t s%&h leaership is only s%&* &ess#%l 'hen the people val%e an esire 'isom, virt%e, an hope! Th%s, there are t'o 'ays a gro%p &an #ail3 having a leaer 'ho oes not lea 'ith 'isom, virt%e, an hope, or being mae %p o# people 'ho o not #ollo' 'isom, virt%e, an hope! A goo an 'ise leaer governs 'ith toleran&eE goo an 'ise people so le are &om#ortable an honest! A #oolish or evil person 'ith a%thority governs 'ith repressionE people so le be&ome ispirite, &ra#ty, an &yni&al! 10 8ater #lo's to rivers an then to the sea be&a%se they are lo'erE th%s it is 'ith goo leaers! People see$ the &o%nsel o# a 'ise leaer be&a%se he p%ts himsel# belo' themIthro%gh his 'ors an ees he emonstrates that he oes not believe himsel# to be above oth* ers! e&a%se he oes not &ompete 'ith anyone, no one &an &ompete 'ith 11
(+RT7D him! 11 8hat ma$es the people rebellio%sG R%lers 'ho &annot stop in* ter#ering! A&t #or the people@s bene#it! Tr%st themE leave them alone! 12 A great leaer 'or$s to %nite people an no%rish their &om* mitment to 'isom, virt%e, an hope! 1 +# yo% see$ to %se yo%r talents an abilities to &ontrol others, yo% 'ill &orr%pt an taint the 'isom, virt%e, an hope yo% on&e ha! 14 8hen everyone #reely gives o# their talents, evelops 'isom, pra&ti&es virt%e, an labors 'ith hope, then harmony, happiness, an pea&e 'ill reign 'itho%t o%tsie intervention or &ontrol! There 'ill be no nee #or someone to be in &harge! 15 %ie others by e9ample, by sho'ing 'isom, oing goo, an laboring 'ith hope! 1/ .o not be arrogant, %i&$*tempere, violent, or greey! e $in an 'el&oming, pr%ent, #%ll o# integrity, an sel#*&ontrolE love virt%e, 'isom, an hope! 1 8hen in%sti&e is one 'ithin yo%r sphere o# in#l%en&e, en* eavor to right the 'rong! 16 ive %p all notions o# &ontrolling others! 1 ?any o&&%py positions o# a%thority, b%t #e' be&ome real lea* ers! An 'hy notG e&a%se they &are so m%&h abo%t notoriety, re&ogni* tion, po'er, or money that they o not learn this one lesson3 tr%e lea* ership an in#l%en&e re%ire 'isom, virt%e, an hope! 8hile 'e may have ran$ or position &on#erre %pon %s, 'hen 'e a&t to hie o%r mista$es, or to grati#y o%r prie an vain ambition, or to e9er&ise &ontrol or ominion or &omp%lsion over others, 'e a&t 'itho%t either 'isom or virt%e an be&ome oppressors instea o# lea* ers! Almost 'itho%t realiBing it, even those 'ith goo intentions trans#orm themselves into tyrants 'ithin their omain! a e9perien&e tea&hes that it is the nat%re an isposition o# almost all people, as soon as they get a little a%thority, to immeiately begin to e9er&ise it 'rong* #%lly over others! "o po'er or in#l%en&e &an or o%ght to be maintaine by virt%e 120
T:D TR+PD PAT: o# one@s position, b%t instea only by pers%asion, long*s%##ering, gentle* ness an mee$ness, by gen%ine love an $inness, an 'isom, a&ting 'itho%t hypo&risy or e&eptionE very o&&asionally, only 'hen absol%tely re%ire, reproving 'ith sharpness, b%t a#ter'ars, sho'ing an in&rease o# love, so that the person oes not thin$ yo% an enemy, b%t instea $no's that yo%r #ielity an love are stronger than anything else! et yo%r heart be #%ll o# love to'ars all people, an let virt%e garnish yo%r tho%ghts %n&easingly! Then, yo%r &on#ien&e 'ill gro' strong! 8isom 'ill istill %pon yo%r min as e' #rom the s$ies, an yo%r li#e 'ill be #%ll o# 'isom, virt%e, an hope! 2 8hat ma$es an instit%tion or a person great an po'er#%lG e* ing li$e a s'i#t lo'*lying, o'n*#lo'ing river! %&h a river is al'ays mov* ing aheaE it be&omes the &enter to 'hi&h #lo' all the other streams! +# people #ear yo%r po'er, then yo% o not really have any! eave them alone in their homes! Respe&t them in their lives, an they 'ill not gro' 'eary o# yo%! A 'ise people o not #ear the a%thority o# a 'ise leaer! They nee little g%ian&e be&a%se ea&h one governs him* sel# or hersel# a&&oring to the prin&iples o# 'isom, virt%e, an hopeE they $no' a 'ise leaer 'o%l not violate their liberty or intr%e on their a##airs! A 'ise leaer intervenes little! 8hen the people are 'ise, virt%o%s, an tirelessly hope#%l, there is never a nee! 8hen the leaer@s people are not 'ise, the leaer oes not %se #or&e or &omp%lsion to lea them, b%t instea tea&hes them 'isom, so that they &hoose virt%e an hope! ome peoples la&$ the &apa&ity to see$ an learn 'isom! Avoi or reno%n&e leaership o# s%&h peoples! 4 Po'er estroys virt%eE #ame estroys virt%e! ee$ a#ter neither! +# po'er &omes to yo%, ens%re that it is limite an share 'ith others! tay a&&o%ntableE ma$e s%re others are in a position to $eep yo% in &he&$ an stop yo% #rom ab%sing po'er! ee$ an #ollo' virt%o%s &o%nsel both #rom tr%ste asso&iates an o%tsiers! +# #ame &omes to yo%, live yo%r li#e transparently an openly so that it be&omes impossible #or yo% to a&t hypo&riti&ally an %nvirt%o%sly 'itho%t it being %i&$ly is&overe! 5 Reno%n&e the p%rs%it o# po'er, important titles, or positions o# a%thority! People 'ill #ollo' a tr%e leaer not be&a%se o# his posi* tion, b%t be&a%se o# the 'isom, virt%e, an hope they see in him! 121
(+RT7D
1 8hen the 'i&$e r%le, the people mo%rn! >nly the 'ise, virt%* o%s, honest, an iligently hope#%l sho%l have a voi&e in the gover* nan&e o# a &omm%nity, an only the best among them sho%l lea the &omm%nityE yo% sho%l al'ays see$ a#ter these sorts o# people! 1 D9amine the priorities o# the 'ise an those 'ho o goo an those 'ho labor 'ith hopeE loo$ at 'hat $in o# things they avoi, an 'hat $in they p%rs%e, an then #ollo' their e9ample! 2 "o one is per#e&tly virt%o%s or 'ise! "o one is 'orthy o# per* #e&t em%lation! Hoolish or %nvirt%o%s a&ts are never %sti#ie, even i# yo% sa' a normally 'ise an goo person o them! Remember that 'e are all s%be&t to 'ea$nesses o# &hara&ter an #la's in o%r thin$ing! .o not tr%st in a great moral leaer to sho' yo% per#e&t virt%eE o not tr%st in an altr%ist to e9empli#y per#e&t gooness #or yo%! "o s%&h tea&her or e9emplar e9istsE no one is per#e&tE no one oes right all the time! +# yo% pla&e blin tr%st in another, 'hen yo% &ome to $no' the %nvirt%o%s parts o# their &hara&ter an a&tions, yo% 'ill either #ool yo%r* sel# into believing that their immorality is virt%e, or yo% 'ill be&ome is* ill%sione an ree&t the goo things yo% ha learne #rom them! 4 et %s not only rely on so*&alle moral leaers! +nstea, 'e m%st also rely on ea&h other! 8e ea&h have an obligation to o goo an e9empli#y virt%e, to learn #rom others@ gooness, to help others over* &ome their o'n personal 'ea$nesses, an to a&&ept others@ help in over* &oming o%r o'n! 1 .o not &riti&iBe 'hat yo%r neighbor says or oes or thin$s or possesses! +nstea, set abo%t improving 'hat yo% say, o, thin$, an have so that yo% o not have time to 'orry abo%t #ining #a%lt 'ith yo%r neighbor! 2 .o not 'ell on the misees o# others, 'hether the mis&on* %&t 'as by oing or not oing something! +nstea, #o&%s on 'hat yo% o or are not oing! +t is better to not see the #a%lts o# others at all, than it is to see #a%lts in others an not see the #a%lts in yo%rsel#! 122
T:D TR+PD PAT:
1 C%ltivate the &ompany an #rienship o# the 'ise, virt%o%s, an hope#%l! Company 'ith s%&h persons is a pleas%re, li$e being 'ith &lose relatives! 1 .o not let yo%r rea&tions an opinions be &ontrolle by those 'ho o 'rong to yo%, an never let others@ treatment o# yo% lea yo% to o 'rong! oo$ on things as they really are! +t is in yo%r po'er to &on* trol yo%r opinion abo%t a person or thing an not let it ist%rb yo%E people an things have no inherent po'er to &ontrol yo%r o'n %g* ments! 1 Control yo%rsel#! .o goo, even i# it means #eeling pain or #oregoing pleas%re! Hree yo%r behavior #rom angerE instea, be a##e&tion* ate! .o not let yo%rsel# be istra&te! e positive an optimisti& in all &ir&%mstan&es! e satis#ie on all o&&asions, an &heer#%l! e a goo manager o# moneyE o not spen money on %nne&essaries an #rivoli* ties! 2 .o everything 'ith a p%rposeE o not a&t #alsely or 'ith hypo&risy! .o 'hat is set be#ore yo% 'itho%t &omplaining! "ever p%t o## oing something 'orth'hile! .oing goo sho%l be so ro%tine #or yo% that it is a habitE be someone 'ho &annot be iverte #rom oing 'hat is right! "ever a&t 'ith ba intentions! e tr%th#%l! Reaily #orgive! et yo%r behavior be a proper mi9 o# agreeableness 'ith ignity! Treat no one so that they 'o%l ever #eel that yo% espise them! e $in an a&&ommoating, so that intera&tions 'ith yo% are more agreeable than any #lattery! e tolerant o# the ignorant an those 'ho #orm opinions 'itho%t &onsieration! Dven i# yo% thin$ yo% have m%&h $no'lege, o not spea$ or a&t 'ith ostentation! e agreeable an easy in &onversation! 4 ee$ goo #riens an o not soon tire o# them! .o not &o%rt #riens by gi#ts, or by #lattery or by trying to please them! .o not let others #latter yo%! 5 +# yo% are oing yo%r %ty an #ollo'ing the triple path, then let it ma$e no i##eren&e to yo%rsel# 'hether yo% are &ol or 'arm, 12
(+RT7D ro'sy or satis#ie 'ith sleep, ill*spo$en o# or praise, or 'hether yo% are ying or living! .is&om#ort an &om#ort, living an ying3 all o# this is a part o# the e9perien&e o# li#e! Fo%r &ir&%mstan&e oes not e9&%se yo% #rom oing yo%r %ty an having is&ipline an goo &hara&terE it oes not e9&%se yo% #rom #ollo'ing the triple path! / .o not spea$ 'itho%t regar #or 'hat is right or 'rong! .o not elight in tal$ing abo%t others@ #ailings! .o not praise #alsely an hypo&riti&ally! .o not try to #a&e in all ire&tions, 'itho%t tho%ght #or right or 'rong, to try to gain #avor by appearing to agree 'ith 'homever yo% are spea$ing to! .o not insist yo% $no' everything an that things al'ays be one yo%r 'ay! .o not ta$e 'hat belongs to others an appropriate it #or yo%r o'n %se! .o not ignore yo%r o'n #a%lts an errors! .o not re#%se to &hange 'hen yo% see yo%r #a%lts an errors or 'hen others point them o%t to yo%! .o not be a petty hypo&rite 'ho honors an respe&ts people 'hen they agree 'ith yo%, b%t 'ho emo* niBes them an re#%ses to see the goo in them 'hen they isagree 'ith yo%! 8hen yo% 'ere a &hil, yo% spo$e li$e a &hil, tho%ght li$e a &hil, an reasone li$e a &hil! "o' it is time to gro' %p an p%t an en to &hilish 'ays! 1 e'are o# hypo&risy! The #irst pla&e to root it o%t is in yo%r* sel#! Fo% are a hypo&rite! .o not #o&%s on &onemning others@ 'rongo* ing, b%t on improving yo%rsel#! 2 .o not be a hypo&rite 'ho &leans the o%tsie o# the &%p, b%t leaves the insie irty! Hirst &lean the insie o# the &%p, so that the o%t* sie also may be&ome &lean! .o not be a hypo&rite 'ho appears &lean an virt%o%s on the o%tsie, b%t is #%ll o# sel#ishness, sel#*in%lgen&e, an evil! .o not #o&%s on appearing to be virt%o%s! .o not 'orry abo%t ho' yo%r a&tions 'ill appear to others! +nstea, &on&ern yo%rsel# 'ith oing goo, an on oing it #or the right reasons! The hypo&rite in yo% thin$s yo% $no' eno%gh to re&ogniBe the #a%lts o# othersE 'hen yo% thin$ li$e this, yo% are so la&$ing in 'isom that yo% &annot even re&ogniBe yo%r o'n #a%lts! This is 'hy hypo&risy is angero%s3 it blins yo%! The hypo&rite in yo% #alsely believes yo% al* 124
T:D TR+PD PAT: reay $no' 'hat yo% nee to $no' abo%t 'isom, morality, an li#eE b%t i# yo% never see the #a%lts in yo%rsel#, yo% 'ill never see$ 'isom eno%gh to %nerstan them, learn ho' to over&ome them, an be more virt%o%s! +# yo% remain a hypo&rite, yo% 'ill never &ome to an %ner* staning, an 'ill 'allo' in #oolishness all o# yo%r ays! 4 .o not be a hypo&rite 'ho &ares abo%t stat%s, yet ignores the poor an neey! .o not be a hypo&rite 'ho li$es to be seen in e9pensive &lothing an be greete 'ith respe&t, 'ho &ares abo%t yo%r appearan&e an yo%r position, rather than #ollo'ing the triple path! 5 Fo% are a hypo&rite! Con&ern yo%rsel# less 'ith the hypo&risy o# others, b%t instea 'ith &on%ering yo%r o'n hypo&risy! Dven so, be vigilant so that evil hypo&rites o not ta$e avantage o# yo%! / A prospero%s an happy &omm%nity is the #r%it o# a virt%o%s people! (irt%e re%ires e##ort! The hypo&rite ma$es himsel# appear tr%st'orthy an virt%o%s to #ool the virt%o%s an ta$e avantage o# their gooness, trying to enoy the #r%its o# virt%e 'itho%t ma$ing the e##ort to pro%&e those #r%its himsel#! This is 'hat ma$es hypo&risy in* siio%s3 it #ools yo% into believing yo% &an have the bene#its o# virt%e 'itho%t any o# the &osts! +# yo% &ontin%e in s%&h sel#*e&eption, yo% 'ill realiBe only too late that the bene#its 'ill &ome at the &ost o# &an$ering yo%r so%l an &rippling yo%r &hara&ter! :ypo&rites are para* sites! An orerly, goo so&iety p%nishes hypo&risy severely! 1 .o not be a boaster or attention*see$er! .o not sh o' yo%rsel# o## as a someone 'ho pra&ti&es m%&h is&ipline, 'isom, or goonessE o not o benevolent a&ts to ma$e a isplay! 2 .o not o goo in #ront o# others to be seen by them! +# yo% see$ #or re'ars s%&h as praise or a goo rep%tation #rom yo%r virt%e, then yo% o not really have virt%e! +# yo% are virt%o%s, yo% 'ill o goo be&a%se it is the right thing to o, not be&a%se o# some bene#it to yo%r* sel#! 8hen yo% o goo, o so %ietly an 'itho%t ostentation! 8hen yo% give to help others, try to o it anonymo%sly! .o not see$ re&ogni* tion #or yo%r goo ees, an never brag abo%t them! 1
.o not let &omp%lsive ambition rive yo% single*minely 125
(+RT7D to'ar a goal, to the e9&l%sion o# all else! +nstea, see$ balan&e! There is more than %st one important thing in yo%r li#e! ?any people rise to positions o# importan&e be&a%se they have #o&%se so m%&h time on a&hieving s%&&ess in one area that they have negle&te the other areas o# their li#e! The stat%s they a&hieve is not evi* en&e o# their greatness, b%t o# their #oolish myopia! .o yo% 'ant to be greatG Then a&hieve balan&e in yo%r li#e! .evelop a 'ell*ro%ne &hara&ter! H%l#ill the obligations yo% have in all aspe&ts o# yo%r li#e! +# yo%r basi& nees are alreay being met, then 'or$ing t'elve ho%r ays to get ahea oes not mean yo% are riven, it means yo% are #oolish! +# yo% o not also #o&%s on b%iling goo relationships 'ith yo%r #amily an #riens, having o%tsie interests, an learning ne' things o%tsie yo%r &areer #iel, then yo% have a serio%s &hara&ter #la'! %&h a #la' sho%l is%ali#y anyone #rom o&&%pying a position o# prominen&e or a%thority! %&&ess an a&hievement 'orthy o# praise is merite i# yo% have evelope yo%rsel# in all aspe&ts o# li#e, in&l%ing spirit%al, intelle&t%al, an emotional li#eE it is merite i# yo% have proven yo%r &hara&ter by s%&&ess#%lly n%rt%ring yo%r #amily an see$ing 'is* om, oing goo, an laboring 'ith hope! 1 earn to en%re an enoy har laborE learn to 'or$ 'ith yo%r o'n hans! 8or$ har 'illingly, an 'or$ #or the &ommon interest! 2 Avoi the laBiness an vanity o# 'ealth! .o not pay others to &are #or yo%r basi& nees! Coo$ an &lean #or yo%rsel#! earn ho' to maintain yo%r possessions, aboe, an transportation! .o not be an ile b%syboy! The ile sho%l not eat the brea or 'ear the &lothes o# the laborer! Anyone %n'illing to 'or$ sho%l not eat! 1 Fo% &annot 'or$ 'itho%t also resting! (irt%o%s rest is as im* portant as 'or$! There is no pro#it #rom 'or$ i# it &a%ses yo% to negle&t yo%r &ommitment to yo%r #amily, #riens, neighbors, an &omm%nity! There is no point to 'or$ing i# it ra's yo% a'ay #rom the triple path! et asie one ay a 'ee$ as a ay o# rest! >n this ay, rest #rom yo%r 'or$! Ho&%s on yo%r #amilyE on #ollo'ing the triple pathE on %iet mei* 12/
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tation an see$ing 'isom an enlightenmentE on re#le&ting on goo* ness an hopeE an on strengthening strengthening yo%r bons 'ith yo%r #amily, #amily, #riens, neighbors, an &omm%nity! &omm%nity! 2 >bse >bservi rving ng the the ay ay o# rest rest oe oess no nott %st %sti# i#yy negl negle& e&ti ting ng yo% yo%rr pra&ti&e o# the triple path %ring the rest o# the 'ee$! +t oes not %s* ti#y negle&ting yo%r #amily, #riens, neighbors, or &omm%nity on other ays! +t is merely a time to #o&%s more #%lly on the most important o# things that sho%l sho%l alreay be a part o# every ay o# yo%r li#e! li#e! :o' :o' &an &an yo% yo% ob obse serv rvee the the a ay o# rest rest i# i# yo% o%rr a&ti a&tion onss ma$ ma$e it it impossible #or others to observe itG .o not o things that 'o%l $eep others #rom observing it! Avoi Avoi oing things that 'o%l re%ire others to 'or$ or spen time a'ay #rom their #amilies on the ay o# rest! Fo% sho%l nat%rally avoi s%&h things on the ay o# rest any'ay, sin&e many o# them ra' yo% a'ay #rom 'hat yo% sho%l #o&%s on on this ay! 1 .o eve everyt rythi hing ng yo% yo% &an &an to ta$ ta$ee &ar &aree o# yo yo%r %rse sel# l# be be#o #ore re yo yo%% see$ see$ the &harity o# others, b%t o not be ashame to as$ #or help 'hen yo% tr%ly nee it! 2 8e all hav havee an an obli obliga gatio tionn to help help other otherss an an &are &are #or #or them! them! This means that 'hen yo% have problems, others are obligate to help yo%! %t yo% are still also li$e'ise obligate to &onsier the nees o# yo%r potential bene#a&tors! Fo Fo% have an obligation to #irst ta$e &are o# yo%rsel# yo%rsel# so that others 'ill not nee to %nne&essarily %nne&essarily e9pen e9pen the e##ort to help yo%! 1 Fo% &ann &annot ot ev evot otee yo% yo%rse rsel# l# to see see$in $ingg 'iso 'isom, m, oin oingg goo goo, , an laboring 'ith hope i# yo% have enslave yo%rsel# to others thro%gh ebt! Pay yo%r ebts an #ree yo%rsel# #rom bonage! 2 >nly >nly go go in into to eb ebtt 'hen 'hen the the #%t #%t%r %ree bene# bene#it it &learly &learly o%t o%t'e 'eig ighs hs the &ost, s%&h as to b%y a ho%se or get an e%&ation that 'ill lea to better employment! +# yo% in&%r ebt, o it tho%ght#%lly an eliberately! Cal* &%late the interest yo% 'ill payE 'eigh the &ost vers%s the potential bene* #its, as 'ell as the li$elihoo li$elihoo o# a&hieving a&hieving those bene#itsE &onsier the ris$s o# the ebt an the #%t%re opport%nities yo% 'ill #orgo 'hile repaying itE then, only &ontra&t the ebt i# the bene#it o%t'eighs the &ost! 12
(+RT7D
1 +t is is 'orth 'orth spe speni ning ng lib libera erall llyy in in both both tim timee an an mone moneyy ;'it ;'ithi hinn the limits o# yo%r #inan&es, a&&oring to the bene#it yo% 'ill re&eive=, re&eive=, to a&%ire learning an e%&ation! 1 Fo%r boy boy is is holie holierr than than any any templ temple! e! The bett better er yo% yo%rr healt health, h, the greater yo%r ability to thin$ &learly an 'isely, o goo, an labor 'ith hope! Care #or yo%r health! 8or$ to be as healthy as possible! 2 Dat Dat 'ho 'hole le grain grain,, #r% #r%it its, s, an vege vegeta tabl bles es!! :o' :o' &an &an yo% yo% e9pe e9pe&t &t to to be #re #reee #rom #rom hatr hatre e an an #il #ille le 'ith 'ith lov love, i# yo% see$ yo%r o'n 'el#are by grat%ito%sly &a%sing pain an s%##ering #or other beingsG :o' &an yo%, 'ho #eels pain an see$s #or yo%r &on* tin%e s%rvival, &as%ally an 'itho%t &on&ern &a%se eath to beings 'ho also o the sameG .o not bring neeless eath an s%##ering into the 'orlE o not eat meat %nne&essarily! Dat the #lesh o# animals sparingly, an al'ays 'ith than$sgiving #or the li#e 'hi&h has been ta$en to give yo% s%stenan&e! 4 et eno eno%g %ghh slee sleep! p! Trying to s%eeBe s%eeBe more more ho%r ho%rss o%t o%t o# o# the ay by giving giving %p sleep is #oolish in the long r%nthe r %nthe e9tra time is not 'orth the 'orse health, lo'er lo'er alertness, an e&rease happiness! happiness! +n * stea o# &%tting o%t sleep, prioritiBe yo%r 'a$ing 'a$ing a&tivities an eliminate those that are o# least importan&e! Avoi voi &a##eine, instea get more sleep! 5 .rin$ .rin$ al&oh al&ohol ol oonl nlyy mo moera eratel telyy, i# at allno allno more more than than on onee or t'o rin$s a ay #or men an one rin$ a ay #or 'omen! +# yo% have a #amily history history o# problems problems 'ith al&ohol, then o not rin$ at all! / .o no nott %se %se to toba ba&& &&oo or or oth other er ha harm# rm#%l %l r%g r%gs! s! D9er D9er&i &ise se so so that that yo% yo% &a &ann r%n an an not not be 'eary 'eary,, an an 'al 'al$$ an an not #aint! 6 +n all all yo% yo%rr &are &are #or #or yo% yo%rr healt health, h, rem rememb ember er that that it is is not not 'ha 'hatt goes into yo%r mo%th that e#iles yo%, b%t 'hat &omes o%t o# it! 8hat goes into yo%r mo%th goes into yo%r stoma&h an o%t to the se'er! +t is #rom 'ithin yo%rsel# that yo%r evil intentions &ome3 m%rer, violen&e, a%ltery, #orni&ation, sel#ishness, the#t, e&eit, envy, slaner, prie! All these things &ome #rom 'ithin an e#ile yo%! ee$ing goo health is a means to'ar eveloping virt%e, not the en! 126
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1 i#t i#t %p %p yo%r yo%r hea heart rt in sin singi ging ng,, an an list listen en to to m%si m%si&& ttha hatt 'ill 'ill en en * lighten an %pli#t yo%! 1 The #ine #ine b%t b%t #r%itle #r%itless ss 'or 'orss oo## a hyp hypo&r o&rite ite are li$e li$e a be bea%t a%ti#% i#%ll #lo'er #lo'er that is #%ll o# &olor, b%t 'itho%t s&ent! The #ine an #r%it#%l 'ors o# the #ollo'er o# the triple path are li$e a bea%ti#%l #lo'er that is #%ll o# &olor an #%ll o# s&ent! A #lo'er@s s&ent oes not move against the 'in, b%t a virt%o%s person@s in#l%en&e travels #ar in all ire&tions, pervaing every pla&e! Among all #ragran&es, the s'eet smell o# virt%e is %ns%rpasse! 2 A lil lilyy 'ill 'ill gro' gro' #%ll #%ll o# s'e s'eet per# per#%m %mee an an eli eligh ghtt eve evenn on on top top o# a garbage heap! Hollo' Hollo' the triple path an yo%r virt%e virt %e 'ill also gro' gr o',, no matter yo%r &ir&%mstan&es! 1 .o no nott %s %stt be a rea reae err o# th thes esee 'or 'ors s,, b%t b%t a oe oerr o# th them em!! This is %st a boo$, it is not the triple path! The triple path is an e9peri* en&e, not a set o# tea&hings! +t is a 'ay o# li#e, not 'ors on a page! 8hen yo% have rea these 'ors, 'ors, thin$ abo%t them, an see$ greater %nerstaning! %nerstaning! +t is yo%r &hoi&e &hoi&e 'hether to embar$ on the path to virt%e! 2 A map map sho sho's yo% yo% th thee &o%r &o%rse se o# o# yo yo%r %r #%t #%t%r %ree tra travvel, el, b%t b%t a o%r* o%r* ney oes not begin %st by loo$ing at a map! +t starts 'hen yo% ta$e yo%r #irst step! This boo$ is %st a mapIit mar$s the 'ay o# the triple path! Reaing it 'ill ire&t yo% onto the path an orient yo%, b%t yo% &an only #ollo' the triple path by living its prin&iples p rin&iples in yo%r tho%ghts an a&tions! Fo%r o% o%rne rneyy on the the tripl triplee path path &an &an neve neverr be &omp &omple lete teEE it 'ill 'ill only en 'ith yo%r eath! Fo Fo% have the po'er, po'er, tho%gh, to help these prin&iples live on #orever! They &an never ie so long as there is someone le#t 'ho thin$s on them an lives them! +t is in yo%r po'er to #an these tho%ghts into a #lame, an $eep the 'ays o# 'isom, gooness, gooness, an hope bright an &lear #or #%t%re generations to #ollo'! 1
:o' :o' o o yo% yo% get get bette betterG rG ?ei ?eitat tateE eE st% st%yE yE #in #in areas areas 'here 'here yo yo%% 12
(+RT7D nee to improveE set attainable, meas%rable, an is&rete goalsE re&or yo%r progress in a&hieving yo%r goalsE #ollo' %p to eval%ate yo%r progressE an then set ne' goals! ?a$e this an ever*repeating &y&le o# improvement an progression! 2 .o no nott be is& is&o% o%rrag agee 'hen yo% yo% ma$e ma$e mist ista$ a$ees! "o one one is per#e&t! 8hen yo% #alter, #alter, ret%rn ba&$ again to the triple path! e &ontent i# the greater part o# 'hat yo% o is &onsistent 'ith the pathE be &ontent i# yo% are improving an more #aith#%lly #ollo'ing the path! +# yo% are not improvingi# yo%r progress has stagnate or i# yo% have 'orsene then something in yo%r li#e an o%tloo$ nees to &hange! &hange! 8hat &o%l be more agreeable, satis#ying, enlightening, an %pli#ting than #ollo'ing the triple pathG 8hat 8hat is more agreeable than 'isom, virt%e, virt %e, an hopeG Re&ogni e&ogniBe Be the the mista$ mista$es es yo yo%% have have mae in the the past! past! Fo% sho%l sho%l #eel regret an shame #or yo%r mista$es! Dmbra&e these #eelings, b%t o not let them &ons%me or &ontrol yo%! 7se them as a tool to lea yo% to improvement! 8hen yo% ma$e a mista$e, repent! Change yo%r min an &hara&ter to over&ome 'hatever 'ea$ness le to yo%r mista$e! i$e all h%man beings, beings, yo% are 'ea$ 'ea$ an imper#e&t! >ne o# yo%r yo%r most impor* impor * tant %ties is to see$ to over&ome yo%r 'ea$nesses! T%rn yo%r 'ea$* nesses into strengths! 4 The &ons &onse e%e %en&e n&e o# evil evil a&t a&tss is s%##e s%##erin ring! g! >#ten, >#ten, th that at s%## s%##eri ering ng 'ill be to yo%rsel#! ometimes, it 'ill &ome to others a##e&te by yo%r evil a&ts! ometimes the s%##ering &a%se by yo%r evil a&ts 'ill h%mble yo% eno%gh to impel yo% to repent! rep ent! :o' m%&h better, tho%gh, 'o%l it be i# yo% i not nee to #irst s%##er an be h%mbleG e h%mble! ee$ 'isom, o goo, an have hope, an yo% 'ill avoi m%&h s%##ering! 5 .o these these three three things things to repen repentt o# yo%r yo%r mis mista$ ta$es es33 Hirs Hirst, t, sto stopp oing 'hatever it is that &a%se the nee to repent! e&on, ma$e amens, as best yo% &an, #or any harm yo%r evil has &a%se! Thir, Thir, 'or$ to &hange an &hannel yo%r esires so that yo% no longer 'ant to o evil! Fo%r a&tions shape yo%r esires an yo%r esires shape yo%r a&tions! As yo% 'or$ to &hange both yo%r esires an yo%r a&tions, ea&h 'ill re* in#or&e the improvements yo% see$ to ma$e in the other! 1
etter etter tha thann a tho tho%sa %san n sensel senseless ess 'or 'orss is is one one 'or 'or o# sel#less sel#less 10
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love, 'hi&h brings virt%e an happiness 'hen yo% %nerstan it, an even more 'hen yo% share it! 2 The 'or 'orss oo## th this is bo boo$ o$ 'ill 'ill have have no val% val%ee to to yo% yo% i# yo yo%% o o not #ollo' them! Dven i# yo% &o%l re&ite every 'or #rom memory, it 'o%l mean nothing i# yo% i not #ollo' them! Fo% 'o%l be li$e an investor investor 'ho &are#%lly tra&$s someone else@s money, 'hile negle&ting his o'n #inan&es! +t oes not matter i# yo% ever learn these 'ors i#, having #orsa$en hatre an sel#ishness, yo% sho' love to everyone! +nte +nternal rnaliB iBee these these prin prin&i &ipl ples es an an #oll #olloo' them them %nt %ntil il oin oingg goo goo be&omes an inseparable part o# o # yo%r &hara&ter! &hara&ter! J%st J%st as a p%re iamon is al'ays &lear an soli no matter 'here it is, so too sho%l virt%e al'ays be a part o# yo%r nat%re, nat%re, no matter yo%r &ir&%mstan&e! &ir&%mstan&e! 4 +# yo yo%% rea rea the these se 'or 'ors an an a&t a&t on the them, m, the thenn yo% yo% are are li$ li$e a 'ise man 'ho b%ils his ho%se on a #o%nation o# ro&$! ro&$! 8hen 8hen rain #alls, #loos &ome, an 'ins blo blo' ', that ho%se 'ill not #all o'n! 8hen 8hen yo% a&t 'ith virt%e, yo% strengthen yo%r &hara&ter an min, so that 'hen li#e@s i##i&%lties &ome, yo% 'ill stan #ast against them! +# yo% o not #ollo' these prin&iples, then yo% are li$e a #oolish man 'ho b%ils his ho%se on a #o%nation o# san! 8hen rain #alls, #loos &ome, an 'ins blo', that ho%se 'ill #all! 8hen yo% a&t 'itho%t virt%e, yo% 'ea$en yo%r &hara&ter an min, an yo% ma$e yo%rsel# less able to eal e##e&tively 'ith li#e@s i##i&%lties an &hallenges! 5 +t is is imposs impossib ible le #or #or yo% yo% to reli relive ve yo yo%r %r li# li#ee so tha thatt yo% yo% 'o%l 'o%l have #ollo'e the triple path at all times %p %ntil no'! 8hatever yo%r past, tho%gh, yo% &an still pro#it #rom it! 7se the mista$es in yo%r past to %nerstan ho' m%&h m%&h better it is to #ollo' the the triple path! +t is in yo%r po'er po'er to &hoose ho' to live the rest o# yo%r li#e #rom no' on! .o more goo than yo% have in the past! ive the triple pathX
11
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* ?eitations 3/E * .hammapaa 16E * James 2314*16 an James 31E * Ch%ang TB%, e&tion 1 ;Hree an Dasy 8anering=, 8atson translation, p! 2/E * Ch%ang TB%, e&tion 21 ;T@ien TB%*Hang=, 8atson translationE * o?, 2 "ephi 2325E * 2 Corinthians 531E * o?, 2 "ephi 1320E * .hammapaa /0E * ospel o# Thomas 0E * ospel o# Thomas 2 an ?atthe' 5314E * ?eitations 3/E * Tao Te Ching 2! * .hammapaa 1E * o?, ?osiah 432*0 an .C 5632/*2E * .hammapaa 110*115E * .hammapaa 116E * .hammapaa 1/1E * .hammapaa 1/E * .hammapaa 1/5E * .hammapaa 205E * .hammapaa 22 an Romans 12321E * .hammapaa 21* 4E * .hammapaa 2/2E * .hammapaa 1/*16E * o?, 1 "ephi 23E * hagava hagava ita 436 an 534*/E * 2 Corinthians 3E * ?osiah 532E * 2 Thessalonians 31 an o?, Alma 34E * ospel o# Thomas 5E * ospel o# Thomas 45E * "ephi 1431/* 1431/* 20 ;see also ?atthe' =E * ?ohanas Karam&han anhi, Leven o&ial ins,M ins,M Fo%ng +nia , >&tober 22, 125E * .hammapaa 121 an 122E * 8! :o#mann, RR Hisher, ? %hmann, K. (ohs, RH a%meister, LFes, %t Are They :appyG D##e&ts o# Trait el#*Control on Personality , J%ne A##e&tive 8ell*eing an i#e atis#a&tion,M Jo%rnal o# Personality 11, 201! * 2 Corinthians 3/E * hagava ita 234! * ?atthe' 312, %$e /31, an ?i&hael &ott Darl, ible tories Fo%r Parents Parent s "ever Tol Fo Fo% E * ?eitations /35E * Tao Te Ching 432E * o?, ?osiah 163 an James 131! * ?atthe' 534*4 an %$e /32E * Romans 123 an :ebre's 131E * 1 Corinthians 134*6E * Colossians 314E * 1 Peter 436E * 1 John John 316E * alatians /32! 12
T:D TR+PD PAT:
* .hammapaa 201E * .hammapaa 1E * Romans 123E * Colossians 36E * 1 Thessalonians 5315E * James 1320! * ?atthe' 31*5, %$e /3*42, an ospel o# Thomas 2/E * Romans 231*5!
* .hammapaa 201! * .C 44, .C 52340, an ?osiah 432/E * .C 4231E * ?osiah 431*1, 24E * .C 5/31/*1E * Ja&ob 231E * Tao Te Ching 6132! * ?eitations 3E * hagava ita 431E * hagava ita 1231! * ee Jonathan :ait, The :appiness :ypothesis3 Hining ?oern Tr%th in An&ient 8isom , 200/! * .C /43E * o?, 1 "ephi 321 an ?eitations /3/E * ?atthe' 16315*1! * 2 "ephi 2325E * Joseph mith, as %ote by John Taylor, LThe >r* ganiBation o# the Ch%r&h,M ?illennial tar , (ol! 1, "o! 22, "ovember 15, 1651, p! ! * .hammapaa 1*2E * ?eitations 34E * .hammapaa *5E * .hammapaa 1*14E * ?eitations 43! * ?eitations 1231E * .hammapaa 22E * ?eitations 35E * .hammapaa 14E * Tao Te Ching 632E * .C 1636E * ?eita* tions 1031/ an Romans 231E * ?eitations 31 an 34E * ?ei* tations 2311E * ?eitations /351! * Romans 12311, .C 2436, an .hammapaa E * 1 Thessaloni* ans 5314 an Tit%s32*E * D&&lesiastes 1034! * Aristotle, "i&oma&hean Dthi&s , oo$ 23 Chara&ter (irt%esE * Tao Te 1
(+RT7D Ching 632E * .C 203E * .C /031! * .C 16322E * .C /43E * ?eitations 35E * ?eitations 34E * .C 532E * 2 Corinthians 436*10! * ?eitations 4324E * ?eitations 636E * ?eitations 135 an 13/E * .hammapaa /E * ?eitations 432E * ?eitations 5312E * ?eitations 3E * Ch%ang TB%, e&tion 26 ;iving A'ay a Throne=, 8atson translationE * o?, 2 "ephi 351! * .hammapaa 1/0! * D&&lesiastes 1036*! * ?atthe' /31*/, Tao Te Ching 32 an ?eitations 113 4E * ?eita* tions 131/E * Tao Te Ching /43!E * Tao Te Ching 31 ;egge, 8al$er, 8ieger translations=! * Ross 8! reene, The D9plosive Chil , p! 1E * Hrom &omments mae by Joseph resham ?illerE * ?eitations 13, 131/, an 232E * ?eitations 234E * .hammapaa *6E * 2 Peter 231E * ee Jonathan :ait, The :appiness :ypothesis3 Hining ?oern Tr%th in An&ient 8isom , 200/! * ene&a, >n Hirmness E * .C 25310 an ?atthe' /321E * .hammapaa 46E * .hammapaa 1E * .hammapaa /2E * Ch%ang TB%, e&tion 20 ;The ?o%ntain Tree=, 8atson translationE * .hammapaa 20E * .hammapaa 212*1/E * %$e 12315, 4E * Ch%ang TB%, e&tion 14 ;The T%rning o# :eaven=E * hagava ita 234E * 1 Timothy /310 an :ebre's 135E * James 432*E * ?ormon 63E * 1 Timothy /316E * o?, :elaman 1232E * D&* &lesiastes 53 10E * Jonathan :ait, The :appiness :ypothesis3 Hin* ing ?oern Tr%th in An&ient 8isom , 200/! * .C 231 an Tao Te Ching 2232 an 24E * .C 101342! 14
T:D TR+PD PAT:
* .hammapaa 12, 10E * ?eitations 131/E * Tao Te Ching 031 an 03E * Tao Te Ching 1E * Tao Te Ching /3 ;e&$ an ynner translations= an Tao Te Ching /34 ;8al$er an Cro'ley=E * .C 631/E * o?, Alma 46314 an .C 634*/E * .hammapaa 11, 12, an 21E * ?atthe' 2/352 an Revelation 1310E * :e* bre's 12314E * ?atthe' 5321*2/! * D9o%s 20315E * .C 513! * D&&lesiastes 535! * ?eitations 131E * ?atthe' 532*0! * .C 431/, o?, Ja&ob 232, o? ?osiah 4315, o?, 4 "ephi 13, .C /6325E * ?eitations 1312E * D&&lesiastes 43*12! * ?eitations 231E * .C 62322E * .C 663124 an .hammapaa 15E * ?eitations 135E * ?eitations 113E * ?eitations 1131E * ?eitations 11316E * ?eitations 11316E * hagava ita 12315! * Romans 12310E * .hammapaa 1E * .hammapaa 1E * :e* bre's 132E * ee Jonathan :ait, The :appiness :ypothesis3 Hin* ing ?oern Tr%th in An&ient 8isom , 200/E ona y%bomirs$y, Ken* non ?! helon, an .avi &h$ae, LP%rs%ing happiness3 The ar&hi* te&t%re o# s%stainable &hange,M Revie' o# eneral Psy&hology , (ol! , "o! 2, 2005, pp! 111*1, http3))sonaly%bomirs$y!&om)'p*& ontent)themes)sonaly% bomirs$y)papers)2005!p#! * %$e 1232*! * .C 153/ an 1/3/E * .C 11321 an 1340E * .C 132*0, 13, 24312, an 13E * ?atthe' 53 14E * .C 5312E * .C 16310*1/E * 1 Peter 2315E ?atthe' 5314*15, ?ar$ 4321*25, %$e 15
(+RT7D 631/*16, an ospel o# Thomas ! * ?eitations /344E * ?eitations 11314E * o?, Alma 2631! * ?eitations 635, Tao Te Ching 232 an 632, an .C 6231E * .C 6340 an 42345E * ?eitations 1136E * ?eitations /354E * Joseph Joseph mith, Pearl Pearl o# reat Pri&e, ?oses 316E * Ch%ang TB%, e&* tion 4 ;+n the 8o 8orl o# ?en=, 8a 8atson translation tra nslation,, p! 2/! * Ta Tao Te Te Ching 13 an an Ta Tao Te Te Ching /632 ;yrn translation=E translation=E * ?ar$ 10342*44E * Arth%r C! Clar$, The ongs o# .istant DarthE * :elaman 35E 35E * o?, ?osiah 231/*25E * o?, o?, ?osia ?osiahh 231/ 231/*25 *25EE * Joseph mith, as %ote by John Taylor, LThe >rganiBation o# the Ch%r&h,M ?il* lennial tar , (ol! 1, "o! 22, "ovember 15, 1651, p! E * Tao Te Ching 531 an 531 an Joseph mith, as %ote by John Taylor, LThe >rganiBa* tion o# the Ch%r&h,M ?illennial tar , (ol! 1, "o! 22, "ovember 15, 1651, p! E * Tao Te Ching 56 ;?it&hell translation=E * Tao Te Ching //31 an Ta Tao Te Ching Ching // ;?it&h ;?it&hell ell translati translation=E on=E * Tao Te Ching 531*2 ;8al$er translation= an Tao Te Ching 53 ;?it&hell translation=E * Tao Te Ching /134E * Ch%ang TB%, e&tion 24 ;:s% 8%* K%ei=, 8atson trans* lationE * hagava ita 320E * Tit%s 13*6E :esio, Theogony , lines 66*6 ;"orton Anthology , Thir hir Diti Dition, on, (o (ol! A, p! 42=E 42=E * :esio, Theogony , lines 66*6 ;"orton Anthology , Thir Dition, (ol! A, p! 42=! * .C 12134*4/E * Tao Te Ching /131 an /13E * Tao Te Ching 131*2 ;8al$er=E * Ch%ang Ch %ang TB% TB%,, e&tion e &tion 4 ;+n the 8o 8orl o# ?en=, 8atson translation, p! 51E * ospel o# Thomas 61! * .C 63*10! * ?eitations 436E * ?osiah 2311! * ?eitations 4316E * .hammapaa 50! * .hammapaa 6 an 20! 1/
AT: T:D TR+PD PAT:
* ?eitations 4311 an /352! * ?eitations 13, 1315, 131/, an 231E * ?eitations 1315 an 231E * ?eitations 13, 1315, an 131/E * ?eitations 131/E * ?eitations ?eitations /32E * Ch%ang TB TB%, e&tion 1 ;The ;Th e >l Hisherman=, 8atson translationE translati onE * 1 Corinthians 1311! * ?atthe' 2325 an %$e 113*41E * Ch%ang TB%, e&tion 4 ;+n the 8o 8orl o# ?en=, 8a 8atson translation, translat ion, p! 56E * ?ar$ 1236*40! * ?eitations 13E * ?atthe' /31*/!
* ?eitations 135 an 35E * .C 42342 an 2 Thessalonians 3* 10! enesis 232*, D9o%s 2036, an ?ar$ 232 * ?eitations 35! * .C 135! * ?eitations 134! * 1 Corinthians 31E * .C 6311, 14E * .C 63 12 an .ham* mapaa 11, 12, an 21E * .C 63E * .C 635*6, 1 an :arvar &hool o# P%bli& :ealth, Al&ohol3 alan&ing Ris$s an ene* #its, http3))'''!hsp http3))'''!hsph!harvar!e%) h!harvar!e%)n%tritionso%r&e) n%tritionso%r&e)al&ohol*#%ll*story) al&ohol*#%ll*story)E * .C 6320E * ?atthe' 15311, ?ar$ 314*2, an ospel o# Thomas 14! * .C 25312*1! * .hammapaa 51*55E * .hammapaa 56*5 1
(+RT7D
* James 1322 an o?, "ephi 13E * ?eitations 32! * ?eitations 53 an D&&lesiastes 320E * Dther 1232/*2E * Alma 231E * .C 5634! * .hammapaa 100E * .hammapaa 1*20E * ?eitations 315E * ?atthe' /324*2E * ?eitations 631!
16
1 Ho Holl lloo' the the triple triple pat pathh to enli enligh ghte tenm nmen ent3 t3 see see$$ 'is 'isom om,, o goo, an labor 'ith hopeInothing is more important than these! 2 e ette tterr than than 'ea 'ealth lth or po po'er is ta$i ta$ing ng yo% yo%rr #ir #irst st step step on the the triple path! 7n 7ne ers rsta tan nin ingg 'is 'isom om,, virt% virt%e, e, an an hop hopee is li$ li$ee loo$ loo$in ingg at three straight parallel lines that stret&h o%t to in#inity! +n the istan&e, at the #arthest pla&e yo% &an see, the lines &onverg &onvergee into one point! The The triple path is really really the single single path! 8is 8isom, om, virt%e, virt %e, an hope are the same thing! 4 8ha 8hatt goo goo is it i#i# yo yo%% say say yo% yo% ha havve hhope ope,, b%t b%t yo yo%% o not ha have ve 'isom an virt%eG +s hope eno%ghG "oX Fo% nee all three! Fo% &annot have real real hope 'itho%t ' itho%t also having 'isom an virt%e! 5 8hen yo yo%% %ne %nerst rstan an the triple triple path, path, yo% yo% #ollo #ollo' ' itit #or #or its o'n sa$e, not #or e9ternal re'ar or bene#it! Hor this reason, no matter the opinions o# others, to themselves, the 'ise have no a%thority, the virt%* o%s have no sel#, sel#, the labors o# the hope#%l are never &omplete! &omplete! / 8he 8henn yo% yo% begin begin to to %ne %nerst rstan an the the trip triple le pat pathh yo% yo% start start to to see see that yo% are limite in an in#inite n%mber o# 'ays, b%t that yo%r &apa&* ity to ma$e the 'orl better is still limitless! An Anim imal alss that that eat eat gras grasss o not not 'or 'orry ry abo% abo%tt a &ha &hang ngee o# past%r past%reE eE #resh'ater #ish o not 'orry abo%t a &hange o# stream! They a&&ept the minor shi#t so long as the all*important &onstant remains! Fo%r impor* tant &onstants are 'isom, virt%e, an hope! Dns%re that these are &on* stants in yo%r li#e no matter yo%r &ir&%mstan&es, an yo% 'ill never have have &a%se #or tr%e 'orry! 6 8h 8hat at is is the the p%rp p%rpos osee o# li# li#eG 8ha hatt is the the re res%lt s%lt o# o# a li# li#e 'ell 'ell** liveG Joy an enlightenment! :o' o yo% attain oy an enlightenmentG y #ollo'ing the triple path an by 'orrying more abo%t helping others a&hieve oy an en* 1
:>PD enlightenment than abo%t getting them #or yo%rsel#! 8hen yo% stop #o* &%sing on yo%rsel#, the oy an enlightenment &ome on their o'n! 8he 8henn yo% yo% begi beginn to #ol #ollo lo' ' the the trip triple le pat path, h, yo% yo% see see the the 'orl 'orl in a ne' lightE it is as i# everything has be&ome be&ome ne' again! 10 >n&e yo% yo% have have starte starte to #ollo #ollo' ' the the triple triple path, press press #or'ar #or'ar %ntil the en 'ith steaines steainess, s, having having a per#e&t per#e&t brightness brightness o# hope, hope, &on* &on * tin%ally see$ing 'isom an a&ting 'ith virt%e, sho'ing love #or all people! 11 8a$e %p %p an #ollo' #ollo' the the triple triple path! The ay seems seems short 'hen 'hen yo% sleep thro%gh itE li#e seems meaningless 'hen yo% are not see$ing 'isom, oing goo, an laboring 'ith hope! 12 8i 8isom som,, virt%e, an hope hope are are #ree #ree to yo yo%, %, i# yo yo%% see$ see$ them! them! 8isom, virt%e, an hope 'ill save yo% i# yo% have them to bring #orth #rom 'ithin yo%rsel#! 8isom, virt%e, an hope 'ill estroy yo% i# yo% o not re&eive them 'ithin yo% to bring #orth! 1 et yo% yo%rr resolve resolve to live live the triple triple path an an yo%r yo%r pra&ti& pra&ti&ee o# it be li$e a #orti#ie &ity b%ilt on a mo%ntain, strong an not hien! 14 ?a$e ?a$e see$in see$ingg 'isom, 'isom, oing oing goo goo,, an laborin laboringg 'ith 'ith hope yo%r highest priorities! Ho&%sing on less important things ma$es it im* possible to &on&entrate on the best things! "ever vie' yo%r pra&ti&e o# the triple path as a istra&tion or an a#tertho%ght! +# yo% o, o, yo% are not really #ollo'ing it any'ay! any'ay! Time spent spen t 'anering a'ay a'ay #rom the triple tri ple path is time yo% have lost #ining the 'isom, gooness, an hope yo% &o%l have ha! 15 e&ome e&ome an e9perien e9perien&e &e trave traveler ler on the triple triple path! path! Then, even even 'hen yo% #eel li$e yo% $no' little, yo% 'ill #in great 'isomE even 'hen yo% o not #eel li$e oing goo, yo% 'ill a&t 'ith e9emplary virt%eE an even in the most esperate o# times, yo% 'ill labor 'ith hope! 1/ There There are are many many 'ho #oll #olloo' the tripl triplee path path,, b%t &all &all it some* some* thing else, or &all it nothing at all! All 'ho see$ 'isom, o goo, an labor 'ith hope #ollo' the triple path! 1 :ope :ope oe oess no nott &ome &ome #ro #rom m rea reain ingg in$ in$ on a pag page, e, b%t b%t #rom #rom learning to #in the potential #or improve improvement ment in every every sit%ation sit%ation an 140
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then 'or$ing to ma$e it better! 2 abo abori ring ng 'ith 'ith hope hope mean meanss a&ti a&tively vely 'or 'or$i $ing ng to impr improove yo%r* yo%r* sel#, yo%r #amily, yo%r &omm%nity, an the 'orl! :avi :aving ng hhope ope means means that that even even i# yo yo%% are are a##li a##li&t &te e in in eve every ry 'a 'ay, yo% 'ill not be &r%sheE perple9e perp le9e, , b%t not riven riven to laBy espairE perse* perse * &%te, b%t not 'itho%t #eeling #orsa$enE str%&$ o'n, b%t still holing #ast to 'isom, virt%e, an hope! 4 et et this this be be yo% yo%rr &onsta &onstant nt goa goal3l3 that that in eve every ry sit% sit%ati ation, on, thing thingss are better be&a%se be&a%se yo yo%% are thereE thereE that yo%r in#l%en&e an a&tions are al * 'ays a #or&e #or improving yo%rsel#, yo%r &ir&%mstan&es, those aro%n yo%, an the 'hole h%man ra&e! 5 :ope :ope is an an an&ho an&horr to yo yo%r hea heart, rt, ma$ ma$in ingg yo% yo% s%r s%re an an stea stea* * #ast, al'ays al'ays abo%ning in virt%e, an gro'ing in 'isom! / :ope :ope is the great great p%ri# p%ri#ie ierr an an re#i re#iner ner!! 8hen yo% yo% #in #in hope, hope, it 'ill re#ine an p%ri#y yo%r &hara&ter so that only hope, 'isom, an virt%e remain! 8hen yo% %nerstan the triple path, yo% realiBe that 'isom, virt%e, an hope are all really the same thing! :o' :o' sho sho%l %l yo% yo% e&i e&ie e 'he 'here re to to spen spen yo%r yo%r lab labor orsG sG y y loo$* loo$* ing at the #r%its o# yo%r past labors, etermining the li$ely #r%its o# yo%r #%t%re labors, an oing that 'hi&h 'ill most li$ely bring the best #r%its! Fo Fo% 'ill never harvest grapes #rom thorn b%shes! The The i##eren&e bet'een a thorn b%sh an yo% is that thorn b%shes &an never &hange 'hat they pro%&e! Fo% &an! Change yo%r tho%ghts an a&tions, an yo% &hange the #r%its yo% pro%&e! 6 abor aboring ing 'ith 'ith hope hope,, in in 'iso 'isom m an an virt% virt%e, e, bring bringss goo goo #r%it #r%its! s! .o not espair i# yo% o not see the goo #r%its #r%i ts right a'ay! a'ay! They 'ill &ome! ?any ?any are blin bline e by by the the laBy laBy espai espairr they they pi&$ pi&$ %p %p #ro #rom m tthe he #alse traitions o# their an&estors or the pessimism or sloth o# those aro%n them! .o not let yo%rsel# yo%rsel# be bline! 1 8he 8henn yo yo%% #eel #eel is is&o &ont nten ent, t, ret ret%r %rnn #irml #irmlyy to the the tri triple ple pat path! h! 8ith 'hat are yo% is&ontenteG 8ith the evil o# othersG Remember that 'e are all imper#e&tE a #ollo'er #ollo'er o# the triple path oes not ily lament the evil in the 'orl, b%t a&tively see$s to improve it an sho' 141
:>PD others the path to 'isom, virt%e, an hope! 8hether yo% live a li#e o# 'isom, virt%e, an hope or 'hether yo% live a li#e o# #oolishness, evil, an hopelessness, yo% still 'ill be b%rie, re%&e to %st, an be %iet at last! e#ore that happens, ho' m%&h better to 'or$ to in&rease the 'isom an goo in the 'orl, rather than ily lamenting the #oolish* ness an evil alreay here! 1 C%ltivate gratit%e 'ithin yo%rsel#! Fo% have m%&h #or 'hi&h yo% sho%l be than$#%l! ?a$e time every ay to &onsier those things! 2 .o not thin$ o# yo%rsel# as being entitle to the goo things yo% have! Consier all the goo things in yo%r li#e to be %n&onitional gi#ts yo% have re&eive %nsoli&ite an %neserve, an then &%ltivate a level o# gratit%e proportional to yo%r having re&eive s%&h genero%s gi#ts! .o not ever let yo%rsel# be&ome so a&&%stome to the goo things in yo%r li#e that yo% lose yo%r appre&iation #or them! 4 .o not thin$ on 'hat yo% o not have, b%t on 'hat yo% o have! ># the things yo% have, re#le&t on ho' eagerly yo% 'o%l see$ the best o# them i# yo% i not have them, an then be grate#%l #or them! %t also ta$e &are that yo% o not let yo%r gratit%e #or them lea yo% to overval%e them, so that yo% 'o%l be ist%rbe, angry, or isap* pointe i# yo% sho%l ever not have them! 5 "o matter yo%r sit%ation, yo%r li#e has so m%&h goo in it! +t is too easy to #o&%s on 'hat yo% la&$ an be&ome %ngrate#%l! "ever #orget all the goo in yo%r li#e! et asie time ea&h ay to 'ell on all the goo things! ist them! Contemplate them! e grate#%l! 1 Fo% &an eliminate many %seless things that bother yo% be&a%se they are &a%se by yo%r o'n opinions an attit%es! Fo% &an #ree yo%r* sel# #rom anger by letting go o# yo%r &on&ern abo%t things o%tsie o# yo%r &ontrol! +nstea, o&&%py yo%rsel# 'ith see$ing 'isom, oing goo, an laboring 'ith hope! 8orry abo%t 'hat yo% have &ontrol overIyo%r o'n tho%ghts an a&tions an #ollo'ing the triple path! 2 >nly 'hen yo% have learne ho' to &hannel an &ontrol yo%r tho%ghts, spee&h, a&tions, an esires have yo% beg%n to %nerstan 142
T:D TR+PD PAT: 'isom an ho' to #ollo' the triple path! A #ool 'orries abo%t 'hat &annot be &hange an ignores those things that &an be improve! 1 ?any o# the goo things in the 'orl that yo% enoy are here be&a%se those 'ho &ame be#ore b%ilt them an le#t them #or yo%! Dvery* thing yo% b%il, an the r%ins o# everything yo% estroy, yo% 'ill leave #or those 'ho &ome a#ter yo%! Fo% &annot $no' 'hether they 'ill be 'ise or #oolish, goo or evil! %t they 'ill probably be %st li$e yo%! They 'ill be %st as eserving o# goo things as yo% 'ere eserving o# the goo things yo% re&eive #rom those 'ho &ame be#ore! Toil an strain to ma$e the 'orl better, #or that is 'hat those 'ho &ame be#ore i #or yo%! 2 .oes laboring 'ith hope mean never #eeling is&o%rage or isappointeG "oX +t means al'ays 'or$ing to ma$e things better, even 'hen yo% are is&o%rage an isappointe! "o matter ho' ba things seem to be, the best 'ay to ma$e them get better is to 'or$ to ma$e im* provement happen! .o not believe in hope be&a%se &onsistent improve* ment is something yo% sho%l nat%rally e9pe&t, b%t be&a%se o# yo%r e* termination to never stop 'or$ing to ma$e it so! 1 Dnlightenment &omes neither #rom as&eti&ism nor eba%&hery, b%t #rom moeration! +t &omes neither #rom reno%n&ing the 'orl nor #rom embra&ing it as it is, b%t #rom 'or$ing to ma$e it better! +t &omes neither #rom &eliba&y nor #rom promis&%ity, b%t #rom monogamy an &reating an n%rt%ring a #amily! +t &omes neither #rom sh%tting yo%rsel# o## #rom physi&al esires an ambitions, nor oes it &ome #rom %n&riti* &ally in%lging them, instea it &omes #rom &hanneling them to goo ens! e an e9ample an a #or&e #or goo! tart a #amily! "%rt%re an love yo%r spo%se an &hilren! e&ome a &ontrib%ting member o# so&iety! ho' love to others an tea&h 'isom, virt%e, an hope! abor* ing alone, yo% 'ill never be able to b%il a better 'orl! e a part o# the 'orl'ie #amily o# h%manity an a part o# yo%r &omm%nity an 'or$ 'ith everyone aro%n yo% to ma$e things better! 14
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1 .o not thin$ lightly abo%t yo%r ability to impa&t the 'orl #or goo! Fo% &an help #ill the 'orl 'ith 'isom, virt%e, an hope, even i# it happens little by little! A b%&$et &an still be #ille rop by rop! %t a b%&$et 'ill never be #ille i# there are no ropsX The 'orl is %nli$ely to get better i# there is no one laboring to improve it! A li#etime #%ll o# many small labors o# hope is still eno%gh to #ill the 'orl 'ith m%&h 'isom, gooness, an hope! 1 .o not loo$ #or'ar #or some great #ar*o## #%t%re 'hen h%* manity 'ill #inally realiBe its potential an over&ome its &hallenges! A great hope*#or #%t%re 'ill not &ome by 'aiting #or it! ive in the great no', not in yo%r reams #or the #%t%re! 8or$ to ma$e yo%r hope*#or #%t%re a reality in the present! 2 The sees o# 'hat yo% anti&ipate are alreay here, no'E yo% %st o not see them yet! They are s&attere a&ross the earth! ring the great #%t%re into the present by gathering 'hat is alreay here that is 'ise an goo, by b%iling on them, aing to them, an improving them, an by &reating ne' gooness o%t o# them! 8hen yo% ma$e brea, aing a little yeast at the beginning ma$es the o%gh gro' into large loaves by the en! 8hat yo% o no' has the po'er to ma$e the present gro' into a great #%t%re! 1 Tragey an s%##ering &ome into ea&h person@s li#e! ome is %n* avoiable an some is the avoiable res%lt o# #oolish &hoi&es! oo$ing at it #rom the o%tsie, it is har to tell the i##eren&e! y itsel#, the happen* ing o# personal tragey or s%##ering in someone@s li#e tells yo% nothing abo%t that person@s moral 'orth! Fo% &an learn three lessons #rom s%##* ering, eath, an isasters3 1= Fo% o not $no' 'hen yo% 'ill ie! The time to live a li#e o# 'isom, virt%e, an hope is no'! +# yo% 'ait to #ollo' the triple path, yo% may e&ie to start too late, an yo% 'ill leave behin a li#e o# #oolishness an isagreeable ees an evil a&ts! 2= Fo% &annot prei&t the #%t%re! Prepare 'isely as best yo% &an #or possible tragey, so that yo% are 'ell*pla&e to over&ome 'hatever 144
T:D TR+PD PAT: happens! = 8hen tragey stri$es others, 'orry less abo%t %ging 'hether they eserve help an more abo%t ho' to help them over&ome the tragey! Then, 'hen the tragey has passe, help them prepare 'ell #or #%t%re tragey! %t, i# yo% m%st &hoose 'here to ire&t yo%r limite reso%r&es, the prepare an pr%ent 'ho be#all %ne9pe&te tragey are more eserving o# yo%r help than the %nprepare an #oolish! 1 .eath &omes to everyone, to the 'ise an #oolish, to the virt%* o%s an evil, an to the hope#%l an pessimist ali$e! Hollo'ers o# the triple path ho'ever, leave the 'orl better than they #o%n it! The goo things in the 'orl that 'e 'ere born into &ome largely #rom the 'or$ o# the 'ise, the virt%o%s, an the hope#%l 'ho have &ome be#ore %s! 2 The living $no' they 'ill ie! The ea $no' nothing! They have no more re'ar, an even the memory o# them 'ill event%ally be #orgotten! 8hatever goo yo% &an o 'hile yo% are alive, o it 'ell an o it 'ith enth%siasmX There is no 'or$, nor tho%ght, nor 'isom, nor virt%e, nor hope in the grave to 'hi&h yo% are heae! .o yo% esire li#e a#ter eathG These t'o parts o# yo%rsel# 'ill most li$ely o%tlast yo%r eath3 yo%r &hilren, an the 'ritings an &re* ations yo% leave that re&or yo%r tho%ghts an personality! 1 oo$ ahea! Anti&ipate i##i&%lt things 'hile they are easy, an o things that 'o%l be&ome great 'hile they are small! ?any i##i&%lt things 'o%l have been easy to solve at the startE great things o#ten arise #rom small beginnings! 1 +t is goo to loo$ to goo role moels #or behaviors an traits to em%lateE this &an give yo% hope an en&o%ragement an ieas #or im* provement! %t never let s%&h pr%ent observation an em%lation t%rn into 'orship! "ever ioliBe anyone! Dven the best role moel is imper* #e&t! .o not be&ome enamore 'ith the limite &ari&at%re o# gooness that yo% observe in someone else! Dveryone #ails! Dveryone #alls short o# the ieal! "ever let a role moel@s 'ea$nesses estroy yo%r hope or over* &ome yo%r resolve to see$ 'isom an o goo! ee$ not only to em%* 145
:>PD late, b%t also to improve %pon, the goo e9amples yo% #in in others! 2 Rather than tr%st in one parti&%lar person, let everyone yo% meet be a role moel o# the goo yo% 'ish to em%late an the evil yo% see$ to avoi! All people sometimes a&t 'itho%t virt%e, 'isom, or hopeE o not let others@ #ail%res to live %p to per#e&tion h%rt yo%r o'n p%rs%it o# per#e&tion! Hrom everyone yo% meet, see$ to em%late their positive %alities an avoi their negative traits! There is a positive an negative to every sit%ation! e a hope#%l realist 'ho re&ogniBes bothE try to %nerstan the positive an the nega* tive, b%t then o yo%r best to ma$e things better 'ithin the limits o# the sit%ation! .o not be either a &yni& 'ho never sees the positive or an ie* alist 'ho never re&ogniBes the negative! +ealists hope #or the best an believe they &an ma$e things better, b%t they o#ten &ome to see the nega * tive things they ha not re&ogniBe be#ore! 8hen this happens, they are over'helme 'ith isill%sionment in the obe&t o# their hope! ?any &yni&s are ae #ormer optimists! 1 .o not #ool yo%rsel# into nostalgi&ally believing that the past 'as better an that things are getting 'orse no'! This is o#ten 'rong! An even i# some things have 'orsene, pining #or 'hat is gone is not pro%&tive! Har better is it to 'or$ to ma$e the present an the #%t%re even better! 1 8or$ to b%il a &omm%nity o# li$e*mine inivi%als 'ho have &ommitte to see$ 'isom, o goo, an labor 'ith hope! +n s%&h a &omm%nity yo% &an b%il paraise, an tr%e pea&e, happiness, an harmony &an en%re! Then, ol things shall pass a'ay, an all things shall be&ome ne'! 2 +s paraise %p aboveG Then it is #or the birs! +s it in an %n* $no'n #%t%reG Then yo% 'ill probably never see it! +nstea, paraise 'ill &ome #rom insie o# yo% 'hen yo% b%il it! 1 overnments e9ist #or the bene#it o# inivi%als an to pro* mote the goo an sa#ety o# so&iety! "o government is legitimate %nless it se&%res to ea&h inivi%al liberty, the #ree e9er&ise o# &ons&ien&e, the 14/
T:D TR+PD PAT: right an &ontrol o# property, the prote&tion o# li#e, an the right to p%rs%e happiness! "o government is legitimate %nless it re%ires o# all &itiBens the obligation to a&&o%nt #or their a&tions, to respe&t the a%ton* omy o# others, an to b%il %p the &omm%nity an promote its 'el#are! overnment sho%l &ombat &riminality, b%t never &ontrol &ons&ien&eE p%nish g%ilt, b%t never s%ppress the #reeom o# the so%lE s%pport an assist &itiBens, b%t never ins%late them #rom the nat%ral &onse%en&es o# their a&tions! 1 The #ine b%t #r%itless 'ors o# a hypo&rite are li$e a bea%ti#%l #lo'er that is #%ll o# &olor, b%t 'itho%t s&ent! The #ine an #r%it#%l 'ors o# the #ollo'er o# the triple path are li$e a bea%ti#%l #lo'er that is #%ll o# &olor an #%ll o# s&ent! A #lo'er@s s&ent oes not move against the 'in, b%t a hope#%l person@s in#l%en&e travels #ar in all ire&tions, pervaing every pla&e! Among all #ragran&es, the s'eet smell o# hope is %ns%rpasse! 2 A lily 'ill gro' #%ll o# s'eet per#%me an elight even on top o# a garbage heap! Hollo' the triple path an yo%r hope 'ill also gro', no matter yo%r &ir&%mstan&es! 1 .o not %st be a reaer o# these 'ors, b%t a oer o# them! This is %st a boo$, it is not the triple path! The triple path is an e9peri* en&e, not a set o# tea&hings! +t is a 'ay o# li#e, not 'ors on a page! 8hen yo% have rea these 'ors, thin$ abo%t them, an see$ greater %nerstaning! +t is yo%r &hoi&e 'hether to embar$ on the path to hope! 2 A map sho's yo% the &o%rse o# yo%r #%t%re travel, b%t a o%r* ney oes not begin %st by loo$ing at a map! +t starts 'hen yo% ta$e yo%r #irst step! This boo$ is %st a mapIit mar$s the 'ay o# the triple path! Reaing it 'ill ire&t yo% onto the path an orient yo%, b%t yo% &an only #ollo' the triple path by living its prin&iples in yo%r tho%ghts an a&tions! Fo%r o%rney on the triple path &an never be &ompleteE it 'ill only en 'ith yo%r eath! Fo% have the po'er, tho%gh, to help these prin&iples live on #orever! They &an never ie so long as there is someone le#t 'ho thin$s on them an lives them! +t is in yo%r po'er to #an these 14
:>PD tho%ghts into a #lame, an $eep the 'ays o# 'isom, gooness, an hope bright an &lear #or #%t%re generations to #ollo'! 1 :o' o yo% get betterG ?eitateE st%yE #in areas 'here yo% nee to improveE set attainable, meas%rable, an is&rete goalsE re&or yo%r progress in a&hieving yo%r goalsE #ollo' %p to eval%ate yo%r progressE an then set ne' goals! ?a$e this an ever*repeating &y&le o# improvement an progression! 2 .o not be is&o%rage 'hen yo% ma$e mista$es! "o one is per#e&t! 8hen yo% #alter, ret%rn ba&$ again to the triple path! e &ontent i# the greater part o# 'hat yo% o is &onsistent 'ith the pathE be &on* tent i# yo% are improving an more #aith#%lly #ollo'ing the path! +# yo% are not improvingi# yo%r progress has stagnate or i# yo% have 'ors* enethen something in yo%r li#e an o%tloo$ nees to &hange! 8hat &o%l be more agreeable, satis#ying, enlightening, an %pli#ting than #ol* lo'ing the triple pathG 8hat is more agreeable than 'isom, virt%e, an hopeG 1 etter than a tho%san senseless 'ors is one 'or o# hope, 'hi&h moves yo% to b%il a better #%t%re 'hen yo% %nerstan it, an moves others to o li$e'ise 'hen yo% share it! 2 The 'ors o# this boo$ 'ill have no val%e to yo% i# yo% o not #ollo' them! Dven i# yo% &o%l re&ite every 'or #rom memory, it 'o%l mean nothing i# yo% i not #ollo' them! Fo% 'o%l be li$e an investor 'ho &are#%lly tra&$s someone else@s money, 'hile negle&ting his o'n #inan&es! +t oes not matter i# yo% ever learn these 'ors i#, having #orsa$en pessimism an laBy espair, yo% al'ays see$ to b%il a better #%t%re! +nternaliBe these prin&iples an #ollo' them %ntil laboring 'ith hope be&omes an inseparable part o# yo%r &hara&ter! J%st as a p%re iamon is al'ays &lear an soli no matter 'here it is, so too sho%l yo% al'ays labor 'ith hope no matter yo%r &ir&%mstan&e! 4 +# yo% rea these 'ors an a&t on them, then yo% are li$e a 'ise man 'ho b%ils his ho%se on a #o%nation o# ro&$! 8hen rain #alls, #loos &ome, an 'ins blo', that ho%se 'ill not #all o'n! 8hen 146
T:D TR+PD PAT: yo% labor 'ith hope, yo% strengthen yo%r &hara&ter an min, so that 'hen li#e@s i##i&%lties &ome, yo% 'ill stan #ast against them! +# yo% o not #ollo' these prin&iples, then yo% are li$e a #oolish man 'ho b%ils his ho%se on a #o%nation o# san! 8hen rain #alls, #loos &ome, an 'ins blo', that ho%se 'ill #all! 8hen yo% o not labor 'ith hope, then yo% #ill yo%rsel# 'ith more an more laBy espair an 'ea$en yo%r &hara&ter an min! Fo% ma$e yo%rsel# less able to eal e##e&tively 'ith li#e@s i##i&%lties an &hallenges, an estroy yo%r e##e&tiveness at b%il* ing a better #%t%re! 5 +t is impossible #or yo% to relive yo%r li#e so that yo% 'o%l have #ollo'e the triple path at all times %p %ntil no'! 8hatever yo%r past, tho%gh, yo% &an still pro#it #rom it! 7se the mista$es in yo%r past to %nerstan ho' m%&h better it is to #ollo' the triple path! +t is in yo%r po'er to &hoose ho' to live the rest o# yo%r li#e #rom no' on! :ave more hope than yo% i in the past! ive the triple pathX
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* ?eitations 3/E * .hammapaa 16E * James 2314*16 an James 31E * Ch%ang TB%, e&tion 1 ;Hree an Dasy 8anering=, 8atson translation, p! 2/E * Ch%ang TB%, e&tion 21 ;T@ien TB%*Hang=, 8atson translationE * o?, 2 "ephi 2325E * 2 Corinthians 531E * o?, 2 "ephi 1320E * .hammapaa /0E * ospel o# Thomas 0E * ospel o# Thomas 2 an ?atthe' 5314E * ?eitations 3/E * Tao Te Ching 2! * 2 Corinthians 3E * 2 Corinthians 436*10E * Dther 1234E * ha* gava ita 436 an 534*/E * ospel o# Thomas 45E * "ephi 1431/*20 ;see also ?atthe' =! * ?eitations 43 an 432/! * ee Jonathan :ait, The :appiness :ypothesis3 Hining ?oern Tr%th in An&ient 8isom , 200/E * ?eitations 32! * ?eitations 31*2E * .hammapaa /2! * D&&lesiastes 2316*2! * ee %r% "ana$ .ev Ji! * .hammapaa 122! * ospel o# Thomas 51E * ospel o# Thomas 11E * ospel o# Thomas /!
* %$e 132*5! * D&&lesiastes 32E * D&&lesiastes 35, 10! * Tao Te Ching /32! 150
T:D TR+PD PAT:
* D&&lesiastes 310! .C 2324E * ospel o# Thomas ! * .C 14! * .hammapaa 51*55E * .hammapaa 56*5 * James 1322 an o?, "ephi 13E * ?eitations 32! * ?eitations 53 an D&&lesiastes 320! * .hammapaa 100E * .hammapaa 1*20E * ?eitations 315E * ?atthe' /324*2E * ?eitations 631!
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8hy is tr%th importantG 8hy start o%r approa&h hereG He' people 'o%l &laim they pre#er living in ignoran&e to $no'ing tr%th, b%t not many spen m%&h time really thin$ing abo%t 'hat tr%th is an ho' 'e &an &ome to $no' it! Thin$ing abo%t these %estions, tho%gh, is the #irst step to sheing o%r ignoran&e! The most #%namental %estion in a %est #or tr%th is i# there is even some sort o# obe&tive tr%th in the %niverse! An i# the ans'er is yes, the ne9t %estion is 'hether 'e &an is&over that tr%th! ase on o%r e9perien&e 'ith o%r senses, most o# %s reaily ass%me 'itho%t thin$ing that there is some sort o# obe&tive reality! %t o%r per&eption o# reality is very limite an imper#e&t! +t is limite be&a%se 'e only per&eive a small part o# 'hat 'e normally thin$ o# as being real! Dven someone 'ith 20)20 eyesight has imper#e&t vision! The level o# etail that 'e &an see is limite by the n%mber o# ro an &one re&eptor &ells in o%r eye! ?oreover, there are holes an imper#e&tions in the pi&t%re o%r eyes pi&$ %p be&a%se the istrib%tion o# re&eptor &ells in o%r retina is %neven an be&a%se there are not re&eptors 'here the opti& nerve &onne&ts to the retina! >%r per&eption o# seeing a &omplete pi&* t%re, 'ith no holes in it, is merely an ill%sion &reate by o%r brains #ill* ing in the gaps! 8orse still, o%r eyes &an see only a small part o# the available lightIvisible light ;the only part that 'e &an see= is only t'o per&ent o# the ele&tromagneti& spe&tr%m!1 This means that 'e are blin to potentially ninety*eight per&ent o# 'hat there is to Lsee!M These limi * tations o# per&eption o not apply only to sightI all o# o%r senses are similarly limite! ?oreover, all o# the in#ormation re&eive by o%r senses has to be #%rther #iltere an interprete by o%r brains! eeing a goo magi& sho' is easy proo# at ho' %i&$ly o%r senses &an be #oole! eyon %st the #allibility o# o%r senses, the very physi&al prop* erties o# the %niverse ma$e it impossible to be &ertain abo%t some things! <%ant%m physi&s ini&ates that it is impossible to have &omplete 155
TR7T:G &ertainty abo%t &ertain aspe&ts o# s%batomi& parti&lesE as &ertainty abo%t a parti&le@s moment%m goes %p, o%r %n&ertainty abo%t its position m%st also go %p! aining $no'lege abo%t one aspe&t o# the parti&le ma$es it impossible to gain $no'lege abo%t another! A #e' s&ientists have even hypothesiBe that the physi&al la's o# the %niverse may not be &on* stantIthey may have &hange over time, or may be i##erent in other parts o# the %niverse! 2 +n spite o# all o# these %n&ertainties an limitations, most o# %s int%itively believe that some sort o# obe&tive tr%th e9ists! 8e per&eive an apparently %n&hanging an &onstant e9terior environment an 'e e9* perien&e the &onsisten&y o# &a%se an e##e&t! 8hile o%r per&eption o# physi&al reality may be imper#e&t an #la'e, the &onsisten&y o# those per&eptions leas %s to ass%me that o%r per&eptions o# reality have a high probability o# being generally a&&%rate! +nee, o%r &ontin%e s%r* vival as living beings re%ires that 'e a&t as i# obe&tive physi&al reality e9ists'itho%t thin$ing abo%t it, 'e pres%ppose that #oo 'e see is real, an 'e eat it 'hen 'e are h%ngryE anyone 'ho oes other'ise 'o%l soon ie! >%r e9perien&e ini&ates that there are physi&al la's 'hi&h gov* ern the operation o# the %niverse an that, on the s&ale o# h%man li#e* times, these la's are %n&hanging! This &onsisten&y in o%r aily e9peri* en&e leas %s to ass%me that tr%th e9ists an that 'e &an is&over an %nerstan it! J%st as 'e learn thro%gh repeate e9perien&e #rom a yo%ng age that the s%n al'ays rises, 'e &ome to e9pe&t &onsisten&y in other areas, so long as 'e &an is&over some sort o# pattern o# govern* ing r%les! >%r e9perien&es 'ith the &onsisten&y o# reality &ontrast 'ith a &ommon e9perien&e in reams3 'hen reaming, 'e o#ten loo$ at some* thing, loo$ a'ay, then loo$ at it again only to is&over that the obe&t has &hange in some #%namental 'ay! 8e per&eive Lreal li#eM as being %alitatively i##erent #rom o%r reams be&a%se 'e pres%me that o%r reams are generate by o%r o'n mins an are th%s &hangeable, 'hereas o%r 'a$ing per&eptions o# the %niverse an the physi&al 'orl are &onsistent an appear to be governe by %n&hanging la's! 8e per* &eive &a%se an e##e&t an 'e per&eive the #lo' o# timesomething 15/
T:D TR+PD PAT: 'hi&h has happene in the past appears to be %n&hangeable! +n spite o# o%r per&eptions o# the reality o# the 'orl, be&a%se o# the imper#e&tions an limitations o# o%r senses an o%r brains, 'e sho%l al'ays be h%mble abo%t 'hat 'e L$no'!M 8e sho%l re&ogniBe that no matter ho' smart 'e are, o%r $no'lege is imper#e&t! e&a%se o# o%r h%man limitations, 'e &an never have &omplete &ertainty abo%t any o# o%r per&eptions! Dven tho%gh the b%siness o# living re%ires that 'e ass%me there is a reality to o%r e9isten&e an that 'e &an &ome to an %nerstaning o# it, real 'isom means &on#iently see$ing greater $no'lege an %nerstaning, 'hile still having the h%mility to re&og* niBe that 'e 'ill never have per#e&t %nerstaning! As 'e &on#iently see$, 'e h%mbly %nerstan that the best 'e &an hope is #or o%r imper * #e&t %nerstaning an $no'lege to be&ome better an better appro9i* mations o# reality! 8hen + 'rite in this boo$ abo%t #a&ts or tr%ths or reality, it is be&a%se + am &omm%ni&ating 'ith the normal 'ors o# everyay lan* g%age! + 'rite base on my limite per&eptions an e9perien&es o# an o%tsie 'orl that seems to e9ist! ># &o%rse, there is %n&ertainty abo%t everything + represent as being tr%e or real! %t %st as it is 'ise to have the h%mility to re&ogniBe the %n&ertainties o# li#e, it is also #oolish to be &ripple by that %n&ertainty! +# 'e ass%me that there is some $in o# obe&tive tr%th, an that 'e &an gain $no'lege abo%t it ;both o# 'hi&h are reasonable as* s%mptions, base on o%r per&eptions o# reality=, the ne9t step is to #ig* %re o%t ho' 'e may gain $no'lege! %t 'hat is $no'legeG Kno'lege in&l%es belie#, b%t it is more than %st mere belie#! Fo% &an believe in something that is not tr%e! Real $no'lege is believing something that is tr%e! in&e 'e &an never be &ertain o# anything, h%man $no'lege is not LrealM $no'lege! +nstea, it is belie# in something 'hi&h 'e have a reasonable basis #or believing is tr%e! There are a variety o# 'ays to gain $no'lege! ome are more e##e&tive than others an many are &omplementary to ea&h other! + have separate them into si9 &ategories3 sensory observation, e9perien&e an &ommon sense, trial an error, a%thorities, empiri&al rationalism, an 15
TR7T:G emotions! These &ategories are arti#i&ial! +n real li#e, there is no &lear sep* aration bet'een them, b%t separating them is a %se#%l 'ay to thin$ abo%t the i##erent so%r&es o# o%r $no'lege! Da&h &ategory has an im* portant pla&e in o%r %est #or tr%th! et %s is&%ss ea&h o# them in t%rn! The most #%namental 'ay to gain $no'lege is thro%gh pas* sive observation %sing o%r senses! +mper#e&t tho%gh they are, o%r senses are the only 'ay o%r internal selves re&eive in#ormation abo%t the o%t* sie 'orl! ?y $no'lege that the s$y is bl%e is base on my sensory observation o# the s$y@s &olor! There are three problems 'ith observation! Hirst, as + is&%sse above, o%r senses are imper#e&t, limite, an not al'ays reliable! e&on, mere observation oes not tell %s anything abo%t the root &a%ses o# things! .etermining &a%ses re%ires interpretation an reasoning, rather than %st observation! Thir, observation is ba&$'ar*loo$ing an lim* ite3 it only tells %s abo%t 'hat has alreay happene in the past an it limits %s to only learning abo%t 'hat 'e &an ire&tly e9perien&e! aining $no'lege thro%gh observation involves a&&%m%lating memories o# previo%s sensory e9perien&es! 7sing e9perien&e an &om* mon sense means %sing o%r brain to interpret the in#ormation 'e have gaine to ma$e &on&l%sions an prei&tions! 8e noti&e &a%se an e##e&t, an gain e9perien&e to ma$e &on&l%sions abo%t #%t%re events! + remem* ber that the hot stove b%rne me the last time + to%&he it, an + avoi to%&hing it in the #%t%re 'hen it is hot! 8e apply o%r innate an learne &ognitive abilities to reason an e9trapolate #rom previo%s e9perien&e to ma$e in#eren&es abo%t things 'e have not yet observe or e9perien&e, an to ma$e prei&tions abo%t the #%t%re! 8e noti&e patterns an learn to e9trapolate! + e9trapo* late #rom my e9perien&e 'ith the stove to &on&l%e that + sho%l be &are#%l abo%t to%&hing all hot obe&ts, even i# they o not loo$ li$e a stove! The problem 'ith &ommon sense is that o%r brains i not e* velop to be tr%th*see$ing ma&hines, b%t to be s%rvival ma&hines! At the 156
T:D TR+PD PAT: most basi& level, o%r brains@ p%rpose is to help %s s%rvive into a%lthoo an pass on o%r genes! 8e have all sorts o# &ognitive short&%ts an bi* ases har'ire into %s that in&rease o%r probability o# s%rvival b%t that &an e&rease o%r ability to #in tr%th! 8e ten to be m%&h more biase to'ar #alse positives than #alse negatives'e are m%&h more li$ely to ass%me that something is there 'hen it is not ;a #alse positive= than to ass%me that something is not there 'hen it really is ;a #alse negative=! The #re%ently*%se styliBe e9ample o# this tenen&y is that the per* son 'ho ass%me that the r%stling in the grass 'as &a%se by a tiger an ran a'ay tene to s%rvive! Dven i# most o# the time the r%stling is only &a%se by the 'in, it only ta$es an o&&asional hien tiger to &%ll #rom the gene pool those 'ho are not prone to the #alse positive bias! Th%s, 'hile it li$ely &on#erre s%rvival avantages on the sa* vanna, neolithi& #arms, an even in %rban %ngles, o%r innate basi& int%* itive reasoning &an be 'rong! 8e nat%rally &ommit all sorts o# #alla&ies3 'e #alsely attrib%te &a%sation to %nrelate events that happen &lose together ;li$e the ABte&s believing their bloo sa&ri#i&es &a%se the s%n to rise or o%r tenen&y to #eel aversion to a #oo 'e ate %st be* #ore 'e #elt si&$ to o%r stoma&h, even i# the illness ha nothing to o 'ith the #oo=E 'e mis%nerstan the tr%e &a%ses o# events ;s%&h as the belie# %p %ntil the 1th &ent%ry that blooletting helpe &%re isease=E 'e tr%st too m%&h in o%r senses 'itho%t %nerstaning their limita* tionsE 'e believe that o%r senses give %s a &ompletely a&&%rate %n* erstaning o# 'orl, an then ma$e #alse &on&l%sions ;li$e the be* lie# in the an&ient 'orl that the 'orl 'as #lat=E 'e #alsely attrib%te personality an intentionality to inanimate ob* e&ts ;li$e people tal$ing to their &ar=! Relying on observation, e9perien&e, an &ommon sense is eno%gh to get %s into a%lthoo an pass on o%r genes to the ne9t gen* eration, b%t they o not get %s &lose eno%gh to o%r goal o# %nerstan* ing tr%th! eyon o%r &ognitive limitations, o%r lives are temporally an spatially limiteI'e &annot be every'here an every'hen at on&e! Da&h one o# %s &an only #ig%re o%t so m%&h by o%rselves, so %sing personal e9perien&e an &ommon sense by o%rselves means that 'e 'ill be lim* •
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TR7T:G ite in ho' m%&h 'e &an is&over! Trial an error is a r%imentary #orm o# e9perimentation! +t involves observation an e9perien&e, b%t instea o# %st passively observ* ing, 'e ta$e a&tion to test o%r ieas! Trial an error means testing i##er* ent options %ntil 'e &ome to one that 'or$s! Thin$ o# Thomas Dison inventing the light b%lb by testing ne' materials over an over, %ntil he #o%n one that 'o%l 'or$ as the #ilament o# a light b%lb! .is&overy thro%gh trial an error is o#ten time &ons%ming! Re* lying on trial an error to is&over ne' tr%th means that ea&h o# %s is very limite in 'hat 'e &an is&over %ring o%r li#etime! 8e &an only personally o so m%&h! ?oreover, trial an error 'ill not al'ays lea to the &omplete tr%th! +# 'e is&over something that seems to 'or$, it oes not ne&essarily mean it is optimal ;Dison invente the light b%lb, b%t #l%ores&ent an D. b%lbs last longer an are more e##i&ient=! An even i# it leas %s to the optimal sol%tion, the bigger problem 'ith trial is error is that, %st li$e 'ith observation, it oes not %s%ally lea to an %nerstaning o# the root &a%ses o# things! J%st be* &a%se 'e #in a sol%tion that 'or$s oes not mean that 'e 'ill %ner* stan 'hy it 'or$s! The inventors o# the light b%lb, or #ire, or the 'heel i not %nerstan 'hy or ho' their inventions 'or$e! >%r time an o%r ability to observe, e9perien&e, an e9peri * ment are limite! ang%age is a po'er#%l tool that has allo'e h%mans to pass $no'lege on to others, #irst thro%gh oral traitions, an no' thro%gh the 'ritten 'or! 8e o not have to start #rom s&rat&h in o%r %est #or $no'lege! 8e are th%s not limite to o%r o'n personal e9pe* rien&e! The a&&%m%late store o# h%man*generate in#ormation is no' so amaBingly vast that it 'o%l be impossible #or even the greatest ge* ni%s to reis&over an re&reate it all thro%gh observation, trial an error, an &ommon sense! e&a%se o# this, 'e all rely on e9perts3 people 'ho have gaine $no'lege in a parti&%lar s%be&t area an 'ho then share that $no'lege 'ith others! +n spite o# the importan&e o# e9perts, it is a logi&al #alla&y to rely on the tr%th#%lness o# a statement %st be&a%se an e9pert sai it! 1/0
T:D TR+PD PAT: There is nothing 'rong, ho'ever, 'ith relying on a statement mae by an e9pert be&a%se o# the inherent merit o# the statement itsel#! +t is th%s not a #alla&y to arg%e that something sai by an a%thority is tr%e! The #alla&y &omes #rom believing that something is tr%e be&a%se an a%thority sai it! The stat%s o# the person ma$ing a statement oes not magi&ally ma$e it tr%e! Dvery statement mae by an a%thority sho%l be s%be&t to &riti&ism! Fo% sho%l al'ays &onsier it a big 'arning sign 'hen a%thor* ity #ig%res &laim their statements to be above reproa&h an beyon &riti* &ism! 8hatever the %sti#i&ation given, anytime a%thorities try to stop yo% #rom s%be&ting their statements to &riti&al e9amination, the real reason 'ill almost al'ays be be&a%se they are a#rai yo% 'ill is&over that their statements are #alse! +# they ha goo evien&e an %sti#i&a* tions to ba&$ %p their &laims, 'hy 'o%l they not 'ant yo% to &riti&ally e9amine their prono%n&ementsG Another similar ta&ti& to be 'ary o# is 'hen a%thorities try to sho%t o'n, shame, harass, or p%bli&ly h%miliate issenting voi&es ;o#ten by %sing some prete9t%al e9&%se abo%t the is* senter violating orthoo9ies or saying something Lo##ensiveM=! Fo% 'o%l be 'ise to a%tomati&ally is&o%nt any statements, an to isre* gar any &laims to a%thority, mae by s%&h people! +# an a%thority@s &laims are tr%e, he or she 'ill never nee to resort to s%&h oppressive ta&ti&s to e#en those &laims! Real a%thorities 'el&ome ialog%e an &hallenges to their ieas, be&a%se they $no' they have nothing to #ear! +t is the &harlatans 'ho try to s%ppress others@ voi&es, be&a%se they are s&are o# being isprove! The prono%n&ements o# an a%thority are 'orthless %nless they are ba&$e %p by goo %sti#i&ationsE they are not goo #or anything %n* less they &an be inepenently teste an eval%ate! Physi&ists tell %s that matter is mae o# atoms, 'hi&h are mae %p o# protons, ne%trons, an ele&trons! + o not believe this be&a%se statements mae by physi* &ists are someho' entitle to greater e#eren&e! + believe it be&a%se the physi&ists have e9plaine 'hy they believe this, an their e9planations are &onvin&ing! ?ore importantly, they have e9ha%stively o&%mente ho' they &ame to this &on&l%sion an mae p%bli& the res%lts an ata #rom their e9periments so that 'e &an all eval%ate them! ?oreover, other 1/1
TR7T:G physi&ists have repro%&e those res%lts, an + &o%l hypotheti&ally re* peat their e9periments an test their statements o%t #or mysel# to veri#y their tr%th! Dmpiri&al rationalism means applying reason an logi& to o%r per&eptions an e9perien&es to &ome to &on&l%sions! +t means employing a systemati& approa&h to gaining $no'lege an #ining ans'ers to %estionsE it means #ollo'ing the evien&e 'here it leas, even i# it proves yo%r previo%s ieas 'rong! The s&ienti#i& metho is an appli&a* tion o# empiri&al rationalism 'here s&ientists openly share their res%lts an ieas! >thers &riti%e those res%lts an ieas an b%il on them! This be&omes an iterative pro&ess that b%ils more an more $no'lege an leas to improve &on&l%sions an ieas! in&e the time o# the an&ient ree$s, philosophers, mathemati* &ians, s&ientists, an others have is&overe an &reate prin&iples o# logi& an reason 'hi&h allo' %s to more systemati&ally eval%ate o%r per* &eptions o# the 'orl an ma$e a&&%rate &on&l%sions! Dmpiri&al ratio* nalism is i##erent #rom &ommon sense be&a%se 'e apply #ormal r%les an &riti&al thin$ing to o%r per&eptions an e9perien&e, 'hereas &om* mon sense is base more on int%itive e%&tions abo%t the 'orl! Dm* piri&al rationalism means &ons&io%sly trying to %se lang%age an reason to interpret o%r per&eptionsE it re%ires an %nerstaning o# logi&al #al* la&ies an ma$ing the e##ort to avoi s%&h #alla&ies! The s&ienti#i& metho involves observation an e9perimenta* tion! ometimes, s&ientists start 'ith an %nans'ere %estion! The %es* tion might be more impli&it than e9pli&it an be as simple as L'hat more &an 'e learn abo%t this spe&ies living in this habitatGM >ther times, s&ientists &reate an then test a hypothesis %sing the $no'lege they have gaine #rom observation, e9perien&e, trial an error, a%thorities, an previo%s appli&ations o# the s&ienti#i& metho! 8hether it be a #ormal hypothesis or %estion, or %st an im* pli&it %estion #o&%se on gaining more $no'lege, s&ientists esign e9* periments or tests to isprove their hypothesis or to provie ata to help ans'er the %estion! They then share those res%lts 'ith other people 'ho e9amine an &riti%e their methoology an res%lts, an perhaps 1/2
T:D TR+PD PAT: try o%t the e9periments or tests themselves to see i# they &an repli&ate the res%lts! +# the res%lts stan %p to s&r%tiny, an &an be repli&ate by others, then o%r level o# &on#ien&e in the valiity o# the hypothesis or the ans'er to the %estion is in&rease! The hypothesis, ho'ever, 'ill al* 'ays be s%be&t to #%rther testing an attempts to isprove it! +# #%rther e9periments isprove it, then it is ree&te! +# it stans %p to #%rther e9* perimentation, then o%r level o# &on#ien&e in it in&reases even more! ?y es&ription o# the s&ienti#i& metho is simpli#ie! There are as many 'ays o# oing s&ien&e as there are s&ientists! "o matter the e9a&t approa&h, the isting%ishing &hara&teristi&s o# s&ien&e are 1= s%b* e&ting one@s res%lts to others@ revie' an &riti&ismE 2= an analyti& an systemati& approa&h to solving problems an ans'ering %estionsE = re* e&ting &on&l%sions that are not s%pporte by evien&eE an 4= ma$ing a sin&ere, goo #aith e##ort to be %nbiase an to base one@s vie's an opinions on the evien&e, as oppose to trying to #or&e evien&e to #it one@s pre&on&eive notions! ?ore than %st being simpli#ie, my es&ription o# the s&ien* ti#i& metho is also iealiBe! +n real li#e, things o not happen so &leanly or &learly! Res%lts &an be ambig%o%s or misinterprete! Dven 'orse, %st li$e everyone else, s&ientists &an be ogmati& an set in their 'ays, re#%sing to &hange their opinions in the #a&e o# ne' evien&e! Hor e9ample, theories o# plate te&toni&s an &ontinental ri#t 'ere regare as a rii&%lo%s #ringe theory #or e&aes by ogmati& geologists be#ore they 'ere #inally &onvin&e! There are problems 'hi&h a##e&t 'hat even gets presente as s&ien&e in the #irst pla&e! e&a%se most s&ienti#i& theories an is&overies are presente in peer*revie'e o%rnals, a ne' theory 'ill not be is* seminate an get 'iesprea a&&eptan&e %nless it is p%blishe in a peer*revie'e o%rnal! &ientists e9pe&t ne' &laims to stan %p to &riti* &ism an revie', an p%blishing ne' s&ienti#i& theories an &laims in peer revie'e o%rnals helps provie a system that ens%res that ne' s&i* enti#i& &laims have been vette by e9perts in the #iel! The people 'ho e&ie 'hat gets p%blishe in a s&ienti#i& o%rnal th%s have the po'er to s%ppress papers presenting theories 'ith 'hi&h they isagree! These gate$eepers may have vario%s reasons #or s%ppressing or minimiBing ne' 1/
TR7T:G theories, s%&h as 'hen a ne' theory &ontrai&ts their o'n pet theories or belie#s! The s%&&ess o# the s&ienti#i& metho relies on s&ientists having the intelle&t%al honesty an 'illingness to allo' &ompeting theories to be hear on their merits! &ientists are not p%re, sel#less, angeli& beings! As 'ith any h%man eneavor, politi&s, interpersonal relationships, an sel#ishness play a part behin the s&enes! To ma$e s%re that others &an poli&e the pro&ess, goo s&ien&e relies on transparen&y to ma$e it easier to ete&t bias in revie'ers! Transparen&y is also important so that gate* $eepers &annot hie potential attempts to s%ppress &ompeting theories an so that ogmati& s&ientists &annot s%ppress ne' theories that they o not li$e! %&&ess#%l peer revie' epens not only on having %nbiase re* vie'ers, b%t also on having revie'ers 'ith the right e9pertise! &ienti#i& e9periments are o#ten &ompli&ate an &reate large amo%nts o# ata 'hi&h &an be i##i&%lt to interpret! Dven very smart s&ientists &an easily ma$e mista$es in statisti&ally analyBing their e9perimental res%lts! These errors &an, o# &o%rse, lea to ba &on&l%sions! +# the revie'ers o# a s&i* entist@s 'or$ la&$ s%##i&ient statisti&al e9pertise or la&$ the right spe&i#i& s%be&t*matter e9pertise to revie' the paper, they might not &at&h the statisti&al or other mista$es, an 'ill approve the p%bli&ation o# #alse or #la'e &on&l%sions! Relying on the s&ienti#i& metho also means a&&epting that 'e are &apable o# &orre&tly per&eiving an %nerstaning reality, 'hi&h ;as + is&%sse above= is not ne&essarily something 'e &an be s%re o#! %t oes all o# this mean there is something 'rong 'ith the s&ienti#i& methoG "ot at all! ?ost s&ientists are a'are o# the problems + have es&ribe above! ?ost o# them really o &are abo%t maintaining the integrity o# the s&ienti#i& pro&ess an they 'or$ to over&ome or minimiBe the poten* tial #la's an problems in the s&ienti#i& pro&ess! ?ista$es %s%ally get &orre&te, event%ally! +# 'e aopt a Lby their #r%its ye shall $no' themM stanar, the s&ienti#i& metho has proven itsel# over an over! "o other approa&h to is&overing tr%th has yiele better res%lts! .o yo% %se a &omp%ter or the +nternetG Then yo% have alreay e9perien&e some ob* 1/4
T:D TR+PD PAT: vio%s #r%its o# the a&hievements o# s&ien&e! +# yo% ha a serio%s illness an yo%r options 'ere to get treatment #rom a moern o&tor ;'ho 'as traine base on o%r moern s&ienti#i& %nerstanings o# biology, anatomy, an physiology= or a tribal 'it&h o&tor #rom a h%nter*gath* erer tribe ;'hose Le9pertiseM is base solely on observation, e9perien&e, trial an error, an a%thorities=, 'ho 'o%l yo% &hooseG Heelings an religion are important parts o# the h%man e9peri* en&e, b%t &ontrary to 'hat + 'as ta%ght as a yo%th, they are not the highest 'ay o# is&overing tr%th! ?y re*eval%ation o# the role #eelings sho%l play in o%r sear&h #or tr%th 'as the $ey #a&tor &a%sing me to start thin$ing abo%t the iss%es that event%ally le me to 'rite this boo$! + th%s is&%ss #eelings an religion last be&a%se o# their importan&e in my o'n personal sear&h #or tr%th! Dmotions are a $ey part in the e&ision ma$ing pro&ess! 8hen &ertain areas o# the brain asso&iate 'ith emotions are amage, a per* son@s e&ision ma$ing abilities are o#ten signi#i&antly impaire! 4 +n spite o# the bene#its o# empiri&al rationalism, o%r brains are not, an &an never be, passionless rationality ma&hines ;m%&h to the &hagrin o# most e&onomists, "e' Atheists, an rationality enth%siasts=! ?ore o#ten than 'e realiBe, 'e rely on emotion to shape o%r belie#s! Rather than %sing o%r po'ers o# rationality to &ome to a &on* &l%sion base on the available in#ormation, 'e %s%ally 'or$ the other 'ay ro%n3 'e %se o%r po'ers o# reason to %sti#y o%r alreay*hel, emotion*base belie#s! 8e e&ie 'hat to believe base on 'hat L#eelsM right, rather than a &ons&io%s appli&ation o# on any o# the other #ive i##erent 'ays #or is&overing tr%th 'hi&h + have is&%sse above! 8e start 'ith a &on&l%sion an then reason ba&$'ars to &ome %p 'ith a %sti#i&ation #or that &on&l%sion! etting emotions in#l%en&e yo%r e&isions is not ba! +t means that yo% are a normal h%man being! Dmotions, rather than being an im* peiment to rationality, are o#ten a great help! >%r #eelings &an help %s s%b&ons&io%sly integrate everything 'e learn %sing the other #ive meth* os an &ome to the right &on&l%sion! %t blin tr%st in o%r #eelings above all else o#ten leas %s a'ay #rom tr%th! 1/5
TR7T:G
Dmotions an %n&ons&io%s #lashes o# insight &an be important in ma$ing e&isions an is&overies! +n his 11 essay LThe D%re$a Phenomenon,M +saa& Asimov e9plains that many s&ienti#i& is&overies are mae 'hen the s&ientist has a #lash o# inspiration 'hi&h leas to the so* l%tion o# a problem!5 %&h Le%re$aM moments o not &ome #rom a ra* tional &ons&io%s pro&ess, b%t probably #rom s%b&ons&io%s pro&essing by the brain! Dven a#ter 'e have stoppe &ons&io%sly thin$ing abo%t a problem, o%r brain seems to &ontin%e to 'or$ on the problem s%b&on* s&io%sly! Dinstein an many other s&ientists es&ribe e9perien&ing s%* en #lashes o# insight 'hen ma$ing some o# their most important is* &overies!/ +nee, the very term Le%re$aM originates #rom a ;li$ely apo&* ryphal= story abo%t the great an&ient ree$ mathemati&ian Ar&himees, 'ho ha a s%en #lash o# insight 'hile visiting the p%bli& bathsE 'hen the insight &ame to him, he reportely leape o%t o# the bath, sho%te Le%re$aXM ;ree$ #or L+@ve got itM= an ran home na$e be&a%se he 'as so eager to test his is&overy ;p%bli& n%ity 'as more a&&eptable in those ays=! There is m%&h that 'e o not %nerstan abo%t ho' o%r brain 'or$s an ho' 'e #orm opinions an ma$e e&isions! Da&h o# %s 'o%l li$e to thin$ that 'e %nerstan 'hy 'e o 'hat 'e o! 8e thin$ that 'e are goo at introspe&tion an sel#*%nerstaning! Resear&h ini&ates, ho'ever, that 'e o not %nerstan o%r o'n e&ision*ma$ing pro&esses as 'ell as 'e thin$ 'e o! Rather than %sing reason an eliberate e&i* sion ma$ing to #orm &on&l%sions or belie#s, %s%ally 'e #orm a &on&l%* sion or a belie# an then sear&h #or reasons to s%pport it! 8e &reate %s* ti#i&ations a#ter the #a&t to e9plain o%r e&isions or belie#s, even tho%gh 'e o not &ons&io%sly %nerstan the real reasons 'hy o%r brains ar* rive at that e&ision or belie#!6 The in#l%en&e that o%r #eelings an o%r s%b&ons&io%s min have on o%r tho%ghts an e&isions is a nat%ral part o# ho' 'e thin$! o are %ne9pe&te Le%re$aM #lashes o# insight! They are an ines&apable part o# ho' o%r mins 'or$ an &an be %ite %se#%l! These pro&esses are &ognitive short&%ts that ma$e %s into the amaBing thin$ing &reat%res that 'e are! These pro&esses, tho%gh, o not al'ays lea %s to the 1//
T:D TR+PD PAT: LrightM ans'er! 8hat this means is that o%r mins, on a #%namental level, o not 'or$ in a transparent, rational 'ay! >%r la&$ o# a'areness o# ho' these #%namental pro&esses 'or$ &an lea to bias an a #alse level o# &ertainty in o%r e&isions! There is a 'ay to &orre&t #or this, tho%gh3 peer revie'! The s&ienti#i& metho has proven itsel# to be so po'er#%l be&a%se peer revie' re%ires that other people &riti%e an test a s&ientist@s 'or$! Da&h o# %s have &ognitive blin spots an biases that are impossible to see o%rselves! D9posing o%r e&isions an &on&l%sions to others@ &riti%es &an help %s spot o%r mista$es! +t is im portant to &onstantly be letting others eval%ate an &riti%e o%r ieas! >ne o# the areas 'here #eelings a##e&t o%r belie#s most pro* #o%nly are in matters o# religion an morality! People #re%ently #orm religio%s &onvi&tions abo%t a religion@s tr%th#%lness base on personal emotional e9perien&es 'ith the religion! ?any Christian &h%r&hes &all this religio%s emotional e9perien&e Lthe spirit,M L#eeling the spirit,M or La&&epting Jes%s in yo%r heart!M This #eeling is o#ten es&ribe as a 'arm #eeling in yo%r &hestE a pleasant sensation 'hi&h ma$es yo% 'ant to o gooE a #eeling o# pea&eE or a #eeling o# light an pea&e #lo'ing into yo%r min an heart! The oo$ o# alatians in the "e' Testament says that Lthe #r%it o# the pirit is love, oy, pea&e, patien&e, $inness, generosity, #aith* #%lness, gentleness, an sel#*&ontrol!M +n the ospel o# John, Jes%s says that LN'Ohen the Avo&ate Nor :elperO &omes, 'hom + 'ill sen to yo% #rom the Hather, the pirit o# tr%th 'ho &omes #rom the Hather, he 'ill testi#y on my behal#!M10 Hrom these ;an other= passages, many Chris* tians have &ome to believe that spirit%al #eelings are an ini&ator o# tr%th that Ltesti#iesM on behal# o# o! This spirit%al #eeling has been st%ie by psy &hologists, 'ho have name it Lelevation!M Dlevation is es&ribe by psy&hologists as in * volving a esire to a&t morally an being &hara&teriBe by a #eeling o# 'armth in the &hest!11 ;pirit%al #eelings are more than %st elevationE el* evation is the prin&ipal &omponent, b%t other emotions s%&h as a'e an tran%ility also play a role!= As 'e 'ill see in the ne9t se&tion, elevation is a %niversal h%man emotion %st li$e anger or love, rather than a spe&ial 1/
TR7T:G sign #rom o reserve #or the aherents o# a parti&%lar religion! An sin&e it is a nat%ral h%man emotion, there is no reason to believe that it is any i##erent #rom all the other emotions 'hi&h have physiologi&al roots in o%r boies! o 'hat is the p%rpose o# elevationG +t probably serves several #%n&tions! >ne possible #%n&tion is to help en&o%rage altr%ism in the appropriate &ir&%mstan&es! There is m%&h resear&h that sho's that al* most every h%man behavioral an &ognitive trait has a signi#i&ant herita* ble &omponent!12 The behaviors 'e &all Lethi&alM or LgooM are generally the behaviors that ma$e living in h%man &omm%nities s%&&ess#%l, an o%r tenen&y ;or isin&lination= to'ar those behaviors are heritable! Perhaps elevation helps en&o%rage %s to engage in those behaviors at the appropriate times! :%mans are a &omm%nal spe&iesbaning together 'ith oth* ers to &ooperate, share reso%r&es, an provie m%t%al prote&tion appears to have been a more s%&&ess#%l strategy #or inivi%als o# o%r spe&ies than going it alone! %&h &omm%nal living re%ires altr%ism an sel#* sa&ri#i&e! The p%BBle, tho%gh, is that a&ting sel#lessly an altr%isti&ally o#ten means a&ting at personal &ost to yo%rsel#! +t 'o%l seem that a&t* ing to yo%r o'n etriment #or the bene#it o# others 'o%l be inivi%* ally malaaptiveit 'o%l ma$e it more i##i&%lt #or yo% to leave be* hin o##spring! 8orse still, non*altr%isti& &omm%nity members &o%l easily ta$e avantage o# the altr%ists an leave behin more non*altr%is* ti& o##spring! +# this is tr%e, 'e 'o%l e9pe&t that any hereitary ten* en&y to a&t 'ith altr%ism 'o%l isappear #rom the pop%lation be* &a%se non*altr%isti& #reeriers 'o%l ta$e avantage o# the altr%ists an o%tbree them! %t 'e $no' that this is not tr%ealtr%ism is a nat%ral part o# h%man behavior! +n the #a&e o# repeate attempts at e9ploitation #rom #reeriers, ho' &an altr%isti& behavior persist in h%man pop%lationsG The ans'er is re&ipro&ity! 8e start o%t 'ith a e#a%lt o# g%are benevolen&eo%r initial in&lination is generally to respon to someone $inly, b%t i# that person mistreats %s or ta$es avantage o# %s, 'e re&ipro&ate! 8e &ease o%r altr%isti& behaviors an 'e respon to that person@s mistreatment in 1/6
T:D TR+PD PAT: $in 'ith o%r o'n negative an sel#ish behavior! +# the other person re* spons positively to %s, then 'e respon in $in, an 'e enter a &y&le o# in&reasing altr%ism an &loseness 'ith ea&h other! +n this 'ay, 'e &an p%nish #reeriers, prevent them #rom ta$ing avantage o# o%r generosity, an ens%re that only those people 'ho are 'illing to a&t 'ith altr%ism 'ill get the bene#it o# o%r o'n altr%ism! Re&ipro&al altr%ism is th%s a trait that 'o%l &on#er a sele&tive avantage on inivi%als that &o%l be passe on to #%t%re generations! +t allo's %s to enoy the bene#its o# living in a &omm%nity 'here m%t%al tr%st, s%pport, an altr%ism &an thrive! %t to re&eive those bene#its o# others@ altr%isti& sa&ri#i&es, 'e m%st also sa&ri#i&e #or others! +n s%&h an environment o# re&ipro&al altr%ism, people 'ill sa&ri#i&e to help those 'ho also sa&ri#i&e #or others! +n this 'ay, altr%isti& inivi%als re&eive more assistan&e #rom others than non*altr%ists! Altr%ism &an th%s &on * #er a sele&tive avantage on inivi%als, 'hi&h 'ill in&rease the #re%en&y o# altr%ism genes in a pop%lation an prevent the &omm%nity #rom &ol* lapsing %ner the 'eight o# non*altr%isti& #reeriers! The resear&h sho's that elevation imparts a esire to a&t morally an that vie'ing or e9perien&ing the goo a&ts o# others in* %&es elevation in o%rselves! Perhaps elevation, then, is part o# o%r re&i* pro&ity me&hanism that prevents altr%ism #rom be&oming a liability! 8hen 'e are in an environment 'here others are a&ting 'ith altr%ism, then all o# that altr%ism 'e see aro%n %s in%&es the #eeling o# eleva* tion in o%rselves an in#l%en&es %s to re&ipro&ate the altr%ism 'e are ob* serving! ?aybe elevation helps a&t as a signal that 'e are in a Lsa#eM al* tr%isti& environment an that 'e sho%l re%&e o%r tenen&y to'ar negative re&ipro&ity! The p%rpose o# elevation th%s oes not seem to be to g%ie %s to obe&tive tr%th, b%t instea to g%ie %s to s%be&tive moral tr%ths! The problem 'ith relying solely on emotional e9perien&e 'hen trying to #in tr%th is that o%r #eelings are an imper#e&t g%ie! Heeling elevation is a s%be&tive signal to help yo% re&ogniBe 'hen yo% are oing something moral, or thin$ing abo%t something moral! %t it is not an absol%te g%ie, an it is not in#allible! Hor e9ample, people are more li$ely to #eel elevation 'hen they 1/
TR7T:G help those in their immeiate environmentIpeople they &an see! This ma$es evol%tionary senseIthere 'o%l be no reason to evelop the abil* ity to #eel elevation 'hen helping #ar*o## %nseen people, be&a%se o%r an* &estors live in an environment 'here the only people they $ne' abo%t an 'ith 'hom they ha intera&tions 'ere the people in their immei* ate lo&al environment! Hor this reason, people in the evelope 'orl give money to things li$e &an&er an A+. resear&h, be&a%se these is* eases a##e&t people they $no', or at least people in their o'n &o%ntry! %t their money 'o%l have a #ar greater e##e&t to help the lives o# other h%man beings i# they gave it to &harities that provie &lean rin$ing 'ater, sanitation #a&ilities, e*'orming mei&ation, an malaria treat* ments in the thir 'orl! .iarrhea an malaria are m%&h bigger overall problems than &an&er or A+., b%t be&a%se they a##li&t %nseen people in #ar*o## eveloping &o%ntries, the a##l%ent o not #eel as goo trying to #ight these #ara'ay problems as they o trying to #ight lo&al problems, an they th%s give less money to s%&h &a%ses! 8e are o#ten 'rong 'hen 'e generaliBe #rom o%r personal e9* perien&e, be&a%se o%r personal e9perien&e is not broa eno%gh to ma$e vali generaliBations! +s elevation really a ivinely*&reate emotion 'hi&h leas %s to tr%thG ?aybe! +# yo% #eel elevation in a &ertain &h%r&h oes that mean that the &h%r&h@s tea&hings are a&t%ally tr%eG Possibly! %t ho' &an yo% test thisG +# yo% 'ant to eval%ate spirit%al #eelings as a potential g%ie to tr%th, yo% 'ill nee at least three things3 1! Peer revie'3 To over&ome the problems 'ith &on#irmation bias an other &ognitive problems 'hi&h may istort yo%r &on&l%sion, yo%r methos an &on&l%sions sho%l be &riti%e an teste by others not o# yo%r #aith! Fo% sho%l honestly &onsier their s%ggestions #or improvement an their vali &riti%es o# yo%r methos an &on&l%sions an &hange yo%r methos an &on&l%sions in response! 2! D9perimental &ontrols3 :o' &an yo% $no' the meaning an import o# spirit%al #eelings yo% have #elt #rom one parti&%lar religion, 'itho%t something to &ompare it toG Fo% sho%l test a variety o# other religions an sa&re te9ts o%tsie o# yo%r o'n #aith ;in an %nbiase 'ay, 'illing to a&&ept that those te9ts an religions might also be tr%e= to e* 10
T:D TR+PD PAT: termine 'hether they also pro%&e spirit%al #eelings! Fo% sho%l o this to test 'hether yo%r personal, s%be&tive e9perien&e has generaliBable ap* pli&ability! +eally, yo% 'o%l have a large n%mber o# s%be&ts to ens%re that yo%r personal e9perien&e is not %st a #l%$e or sp%rio%s res%lt! Fo% 'o%l have e9perimental &ontrols an o%ble*blin pro&e%res! He' o# %s, tho%gh, have the reso%r&es to &on%&t a o%ble*blin, ranomiBe trial! +t is not as har, ho'ever, to loo$ at the e9perien&es o# large n%m* bers o# people an &ompare them to yo%r o'n! ! oo re&or $eeping3 +t is li$ely yo% 'ill remember 'hen spirit%al #eelings or impressions 'ere later &on#irme tr%e, b%t 'ill ten to #orget the ones that 'ere later proven 'rong ;this is &alle &on#irma* tion bias=! +# yo% #elt a spirit%al #eeling 'hi&h seeme to &on#irm the tr%th o# a religion, ho' many times have yo% intera&te 'ith that reli* gion an not #elt those spirit%al #eelingsG :o' o#ten have yo% #elt those #eelings o%tsie o# that religio%s &onte9tG Fo% sho%l $eep tra&$ o# all o# yo%r spirit%al #eelings an tab%late their s%&&ess rate!
+ have one my o'n small*s&ale e9periment to &ompare the spirit%al e9perien&es o# people 'ithin i##erent religions! Applying some o# the above prin&iples, + have sear&he the +nternet #or e9amples o# people #rom i##erent #aiths 'ho %se 'ors asso&iate 'ith es&rip* tions o# #eeling elevation to es&ribe their religio%s or spirit%al e9peri* en&es! The thing that stans o%t 'hen reaing personal es&riptions o# religio%s e9perien&es #rom 'ithin i##erent #aiths is that people #rom very i##erent religions o#ten %se similar 'ors to es&ribe their e9peri* en&es! The e9er&ise on the #ollo'ing pages emonstrates 'hat + #o%n! +t by no means &omprehensively aresses all o# the s%ggestions + have mae #or systemati&ally testing one@s spirit%al #eelings, b%t it is a start! +t oes help to ill%strate the %niversality o# spirit%al #eelings an the very s%be&tive 'ay most people interpret them! The #ollo'ing #i#teen %otes are #rom pra&ti&ing Atheists, %* hists, Catholi&s, :in%s, ?ormons, "e' Agers, Protestants, an 7ni* 11
TR7T:G versal 7nitarians! Try to g%ess 'hi&h %ote &omes #rom 'hi&h o# the eight religions ;some religions are %se more than on&e=! + have stan* ariBe lang%age ;&hanges ini&ate by bra&$ets= so that i##eren&es in terminology bet'een religions 'ill not tip yo% o## ;#or e9ample, the ible an all other religio%s te9ts be&ome a Nte9tO or Nsa&re te9tO=! Hol* lo'ing ea&h %ote is the list o# eight religions! Cir&le the religion that yo% thin$ the person in ea&h %ote is 'riting abo%t! Ans'ers are at the en o# ea&h page!
1! LAs + rea these boo$s ! ! ! + #elt a b%rning in my heart that + sho%l &ome an investigate!M1 Atheist %hist Catholi& :in% ?ormon "e' Age Protestant 7nitarian
2! LThe po'er o# NoO &ame into me then! + ha this 'arm an over'helming #eeling o# pea&e an se&%rity! +t@s har to e9plain!M14 Atheist %hist Catholi& :in% ?ormon "e' Age Protestant 7nitarian
! LDvery time + am there Nat the &h%r&h b%ilingO, a #eeling o# pea&e over&omes me!M15 Atheist %hist Catholi& :in% ?ormon "e' Age Protestant 7nitarian
Ans'ers3
1! Catholi& 2! Catholi& ! %hist 12
T:D TR+PD PAT: 4! LDvery time + 'as 'ith the N&h%r&h membersO, + #elt this 'arm #eeling, a #eeling o# pea&e an #or the #irst time in my li#e sin&e my &h%r&h*going ays, + 'ante to #ollo' NoO ! ! ! !M1/ Atheist %hist Catholi& :in% ?ormon "e' Age Protestant 7nitarian
5! L+ 'as praying ! ! ! 'hen + #elt a b%rning sha#t o# No@sO love &ome thro%gh my hea an into my heart!M1 Atheist %hist Catholi& :in% ?ormon "e' Age Protestant 7nitarian
/! LA #eeling o# pea&e seeme to #lo' into me ! ! ! ! + #elt very pea&e#%l #rom insie an also #elt N'armthO!M16 Atheist %hist Catholi& :in% ?ormon "e' Age Protestant 7nitarian
! LNDven as a &hilO, N'Oitho%t %nerstaning m%&h abo%t the &omple9 No&trineO ! ! ! he 'as attra&te to N&h%r&hO! There he o#ten #elt a strong #eeling o# pea&e #lo'ing thro%gh his boy!M1 Atheist %hist Catholi& :in% ?ormon "e' Age Protestant 7nitarian
Ans'ers3
4! ?ormon 5! Catholi& 1
/! :in% ! :in%
TR7T:G 6! L+ re&ently spent an a#ternoon on the north'estern shore o# the ea o# alilee, atop the mo%nt 'here Jes%s ! ! ! prea&he his most #a* mo%s sermon ! ! ! ! As + sat an gaBe %pon the s%rro%ning hills gently sloping to an inlan sea, a #eeling o# pea&e &ame over me! +t soon gre' to a bliss#%l stillness that silen&e my tho%ghts! +n an instant, the sense o# being a separate sel#an Z+@ or a Zme@vanishe! ! ! ! The e9perien&e laste %st a #e' moments, b%t ret%rne many times as + gaBe o%t over the lan 'here Jes%s ! ! ! 'al$e, gathere his apostles, an 'or$e many o# his mira&les!M20 Atheist %hist Catholi& :in% ?ormon "e' Age Protestant 7nitarian
! L+ ! ! ! 'ante to $no' Nthe tr%thO! A#ter a #e' 'ee$s, + st%mble onto Na sa&re te9tO 'hi&h ! ! ! ans'ere my %estions in a 'ay that + ha not hear o# be#ore! + rea everything ! ! !an + even trie the e9periment o# as$ing NoO ! ! ! ! A#ter abo%t / 'ee$s, + #elt a b%rning in my &hest an a sensation that 'as %nli$e anything + ha ever #elt! +t 'as p%re hap* piness an pea&e!M21 Atheist %hist Catholi& :in% ?ormon "e' Age Protestant 7nitarian
10! LAbo%t 10 years ago, 'hen Jenny an + e&ie to start a #am* ily, 'e began loo$ing #or a spirit%al &omm%nity #or o%r $is! .%ring my #irst servi&e here at Nthe &h%r&hO,! ! ! ! + 'as hoo$e! + re&all the #eeling o# pea&e that + #elt 'hen + 'as attening Nservi&esO!M22 Atheist %hist Catholi& :in% ?ormon "e' Age Protestant 7nitarian Ans'ers3
6! Atheist
! "e' Age 10! 7nitarian 14
T:D TR+PD PAT: 11! LNA#ter praying,O NiOmmeiately + 'as #looe 'ith a eep #eel* ing o# pea&e, &om#ort, an hope! ! ! ! +t 'as real, it 'as %tterly &onvin&ing, it 'as entirely %ne9pe&te!M2 Atheist %hist Catholi& :in% ?ormon "e' Age Protestant 7nitarian
12! LNThe religio%s leaerO loo$e into my eyes eeply #or a mo* ment, an + e9perien&e a #eeling o# pea&e an love %nli$e anything + ha ever e9perien&e be#ore!M24 Atheist %hist Catholi& :in% ?ormon "e' Age Protestant 7nitarian
1! LHor the #irst time + not only #elt a&&o%ntable #or my past Nsins,O b%t + ha to #ight ba&$ tears! + $ne' that + ha let o'n NoO NanO my #amily! ! ! ! :o'ever, + also $ne' + 'as #orgivenX ! ! ! N+tO gave me a #eeling o# pea&e that + have never #elt ! ! ! in my 'hole li#e! + #elt li$e + ha a h%ge 'eight li#te o## o# me an that + 'as #inally home an #ree ! ! ! ! + #elt li$e a ne' person!M25 Atheist %hist Catholi& :in% ?ormon "e' Age Protestant 7nitarian
14! LThe sense + ha o# ivine things 'o%l o#ten o# a s%en $in* le %p, as it 'ere, a s'eet b%rning in my heartE an aror o# so%l, that + $no' not ho' to e9press!M2/ Atheist %hist Catholi& :in% ?ormon "e' Age Protestant 7nitarian Ans'ers3
11! Protestant 12! :in% 1! Catholi& 14! Protestant
15
TR7T:G 15! L+ #elt a b%rning in my heart, an a great b%ren seeme to have le#t me!M2 Atheist %hist Catholi& :in% ?ormon "e' Age Protestant 7nitarian Ans'er3 15! Protestant The point o# this e9er&ise is not to sho' that these people@s e9* perien&es are invali or not val%able, or that religio%s belie# is ba! +t is an e9er&ise in %nerstaning the role o# emotions in %nerstaning tr%th! Dmotions play a part in o%r s%be&tive interpretation o# o%r per* &eptions, b%t they are not a #oolproo# g%ie! An this is tr%e not %st #or elevation, b%t #or all emotions! J%st be&a%se + have a tenen&y to la%gh 'hen + hear something that is patently #oolish an %ntr%e, it oes not mean that every time + la%gh, it is a signal that 'hat + am hearing is #alse! ?aybe my $no'lege abo%t that s%be&t is in&omplete or in&or* re&t! +# so, then someone might be saying something that is obe&tively tr%e an my emotional rea&tion is 'rong! ?oreover, la%ghter serves many more p%rposes than helping me ete&t #oolishnessI+ 'o%l miss o%t on many ri&h e9perien&es i# + so misinterprete la%ghter! ?ore than that, limiting my interpretation o# la%ghter in that 'ay 'o%l give me a very s$e'e vie' o# tr%th an #alsity an reality! The same prin&iples apply to emotional e9perien&es 'ith elevation! 8e #eel elevation in a va* riety o# &onte9ts, an #eeling it is not a goo ini&ator o# tr%th! The above e9er&ise is base solely on verbal es&riptions o# in* ternal emotional states! +t is possible some o# the #eelings es&ribe are %ni%e emotional states that are ivine &omm%ni&ations abo%t tr%th#%l* ness an that the others are &ompletely sel#*generate emotional states b%t that the verbal es&riptions o# both types o# e9perien&es %st hap* pen to be the same! +t is also possible that some o# the e9perien&es are &ome partially #rom ivine &omm%ni&ation, b%t are &ombine 'ith in* ternally generate #eelings! %t given the stri$ing similarities bet'een the es&riptions an the psy&hologi&al resear&h abo%t the emotion o# eleva* tion, there is no reason to believe that there are material i##eren&es be* t'een the internal emotional states that are es&ribe above! H%rthermore, 1/
T:D TR+PD PAT: sin&e the &laims o# most o# the above religions are &ontrai&tory an m%t%ally e9&l%sive, i# one o# the religions 'ere tr%e in the absol%te sense, many or most o# the others 'o%l be #alse! ?any or most o# the above people@s religio%s e9perien&es, there#ore, &o%l not have been reli* able ini&ators o# the tr%th! 8hat the above e9er&ise oes not o is prove that any &ertain religion is tr%e or #alse! +t oes ini&ate, tho%gh, that the #eelings 'e have %ring spirit%al e9perien&es are a %niversal h%man emotion! Th%s, %st li$e any emotional e9perien&e, spirit%al #eelings are not eno%gh by themselves to be reliable ini&ators o# absol%te tr%th! +n my personal e9perien&e + have ha e%re$a moments 'here a s%en #lash o# insight provie a sol%tion to a problem, b%t sometimes those e%re$a insights have been 'rong! + have #elt spirit%al #eelings o# el* evation, a'e, an trans&enen&e 'hile praying or meitating an #rom reaing a variety o# sa&re te9ts #rom i##erent religions, an most strongly o# all 'hen + ma$e a personal &onne&tion 'ith others by oing goo #or them! Heelings o# elevation seem to play a $ey role in helping me to a&t more morally, b%t those #eelings have not ha a goo tra&$ re&or in helping me to is&over obe&tive tr%th! Da&h o# the si9 methos o# sear&hing #or tr%th are tools that &an be %se#%l an val%able i# 'e learn ho' to apply them &orre&tly! The methos that 'e most o#ten %se in everyay li#e are observation, e9* perien&e, trial an error, an #eelings! These methos &an be 'rong, b%t they are %i&$, generally easy to apply, an %s%ally give %s goo in#orma* tion! The invention o# 'riting has en&o%rage in&reasing relian&e on a%* thority! in&e none o# %s &an e9perien&e even a small part o# all 'hat this 'orl has to o##er, learning #rom others is an important part o# #ining tr%th! %t, 'e m%st al'ays remember that something is not tr%e %st be&a%se it 'as %ttere by an a%thority! tatements #rom a%thorities sho%l not be tr%ste %nless those statements &an be inepenently teste an eval%ate! tatements #rom a%thorities sho%l only be tr%ste 'hen the statement itsel# has inherent meritE they sho%l not be tr%ste merely be&a%se o# the position o# the person ma$ing the statement! Jes%s sai Lyo% 'ill $no' them by their #r%its!M 26 8hen 'e 1
TR7T:G &ompare the res%lts o# ea&h o# the si9 methos, the s&ienti#i& metho has proven itsel# #ar s%perior to anything else at being able to give an* s'ers 'hi&h are repro%&ible an 'hi&h allo' %s to ma$e a&&%rate pre* i&tions abo%t the #%t%re! That yo% are reaing this right no' is proo# o# that! This boo$ 'as 'ritten on a &omp%ter, an is istrib%te over the +nternet! Comp%ters an the +nternet e9ist be&a%se physi&ists, &om* p%ter s&ientists, an engineers applying the s&ienti#i& metho mae in* n%merable is&overies abo%t things li$e the behavior o# ele&trons an photons, mathemati&s, an the physi&al properties o# i##erent materials that le to the invention o# the &omp%ters an &omm%ni&ations net* 'or$s that mae this boo$ possible! &ienti#i& is&overies are o#ten proven 'rong, b%t %s%ally not by people applying any o# the other #ive methos! The &orre&tions virt%ally al'ays &ome thro%gh someone else applying the s&ienti#i& metho! 8hile the s&ienti#i& metho is not al'ays right, it has proven to be #ar more a&&%rate than anything else h%mans have been able to &ome %p 'ith! ;A philosopher might point to the problem o# in%&tion to arg%e against s&ien&e@s %tility in is&overing tr%th! ?y response3 s&ien&e has pro%&e the best res%lts so #ar! 8e sho%l, o# &o%rse, never stop loo$* ing #or better 'ays o# &oming to the tr%th! %t #or &oming to #a&t%al &on&l%sions abo%t reality, the s&ienti#i& metho seems to be the best thing 'e have!= o 'hat sho%l yo% o i#, 'hen %sing any o# the other #ive methos, yo% rea&h a &on&l%sion that &ontrai&ts 'hat has been is&ov* ere 'ith the s&ienti#i& methoG Trea &are#%lly! The &ontrai&tion oes not a%tomati&ally mean that the s&ienti#i& &on&l%sion is right an yo%r &on&l%sion is 'rong, b%t given s&ien&e@s tra&$ re&or o# s%&&ess, it 'o%l be 'ise to thin$ long an har abo%t 'hether yo% might be 'rong! &ien&e has 'ea$nesses! +t is goo at telling %s 'hat is , b%t $no'ing 'hat is oes not ne&essarily tell %s 'hat o%ght to be! ?orality helps %s e#ine 'hat o%ght to be! .avi :%me 'as the #irst to point o%t this Lis*o%ghtM problem! >n&e 'e have e#ine o%r Lo%ghts,M tho%gh, s&ien&e &an help %s t%rn them into Lis*es!M >n&e 'e have ap* plie moral reasoning an stanars to etermine 'hat sorts o# o%t* &omes an a&tions are most esirable ;#or more on morality, see the ne9t 16
T:D TR+PD PAT: &hapter=, the s&ienti#i& metho &an help %s ma$e prei&tions an #ig%re o%t the best 'ay to a&hieve esirable moral o%t&omes! The s&ienti#i& metho, ho'ever, has not yet proven itsel# a very %se#%l tool #or is&ov* ering an &reating moral tr%th, let alone as a tool to in%&e %s to moral a&tion! This is 'here the po'er o# emotion sho's its val%e! Po'er#%l positive emotions li$e spirit%al #eelings in%&e %s to a&t morally! abo* ratory st%ies have sho'n that parti&ipants 'ho 'ere in%&e to #eel el* evation 'ere more li$ely to a&t altr%isti&ally a#ter 'ar!2 +nee, it is pos* sible that religio%s emotional e9perien&es have other positive e##e&ts! As 'e sa' in Chapter >ne, greater religiosity in general is asso&iate 'ith a host o# goo o%t&omes, #rom greater happiness an health to a higher li$elihoo o# onating to &harity!0 +# 'e are loo$ing at #r%its, emotion an #eelings seem to be poor g%ies to is&overing obe&tive tr%th, b%t very po'er#%l ais to internaliBing an pra&ti&ing moral tr%th an #in* ing happiness! "o matter ho' goo 'e are at #ining tr%th, o%r etermina* tions abo%t Ltr%thM are really base on probabilities! 7sing the si9 methos #or #ining tr%th, 'e ma$e a &on&l%sion ;%s%ally 'itho%t m%&h &ons&io%s tho%ght= abo%t 'hat seems most probable an then 'e treat it as i# it 'ere tr%e! ?ost o# %s internaliBe this &on&l%sion so 'ell that 'e ass%me 'itho%t a se&on tho%ght that o%r &on&l%sion is really tr%eE 'e o this even tho%gh all 'e &an really $no' is that it seems that o%r &on&l%sion is probably tr%e! There is nothing 'rong 'ith oing this &ertainty is impossible, so ealing in probabilities is the best 'e &an o! eing more systemati& an tho%ght#%l abo%t p%rs%ing tr%th, tho%gh, &an help %s be more e##e&tive! +n o%r aily lives 'e haphaBarly see$ tr%th as best 'e &an, an live a&&oring to 'hat 'e thin$ 'e have is&overe! 8e sho%l never #orget that no one has all o# the ans'ers! 8e are all #allible an imper#e&t! Da&h o# %s believes things that are 'rong! 8e &annot &hange an improve o%r tho%ghts an ieas to more &losely mat&h reality i# 'e &annot re&ogniBe 'hen 'e are 'rong! Dven tho%gh, by ne&essity, 'e treat o%r high*probability &on&l%sions as being tr%e, 'e sho%l not let that ma$e %s &lose*mine! +t is important to 1
TR7T:G have the right balan&e! 8e sho%l not internaliBe o%r #eelings o# &er* tainty so strongly that 'e ree&t anything ne' that &ontrai&ts o%r prior notions! +t is important to have the mental is&ipline to loo$ #or the &o%nterarg%ments against o%r &on&l%sions an to internally re&ogniBe that o%r &on&l%sions are %n&ertain! 8e sho%l eval%ate ne' &laims an ieas on their merit, 'ith an open min! 8e sho%l be 'illing to a&&ept ne' &on&l%sions an ne' approa&hes, b%t never be a#rai to &on#iently a&t base on the best in#ormation 'e have!
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T:D TR+PD PAT:
isa Fo%nt, ?oern Astronomy3 D9paning the 7niverse , 2005, p! / http3))boo$s!google!&om)boo$sGi0."#y+"?.FCpgP A/! 2 John 8ebb, LAre the la's o# nat%re &hanging 'ith timeGM Physi&s 8orl , April 200, pp! *6, http3))phys!%ns'!e%!a%)astro)rese ar&h)P8APR0'ebb!p# ! ?ost people, ho'ever, o not realiBe 'hile reaming that their per* &eptions are in&onsistent, an %s%ally o not even noti&e they are reaming at allI'ithin the &onte9t o# the ream, these in&onsisten* &ies appear per#e&tly nat%ralE perhaps this means that 'e sho%l be s$epti&al abo%t o%r 'a$ing per&eptions, an sho%l see$ in&onsis* ten&ies even in things that at #irst seem nat%ral! 4 Antoine e&hara, LThe role o# emotion in e&ision*ma$ing3 Dvi* en&e #rom ne%rologi&al patients 'ith orbito#rontal amage,M rain an Cognition , (ol! 55, Jan%ary 2004, pp! 0*40, http3))'''!hs s!&alte&h!e%)[steve)be&hara!p# E see also Antonio .amasio, .e* s&artes@ Drror3 emotion, reason, an the h%man brai n, 2004! 5 +saa& Asimov, LThe D%re$a Phenomenon,M The e#t :an o# the Dle&tron , 12, http3))people!emi&h!e%)mryan)p#s)Asimov!p#, http3))'''!arving%ptatoys!&om)arving%pta)asimov*ele&tron!p#! / Hor e9ample, see Albert Dinstein, L:o' + &reate the theory o# rel* ativity,M Physi&s Toay! A%g%st 162, pp! 45I4, http3))eotvos!m! %nipi!it)o&%ments)DinsteinPapers)Dinstein+nJapan122!p#! +saa& Asimov, LThe D%re$a PhenomenonM ;see #ootnote 5=! 6 Jonathan :ait, The :appiness :ypothesis , 200/! alatians 5322*2 ;"R(=! 10 John 1532/ ;"R(=! 11 Jonathan :ait, LDlevation an the positive psy&hology o# moral* ity,M in C! Keyes an J! :ait ;es!=, Hlo%rishing3 Positive psy&hol* ogy an the li#e 'ell*live, 200, http3))#a&%lty!virginia!e%)haitl ab)arti&les)hait!200!elevation*an*positive*psy&hology!p%b02/!html! 12 Thomas J! o%&har, Jr!, Leneti& +n#l%en&e on :%man Psy&hologi* &al Traits3 A %rvey,M C%rrent .ire&tions in Psy&hologi&al &ien&e , (ol! 1, "o! 4, A%g%st 2004, pp! 146*51, http3))&p!sagep%b!&om 1
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)&ontent)1)4)146, http3))'''16!homepage!villanova!e%)ieg o!#ernaneB%%e)Tea&hing)Physiologi&alPsy&hology)BC%rr.ir42 00)C%rr.ireneti&sTraits!p#! ?ar$ ?iravalle, +ntervie' ate Jan%ary 12, 2006, http3))'ap!me %gore!'s)en)arti&les)mar$*miravalle)! :e is re#erring to reaing abo%t a #amo%s apparition o# the (irgin ?ary in the #ormer F%* goslavia! Copies o# this an all s%bse%ent %otes abo%t personal spirit%al e9perien&es are in the possession o# the a%thor an avail* able %pon re%est! .an, LConversion tory #rom .an,M .e&ember , 200, http3))&o nversionstories!org)200)12)0)&onversion*story*#rom*an) ! .e* s&ribing a visit to ?e%gore, osnia an getting a blessing #rom a Catholi& priest! .ebasish, Revie' o# .ha%li Pea&e Pagoa, http3))'''!lo&alyte!&o m)attra&tion)1141/I.ha%li*Pea&e*PagoaI+niaI>rissaIh%ban es'ar! .es&ribing #eelings e9perien&e at the %hist st%pa on .ha%ligiri in +nia! Dmily ?o&$%s, LA onging Hor The pirit,M http3))'''!mormon& onverts!&om)&atholi&)a*longing*#or*the*spirit!htm! A Catholi& e* s&ribing her &onversion to ?ormonism! ?aria Christi Cavana%gh, L?eet o%r "ovitiate,M http3))'eb!ar&hive !org)'eb)201202414206)http3))olivben!org)"ovitiate)>%rS "e'estS"ovitiate)! A n%n es&ribing 'hen she #elt &alle to be* &ome a n%n! ihalo$a ;iha Foga .ham, angalore=, L"e'sletter 2010,M ht tp3))'''!siha*lo$a!org)ne'sletter2010!html! .es&riptions #rom t'o i##erent people abo%t their en&o%nter 'ith a :in% g%r%! Jean*Philippe o%le, LThe 8ay o# the ah%,M Jan%ary 200, htt p3))'''!nativeplanet!org)health)yoga)s'ami)s'ami2!htm! This is a es&ription o# a :in% g%r%@s spirit%al e9perien&es as a boy! am :arris, Lel#less Cons&io%sness 8itho%t Haith,M "e's'ee$ , Jan%ary 6, 200, http3))ne's'ee$!'ashingtonpost!&om)on#aith)p anelists)samSharris)200)01)&ons&io%snessS'itho%tS#aithS1!html! Atheist 'riter am :arris tal$ing abo%t the #eelings he gets 'hen he meitates! 162
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eath i#!!!! ;belie#s, belie#=,M City*.ata Hor%m, eneral Hor%ms, Re* ligion an pirit%ality, eptember 2, 2010, http3))'''!&ity*ata! &om)#or%m)religion*philosophy)10552*ho'*&an*yo%*s%re*'ha t*happens*!html! The a%thor o# this #or%m post es&ribes #ining in#ormation on a 'ebsite that she believe &ontaine in#ormation #rom ivine beings es&ribing the a#terli#e! .ave Hlynn, L?y o%rney to 7niversal 7nitarianism at Hirst Parish Ch%r&h,M ?in#%l Parenting log , >&tober 25, 200, http3))min# %lparenting!blogspot!&om)200)10)my*o%rney*to*%niversal*%nita rianism*at!html! .es&ribing his e9perien&es 'ith 7nitarian 7niver* salism! asteroi, LRe3 Dvangeli&al Zborn again@ e9perien&e3 real, e9aggeration, or hoa9GM Catholi& Ans'ers Hor%m , http3))#or%ms!&atholi&!&om)sh o'threa!phpGt2212! .es&ribing the born again e9perien&e o# a Protestant ;'ho later &onverte to Catholi&ism= a#ter saying the sinner@s prayer! ob ishop,M8:> + Z:A"@ ;a$a ob ishop=G An 8hat .oes :e Kno' that ?ight be 8orth earningGM All A'a$en, http3))'' '!alla'a$en!net)html)'hoSamSiS!html! .es&ribing an en&o%nter 'ith ?aharishi ?ahesh Fogi! Carmel riBBi, L?y Jo%rney a&$ to the Catholi& Ch%r&h,M http3)) '''!an&ient*#%t%re!net)&bstory!html! Hrom a lapse Catholi& e* s&ribing her ret%rn to Catholi&ism an e9perien&ing the sa&rament o# re&on&iliation! Jonathan D'ars ;&olonial Ameri&an prea&her an theologian, 10*156=, LPersonal "arrative,M &a! 140, in 8illiam P! Trent an enamin 8! 8ells ;es!=, Colonial Prose an Poetry, Thir e* ries , 10, https3))ar&hive!org)stream)&olonialprosean01'ellgoo g)&olonialprosean01'ellgoogSv%!t9t ! AlonBo Johnson an Pa%l T! Jersil, Ain@t onna ay ?y @ligion .o'n3 A#ri&an Ameri&an Religion in the o%th , 1/, p! 2 ;%ot* ing Cli#ton Johnson, et! al!, o tr%&$ ?e .ea3 (oi&es o# D9* laves , 1/, p! 12/=, http3))boo$s!google!&om)boo$sGiHKb: RpSB%oCpgPA 2! This is a %otation o# an oral history o# 16
TR7T:G an A#ri&an*Ameri&an 'oman #rom the Ameri&an o%th a#ter the Ameri&an Civil 8ar! 26 ?atthe' 320 ;"R(= 2 imone &hnall, Jean Roper, an .aniel ?!T! Hessler, LDlevation leas to altr%isti& behavior,M Psy&hologi&al &ien&e , (ol! 21, "o! , ?ar&h 2010, pp! 15*20, http3))pss!sagep%b!&om)&ontent)21) )15!short, https3))'''!repository!&am!a&!%$)bitstream)hanle) 1610)21)&hnall, Roper Hessler ;2010=!p#! 0 .avi ! ?yers, LReligion an h%man #lo%rishing,M ?i&hael Di an Rany J! arsen ;es!=, The &ien&e o# %be&tive 8ell*eing , 2006, pp! 2*4/, 0*2E Jesse Preston an Ryan ! Ritter, L.i#* #erent e##e&ts o# Religion an o on proso&iality 'ith the ingro%p an o%tgro%p,M Personality an o&ial Psy&hology %lletin , (ol! , "o! , eptember 201, http3))psp!sagep%b!&om)&ontent)early)2 01)06)21)014/1/214!long, http3))labs!psy&hology!ill inois!e%)pramlab)Pa pers)PrestonSRitterSPP!p#E Arth%r C! roo$s, LReligio%s Haith an Charitable iving,M Poli&y Revie' , "o! 121, >&tober 1, 200, http3))'''!hoover!org)resear&h)religi o%s*#aith*an*&haritable*giving ;LReligio%s people are 25 per&ent* age points more li$ely than se&%larists to onate money ;1 per&ent to // per&ent= an 2 points more li$ely to vol%nteer time ;/ per* &ent to 44 per&ent=!M=
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7nerstaning tr%th means learning 'hat is ! >%r esire #or tr%th is one o# the most #%namental h%man yearnings! D%ally #%na* mental, ho'ever, is o%r esire to #ig%re o%t 'hat o%ght to be, an then to ma$e it happen! ?orality an ethi&s ;+ %se the terms inter&hangeably= are motivate by o%r h%man aspirations #or 'hat o%ght to be! ?oral r%les tell %s ho' 'e sho%l behave an ho' 'e sho%l treat ea&h other so that 'e &an t%rn o%r aspirations into reality! :%man morality is generally int%itive, rather than rationalI most o# o%r ay*to*ay moral e&ision*ma$ing is base on o%r g%t #eel* ings abo%t right an 'rong! 8hen people are as$e 'hether a &ertain a&tion is moral, they %s%ally e&ie base on their emotional rea&tion to the sit%ation, rather than on any reasone pro&ess o# eliberation! An there is nothing 'rong 'ith that! 8e are emotional beings, an #eelings reign s%preme in the relationships 'e #orm an ho' 'e relate to others! 7sing logi& to %sti#y a&ting against o%r moral #eelings is o#ten not psy&hologi&ally healthy! 8hen something #eels 'rong an 'e a&t against that #eeling, 'e n%mb o%rselves a little to the positive emotions li$e elevation that ma$e %s 'ant to behave morally! "o matter ho' m%&h reasoning 'e %se to %sti#y an a&tion that #eels immoral, a&ting against o%r int%itive emotional sense ma$es it har to #eel elevation! 8hen 'e eta&h o%rselves #rom o%r emotional moral sense, 'e lose the #eeling o# elevation an #eel less an less o# a esire to a&t morally! ome resear&h ini&ates that 'hen the parts o# o%r brain %se #or so&ial tas$s are engage, the part o# o%r brain involve in me&hani&al reason* ing is ea&tivate!1 Th%s, there may even be physiologi&al obsta&les to %sing reason an logi& %ring emotional sit%ations! %t the emotional &omponent o# morality oes not mean that there is no pla&e #or reasoning an logi& in morality, nor oes it mean that 'e sho%l pres%me o%r #eelings are per#e&t g%ies to moral behavior!
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?>RA+TF >%r nat%ral int%itive moral sense is not al'ays right! +t &an be #oole, even by something as simple as s%rreptitio%sly &hanging someone@s an* s'ers on a %estionnaire abo%t moral iss%es! +n one st%y, s%be&ts an* s'ere a %estionnaire abo%t moral iss%es! A#ter they #inishe the %es* tionnaires, tho%gh, resear&hers se&retly &hange the %estionnaire so that s%be&ts@ ans'ers re#le&te an opposite opinion #rom 'hat they ha e9* presse! The resear&hers then sho'e the &omplete %estionnaires to the s%be&ts an intervie'e them abo%t their ans'ers! 8hen intervie'* ers as$e s%be&ts to %sti#y their moral opinions, #i#ty*three per&ent o# s%be&ts arg%e &oherently an %ne%ivo&ally #or the opposite o# their original moral position! +n other 'ors, they 'ere #oole into believing that they hel a moral position opposite o# 'hat they ha %st barely mar$e on the s%rvey!2 8orse than o%r potential to be #oole is that sometimes o%r nat%ral int%itive moral sense a&t%ally leas %s in the 'rong ire&tion, a'ay #rom oing 'hat 'o%l be most moral! t%y s%be&ts 'ill onate more to &harity 'hen presente 'ith the pi&t%re an story o# a single neey person! 8hen s%be&ts are sho'n statisti&s abo%t large n%mbers o# people in nee, their average onations go o'n! 8e are more li$ely to o##er help to single, ienti#iable vi&tims be&a%se hearing the story o# a single person in nee evo$es an emotional response! >n the other han, 'hen 'e are sho'n evien&e o# m%&h greater nees among millions, o%r brains are not emotionally e%ippe to %nerstan the large n%mbers, an 'e rea&t 'ith greater ini##eren&e, even tho%gh the nee is #ar greater an o%r help 'o%l o more goo #or more people! Dven tho%gh o%r int%itive moral sense seems to be b%ilt on some elements that are har'ire into o%r brain, an even tho%gh it 'o%l be i##i&%lt or impossible to &hange those har'ire elements, 'e sho%l still try to #in 'ays to sa#ely &ir&%mvent the #a%lty parts o# o%r innate moral sense! Dven better, some things that may seem har'ire are probably not really imm%table parts o# o%r nat%re! >%r int%itive moral sense is also b%ilt on the ethi&al ieas 'e en&o%nter in o%r &%l* t%ral milie% an that 'e are ta%ght 'hen 'e are yo%ng! These things &an be &hange! 8e &an learn ne', better approa&hes that &hange o%r moral sense! 16/
T:D TR+PD PAT: Rather than %st rely on o%r #eelings or on 'hat others have ta%ght %s abo%t morality, ea&h o# %s sho%l thin$ &are#%lly abo%t ethi&s! t%ying an aopting a moral system base on so%n prin&iples an reason &an shape ho' o%r int%itive emotional sense operates, &hange o%r learne moral sense, an perhaps help &orre&t #la's in o%r har'ire moral system! 8hen o%r ba&$gro%n moral premises are reasonable an 'ell tho%ght o%t, then o%r int%itive on*the*spot moral rea&tions 'ill probably be more &orre&t! Aopting a reasone system o# morality also &an help %s in ambig%o%s or i##i&%lt moral sit%ations! 8hen a e&ision is not bla&$ or 'hite, having st%ie an aopte a systemati& an rea* sone moral system 'ill have better traine %s ho' to reason thro%gh moral problems an 'ill help %s ma$e the better &hoi&e! :aving a 'ell* tho%ght*o%t moral system ma$es it easier to aopt sensible moral r%les that 'e &an learn, internaliBe, an apply a%tomati&ally! ?oral r%les base on so%n prin&iples an reason help give %s obe&tive stanars that are easier to apply %niversally! e&a%se not ev* eryone believes in o or an a#terli#e, an obe&tive, reasonable moral sys* tem that &an be applie %niversally &annot be %sti#ie by an appeal to a holy boo$ or p%rporte ivine &omm%ni&ation! %t theists nee not 'orry3 applying prin&iples o# reason, empiri&ism, an a material vie' o# the 'orl leas %s to the same ;or similar= moral r%les as are #o%n in most religions! The #o%nation o# morality is sel#lessness be&a%se moral a&* tions sometimes e9a&t personal &osts! +n the h%rry o# ay*to*ay li#e, it &an be easy to ignore responsibilities or negle&t behaviors that &ome at some personal &ost, even tho%gh they are the right thing to o! ?oral tea&hers an religio%s leaers o#ten %sti#y the ne&essity o# a&ting morally by e9plaining the personal bene#its 'e 'ill re&eive #rom oing so! %&h bene#its range #rom something as simple as #eeling goo to #i* nan&ial or material blessings #rom o, %p thro%gh salvation in heaven! A moral system that &laims 'e sho%l a&t morally %st be&a%se it 'ill bring bene#it to o%rselves is really %st val%ing sel#ishness! in&e the p%rpose o# morality is to bring abo%t o%r goals #or 'hat o%ght to be, a&ting morally %s%ally oes bring bene#its! %t be&a%se a moral sys* 16
?>RA+TF tem base on empiri&ism an rationality oes not pres%ppose any s%per* nat%ral bene#its #rom a&ting morally, it re%ires greater sel#lessness an altr%ism than a religio%s system be&a%se the e9pe&te re'ars are #e'er! Dven tho%gh moral a&tions almost al'ays bring some sort o# bene#it, morality still re%ires sel#lessness be&a%se the bene#its are o#ten har to emotionally per&eive! e&a%se 'e #re%ently o not #eel 'e 'ill get any bene#its #rom a moral a&t, 'e m%st have the sel#lessness to a&t morally, not'ithstaning o%r la&$ o# emotional esire to o so! >#ten, the bene#its o# moral a&tions are har to emotionally per&eive in the heat o# the moment be&a%se they 'ill &ome in the long term ;s%&h as re&ipro&al altr%ism #rom others in the #%t%re=! +n many &ases, there#ore, &ontrolling the sel#ishness 'e #eel in the moment re%ires nothing more than maintaining a proper sense o# perspe&tive! ?aintaining this per* spe&tive &an be i##i&%lt at times, b%t gets easier 'ith pra&ti&e! +n some &ases, ho'ever, moral a&tions may bring &osts to o%rselves 'itho%t any per&eivable &orresponing personal bene#it in the short or long term! +t is then that tr%e sel#lessness is re%ire! %t 'hy a&t sel#lessly 'hen yo% erive no immeiate bene#itG Dven i# a sel#less moral a&t 'ill not bring any personal bene#it, it oes ma$e so&iety better o## as a 'hole, an ea&h o# %s bene#it inire&tly #rom living in an orerly, moral, an %st so&iety! Fo% there#ore al'ays enoy an inire&t bene#it #rom a&ting morally be&a%se yo%r moral a&tions &ontrib%te to the general &limate o# re&ipro&al altr%ism that ma$es an orerly so&iety possible! %&h intelle&t%al %sti#i&ations #or a&ting morally are not al'ays emotionally satis#ying, an in iss%es o# morality, emotions matter! Hor* t%nately, over&oming yo%r initially #eelings o# sel#ishness &an also yiel tremeno%s emotional re'ars! el#less a&ts o#ten ma$e yo% #eel goo they are a goo 'ay to in%&e #eelings o# elevation! %t even 'hen a&t* ing sel#lessly oes not ma$e yo% #eel goo, yo% m%st still a&t sel#lessly 'hen morality re%ires it! C%ltivating a virt%o%s evotion to morality is o#ten the best emotional tool yo% &an %se to ens%re that yo% ma$e the right on*the*spot &hoi&es in these morally i##i&%lt sit%ations! Th%s, over&oming yo%r sel#ish nat%re &an al'ays give yo% an emotional re'ar3 the satis#a&tion o# having a virt%o%s evotion to oing 'hat is right! 166
T:D TR+PD PAT: An even i# yo% never get any bene#it #or a moral a&t, yo% m%st still o 'hat is right! .oing goo is al'ays its o'n re'ar! >%r obligation to be sel#less, tho%gh, is not absol%te! 8e are not obligate to sa&ri#i&e everything to help a stranger! 8e ea&h have a right an an obligation to prote&t o%rselves an o%r #amilies #rom harm, an that obligation ta$es pre&een&e! 8e o not nee to give %p every* thing 'e o'n an p%t o%r #amilies on the street to ma9imiBe the help 'e give others! Altr%ism, li$e any h%man trait, &an be&ome pathologi&al! Hor virt%e@s sa$e, it is important to be so#thearte, b%t #or s%rvival@s sa$e, it is important to be harheae too! There is no virt%e in sho'ing altr%* ism #or strangers at the e9pense o# o%r #amily an those 'ho are &lose to %s! Dspe&ially sin&e ea&h person@s reso%r&es are limite, it is o#ten %n'ise to sho' a great eal o# altr%ism to those 'ho 'ill never re&ipro&ateE to those 'ho are in nee o# help be&a%se o# their o'n poor &hoi&es an are %n* li$ely to &hangeE or 'hen altr%ism 'ill &reate a &y&le o# epenen&e s%&h that the re&ipient o# help 'ill li$ely never be&ome sel# s%##i&ient! >n the other han, o%r obligation to prote&t o%r #amilies an o%rselves is not a %sti#i&ation #or a&ting immorally or harming others to gain bene#its #or o%rselves or those &lose to %s, an it oes not absolve %s #rom the nee to &are #or others an sa&ri#i&e #or their bene#it! Da&h o# %s nees to #in the right balan&e bet'een å #or o%r love ones an o%rselves an sa&ri#i&ing #or others! Too o#ten, 'e err m%&h too #ar on the sie o# å #or o%rselves! Perhaps this is one o# the great bene#its o# religion3 it helps %s stri$e the right balan&e bet'een sel#*preservation an altr%ism, bet'een the e9tremes o# nar&issisti& sel#ishness an pathologi&al altr%ism! +t gives %s a &omm%nity that #a&ilitates the pra&ti&e o# sel#lessness an altr%ism, 'here 'e have easy a&&ess to others in nee o# o%r sel#lessness b%t 'ho are less li$ely to ta$e avantage o# ito%r &oreligionists@ 'illingness to parti&ipate an pra&ti&e their religion provies a strong signal they ta$e serio%sly their obligation to pra&ti&e sel#lessness an not ta$e avantage o# the $inness o# the others! ome people might arg%e that 'e sho%l obey moral r%les not 16
?>RA+TF be&a%se o# some sel#ish e9pe&tation o# re'ar, b%t that 'e sho%l be moral as a sign o# o%r love #or o an o%r gratit%e to him! There is something to be sai #or this approa&h! People 'ho believe in o ap* pear to engage in more proso&ial behavior!4 Relying on o%r love #or o to motivate %s to'ar morality is a great %sti#i&ation #or moral behav* ior! +t eliminates sel#ish motivations #rom o%r reasons #or a&ting, an it a&t%ally seems to en&o%rage %s to behave morally! %t a rational moral system sho%l not rely solely on love #or o as the only reason #or a&t* ing morally! There are several reasons #or this! Hirst, relying on love #or o as the motivating #a&tor #ails to a&&o%nt #or people 'ho have i##erent religio%s belie#s! +n o%r pl%ralisti& so&iety, i##erent religions tea&h i##erent things abo%t 'hat o e9pe&ts o# %s! A gro'ing segment o# o%r pop%lation oes not believe in o at all! Relying on ea&h person@s inivi%al religio%s belie#s as the %sti#i&a* tion #or moral a&tion means that there 'o%l be a i##erent moral stan* ar to apply to ea&h person@s a&tions! A &ohesive so&iety sho%l not hol i##erent people to i##ering stanars! Any rational moral system sho%l have more %niversal appli&ation than %st to the members o# one religion or gro%pIit sho%l be able to e%ally e9plain an g%ie the moral behavior o# atheists, agnosti&s, an theists o# all pers%asions! 8e similarly &annot rely on a holy te9t as evien&e o# o@s stanars o# morality be&a%se i##erent religions believe in i##erent holy boo$s! Dven relying on the ible in o%r 8estern, J%eo*Christian so&iety is still a problem be&a%se the ible &ontains &ontrai&tions lea* ing to i##ering interpretations! Hor e9ample, these in%n&tions #rom the ible #avor violen&e3 NFOo% m%st %tterly estroy them N+srael@s enemiesO! ?a$e no &ovenant 'ith them an sho' them no mer&y! 5 .o not thin$ that + have &ome to bring pea&e to the earthE + have not &ome to bring pea&e, b%t a s'or! / An the one 'ho has no s'or m%st sell his &loa$ an b%y one! >n the other han, these passages o##er &ontrai&tory avi&e3 .o not resist an eviloer! %t i# anyone stri$es yo% on the right 10
T:D TR+PD PAT: &hee$, t%rn the other also ! ! ! ! NOove yo%r enemies an pray #or those 'ho perse&%te yo%! 6 +n everything o to others as yo% 'o%l have them o to yo%! Hor &ent%ries, ible reaers have been o##ering e9planations abo%t ho' passages li$e these &an be re&on&ile! + am not trying to ma$e any theologi&al points abo%t the %ltimate meaning o# these passages! ?y point is merely that on their #a&e, they seem &ontrai&tory, an it is not obvio%s ho' they sho%l be re&on&ile! .i##erent tea&hers an the* ologians have &ome to very i##erent &on&l%sions abo%t 'hat these pas* sages mean an ho' they &an be re&on&ile! +# the very meaning o# the te9t o# the ible is not &lear, an i#, a#ter t'o tho%san years 'e still &annot agree on it, then ho' &an 'e rely on the ible as a stanar #or moralityG The se&on, relate, problem 'ith relying on love #or o as the sole motivation #or moral behavior is that it #ails to re&ogniBe the i##i&%lties in as&ertaining o@s 'ill an 'hat 'e sho%l o to sho' o%r love #or him! ibli&al literalists an #%namentalists 'o%l &laim that all 'e nee to o to $no' o@s 'ill is to rea the ible! %t as 'e %st sa', this is not easily one! Dven 'orse, a st%y o# the history o# the ible e9poses even more problems! The boo$s o# the "e' Testament 'ere 'ritten many years a#ter the events they es&ribe! The #o%r gospels o# the "e' Testament 'ere 'ritten a#ter people tol an re*tol stories abo%t Jes%s #or e&aes, over a h%ge region, passing them #rom person to person an &ity to &ity! Those stories event%ally sprea to literate ree$ spea$ers 'ho re&ore them many e&aes#orty to si9ty years a#ter Jes%s ie! :ave yo% ever playe the game o# LtelephoneMG +magine playing that game #or several e&aes! The same problems are tr%e o# the :ebre' ible ;'hat Chris* tians &all the >l Testament=! The :ebre' ible 'as &reate a#ter oral traitions 'hi&h ha &ir&%late #or many years ha been 'ritten o'n, eite, &ompile, re*eite, an re*&ompile several times! These 'rit* ings 'ere then &ombine 'ith propheti& an other 'ritings, all o# 'hi&h 'ere also &ompile, re*eite, an re&ombine many times over 11
?>RA+TF &ent%ries by s&ribes 'ith i##ering agenas an a##iliations! The same sorts o# problems are tr%e o# %st abo%t every sa&re te9t p%rporting to re#le&t o@s 'ill! 8hat abo%t the iea o# bibli&al inerran&yG elie# in bibli&al in* erran&y re%ires that t'o things be tr%e3 1= o is per#e&t an &annot lie an 2= the ible per#e&tly &apt%res the 'or o# o 'ith no mis* ta$es! %t there is no e9ternal 'ay to prove either o# those ieas! Fo% &an only get to that &on&l%sion thro%gh &ir&%lar logi&Iible #%namen* talists 'ill arg%e that 'e sho%l a&&ept the ible as the 'or o# o be* &a%se the ible itsel# says that it is the 'or o# o, b%t this is not a &onvin&ing arg%ment! The <%ran also says that it is the 'or o# o! o oes the oo$ o# ?ormon! An so o many other boo$s! +# a boo$@s &laim to ivine a%thority is eno%gh to a&&ept its a%thority, then Christians sho%l a&&ept the <%ran an the oo$ o# ?ormon ;an many other religio%s te9ts= as 'ell as the ible! ?oreover, the ible itsel# never p%rports to be inerrantE it is not even a single boo$, b%t a &ompi* lation o# many 'iely ivergent boo$s 'ritten by i##erent people in i##erent pla&es! These boo$s 'ere only &ombine into the ible &en* t%ries a#ter they 'ere 'ritten! elieving in bibli&al inerran&y re%ires pla&ing blin tr%st that the &ompilation pro&ess itsel# sele&te only in* spire boo$sE other'ise, it m%st %navoiably be a&$no'lege that only some, or even none, o# the boo$s o# the ible &o%l be inspire! Aitionally, there are inherent te9t%al problems 'ith the ible3 there are literally tho%sans o# i##erent versions o# an&ient ree$ man%s&ripts o# the "e' Testament, ea&h o# them i##erent! :o' o 'e $no' 'hi&h one is rightG +nee, strong evien&e ini&ates that several #amiliar passages in the ible 'ere not originally in the te9t! Hor e9ample, the story abo%t the 'oman ta$en in a%ltery 'here Jes%s says L:e that is 'itho%t sin among yo%, let him #irst &ast a stone at herM 10 oes not appear in any o# the early versions o# the ospel o# John an is almost &ertainly a later aition that 'as not 'ritten by John himsel#! 11 The Johanine Comma in 1 John 53*6 is the only pla&e in the ible 'here the o&trine o# the trinity is e9pli&itly state, b%t it oes not appear in any e9tant ree$ te9ts o# the Hirst Dpistle o# John %ntil 1522, an 'as &learly invente by &opyists living 12
T:D TR+PD PAT: more than 1400 years a#ter the Hirst Dpistle o# John 'as 'ritten! 12 ?ar$ is the olest gospel in the "e' Testament, an it i not mention any post*Cr%&i#i9ion appearan&es by Jes%sIlater s&ribes mae %p a #a$e ening to ?ar$ 1/ to a some in! 1 These passages o# %bio%s legiti* ma&y, an others, still appear in most Dnglish ibles toay! Any &laim o# bibli&al inerran&y r%ns into the problem o# #ig%ring o%t 'hat the ible really says! ove o# o is a great motivation #or moral a&tion, b%t sel#* less, virt%o%s evotion to oing 'hat is right sho%l be o%r #%namen* tal motivation #or moral a&tion! This is easier sai than one, tho%gh! Dspe&ially i##i&%lt is 'hen 'e &an gain personal bene#its by ignoring the emans o# morality! This leas to a $ey prin&ipal in %nerstaning 'hy 'e a&t immorally3 hypo&risy! >n a more rational level, 'e sho%l a&t morally even 'hen it e9a&ts &osts on o%rselves be&a%se sel#less moral a&tion brings greater overall bene#its to so&iety! 8e are a &omm%nal spe&ies, an the amaBing bene#its o# moern li#e that 'e enoy &ome be&a%se o%r an&estors sa&ri* #i&e their o'n interests #or #%t%re generations an be&a%se o%r #ello' &itiBens toay restrain their sel#ish imp%lses to maintain an or erly an #air so&iety! 8hen 'e e9perien&e isorer an in%sti&e in so&iety, it is %s%* ally be&a%se there is a brea$o'n in morality an people a&t sel#ishly against the &omm%nity@s interest to ta$e personal bene#it #or themselves! The short*term inivi%al bene#its that &ome #rom s%&h immoral behav* iors, tho%gh, &reate a 'orse living environment #or all o# %s! Da&h sel#ish a&t o#ten only &a%ses a little bit o# harm by itsel#, b%t the aggregate o# many s%&h small a&ts &an have very negative res%lts on a so&ietal level ;thin$ o# an %rban area #ille 'ith gra##iti an garbagemany small a&ts o# vanalism an litter, &ombine together, &reate that %gly envi* ronment=! >n the other han, many small sel#less a&ts &an &ombine to &reate a pea&e#%l an #%l#illing so&iety in 'hi&h to live! 8e have an obligation to a&t sel#lessly, even tho%gh i# may &ome at a net &ost to o%rselves, be&a%se it is the only 'ay #or o%r &om* m%nity to prosper! 8e enoy the bene#its o# living in that &omm%nity 1
?>RA+TF an 'e there#ore o'e a %ty to preserve it! 8e &annot live in a pea&e#%l, prospero%s so&iety %nless those aro%n %s a&t sel#lessly! e&a%se 'e ben* e#it #rom others@ sa&ri#i&es, 'e m%st be 'illing to pay the pri&e 'hen it &omes o%r t%rn to sa&ri#i&e! This is 'hy moral tea&hers so #re%ently &onemn hypo&risy! :ypo&rites are parasites 'ho reap the bene#its o# others@ sel#less moral a&ts, b%t 'ho are %n'illing to re&ipro&ate in $in! :ypo&risy is so %niversally an harshly &onemne be&a%se a so&iety o# hypo&rites &annot #%n&tion e##e&tively! :ypo&risy is &laiming to have belie#s, %alities, or motivations that yo% o not really possess! +t is ma$ing &riti&isms o# others or hav* ing e9pe&tations o# others that yo% o not apply to yo%rsel#! +t is living in moral sel#*&ontrai&tion! 8e all &onemn hypo&risy, b%t the tr%th is that 'e are all hypo&rites! :ypo&risy is one o# the biggest obsta&les to moral behavior! Among the main p%rposes o# moral r%les an ethi&al prin&iples is to ma9imiBe the 'el#are o# inivi%als, &omm%nities, an h%man$in an to improve personal relationships bet'een inivi%als! The more 'e all a&t morally, the happier an more prospero%s o%r &omm%nities be&ome! +t 'o%l seem obvio%s, then, that 'e sho%l all a&t morally! This oes not happen be&a%se there is #re%ently a ivergen&e bet'een the per* sonal bene#its 'e get 'hen 'e a&t morally an the so&ietal bene#its that &ome to everyone else 'hen 'e a&t morally! This is espe&ially tr%e 'hen 'e &an a&t immorally b%t still ma$e it loo$ li$e 'e are a&ting morally! 8hen 'e pra&ti&e s%&h hypo&risy, 'e get the e9ternal so&ial bene#its o# gaining others@ tr%st an earning a respe&te pla&e in the &omm%nity, b%t 'itho%t paying the &osts to tr%ly earn that tr%st an respe&t! 7s%* ally, tho%gh, o%r hien immoral behavior imposes greater &osts on so* &iety than the personal bene#its 'e gain #or o%rselves! e&a%se o# this, hypo&risy ma$es a perverse sort o# sel#ish sense on an inivi%al level, even tho%gh on a so&ietal level it oes not3 'e &an get greater personal bene#it #rom a&ting immorally than #rom a&ting morally, even tho%gh the overall negative &ost o# that behavior %s%ally o%t'eighs the overall bene#it! Hor e9ample, a %se &ar salesman &an ma$e more money by being ishonest, bening the tr%th, an misleaing his 14
T:D TR+PD PAT: &%stomers into overpaying #or the &ars they b%yespe&ially i# he is %st ishonest eno%gh to in&rease his in&ome, b%t not so o%trageo%sly %n* tr%th#%l that he &an be easily &a%ght in his lies! The salesman probably $no's the right thing to o is be honest, b%t he a&ts ishonestly to ma9* imiBe his in&ome, even tho%gh the overall losses he &a%ses to his &om* m%nity are greater than the gains he ma$es #or himsel#, an i# he is a goo liar, he &an minimiBe the rep%tational harm he 'ill s%##er! Almost all &%lt%res an so&ieties have evelope strong norms against hypo&risyE most people believe in stri&tly p%nishing hypo&risy 'hen it is is&overe! This is goo! tri&t treatment o# hypo&rites helps tip the s&ales in #avor o# a&ting morally #or those 'ho might other'ise a&t sel#ishlyIthe potential p%nishment #or a&ting hypo&riti&ally in&reases the &osts! This &an &hange the moral &al&%l%s so that a&ting morally is in the sel# interest even o# someone 'ho is personally %n&on&erne abo%t oing the right thing #or its o'n sa$e! %t no en#or&ement system is per#e&t! 8hen 'e rely only on e9ternal in&entives to #or&e hypo&rites to #ollo' the r%les, hypo&risy 'ill &ontin%e to e9ist be&a%se even 'ith goo en#or&ement, there 'ill still be too many opport%nities to &heat! This is 'hen a personal &ommitment to virt%e is re%ire! 8hen yo% have virt%e, yo% o goo #or its o'n sa$e, not be&a%se o# a &ost*bene#it analysis! 8isom also leas %s to try to stamp o%t hypo&risy in o%r personal a&tions! 8ise people %nerstan that even 'hen there is little or no &han&e o# being &a%ght, a&ting im* morally still &ontrib%tes to ma$ing a lonelier, more mistr%st#%l, more in* hospitable, less prospero%s so&iety! The 'ise %nerstan the &on&ept o# paying it #or'ar! 8e ea&h bene#it #rom the sel#less an moral a&ts o# others to b%il the goo things in o%r so&iety, an enoying those bene* #its imposes on %s a re&ipro&al obligation to a&t honorably an morally to ma$e so&iety better #or everyone elsethe aggregate o# all o# o%r a&* tions &reates the h%man 'orl in 'hi&h 'e live! +# yo% 'ant to live in a %st, #air, an prospero%s so&iety, then yo% have an obligation to 'or$ to ma$e it a reality by being honest, %st, #air, an har'or$ing, even 'hen no one is 'at&hing! ?orality means ta$ing a long vie' an trans&ening o%r im* meiate physi&al nees an #eelings! +t re%ires that 'e sometimes sa&ri* 15
?>RA+TF #i&e o%r o'n interests #or those o# the &omm%nity! 8e sho%l a&t morally be&a%se it is the right thing to o! 8e sho%l a&t morally be* &a%se o# the trans#ormative po'er that &omes #rom the pea&e, tran%il* ity, an elevation 'e #eel 'hen oing goo! %t, to en&o%rage all o# %s 'hen 'e are in o%r less*enlightene moments, 'hen 'e nee some e9tra in&entives to behave, morality re%ires that so&iety h%manely p%nish those 'ho re#%se to &hoose to be sel#less ;th%s giving %s a sel#ish reason to &omply=! 8e 'ill never rea&h o%r #%ll potential as a so&iety, tho%gh, %ntil everyone has the personal virt%e an 'isom to a&t 'ith morality o# their o'n a&&or! Avoiing an preventing hypo&risy is easier sai than one! 7nerstaning 'hy 'e sho%l avoi hypo&risy is a goo #irst step! 8e sho%l also %nerstan 'hat &onitions ma$e %s more li$ely to a&t 'ith hypo&risy so that 'e &an ta$e steps to avoi those &onitions or ta$e e9* tra &are 'hen 'e #in o%rselves in those sit%ations! Hor e9ample, people 'ho o&&%py positions o# po'er are prone to a&t 'ith greater hypo&risy they are more li$ely to %ge others harshly #or moral #ailings, b%t are less li$ely to a&t%ally #ollo' those same moral re%irements themselves an instea %ge themselves leniently #or their o'n moral #eelings! Conversely, those 'ho #eel that their po'er is illegitimate are more hon* est than the average personthey %ge themselves more harshly than they %ge others ;b%t this e##e&t is smaller than the tenen&y to'ar hypo&risy among the po'er#%l=!14 People o&&%pying positions o# po'er also nat%rally get better at e&eiving others!15 This means that in yo%r personal li#e, the more po'er yo% get, the more yo% sho%l be a'are o# the potential #or yo% to a&t 'ith hypo&risy! >n a broaer s&ale, it also means 'e sho%l set %p o%r hierar* &hies at all levels o# so&ietyIin b%siness, private instit%tions, &h%r&hes, governments, an every'here elseIin 'ays that #or&e e9treme trans* paren&y on those in po'er, to ma$e it more i##i&%lt #or them to a&t 'ith hypo&risy! +eally, there sho%l be &he&$s an balan&esE there sho%l be a person or gro%p o%tsie the po'er hierar&hy 'ith the a%* thority to oversee an s%pervise those in po'er ;an that person or gro%p sho%l also be a&&o%ntable to some other person or gro%p, in a 1/
T:D TR+PD PAT: &ir&le o# inter&onne&ting a&&o%ntabilities that is 'ie eno%gh to prevent &ronyism=! ?oreover, sin&e people 'ho #eel that their po'er is illegitimate a&t 'ith less hypo&risy, perhaps 'e sho%l reeval%ate the 'ays that 'e sele&t people to #ill positions o# po'er in the #irst pla&e! + 'o%l rather parti&ipate in an instit%tion or live %ner a government 'here the per* son in &harge 'as ranomly sele&te #rom a long list o# &ompetent peo* ple rather than in a system 'here the people in &harge believe they someho' earne their positions or are s%periorly %ali#ie #or them! There are almost al'ays a plethora o# %ali#ie &aniates 'ho &an #ill any va&ant leaership ob! The L'inner ta$e allM nat%re o# top positions means that there are o#ten very small i##eren&es ;i# any= in the &ompe* ten&y o# i##erent potential &aniates! tarting #rom a &aniate pool o# similarly*%ali#ie people, leaers o#ten rise to the top thro%gh some &ombination o# l%&$, &heating, an %gly, na$e ambition! "one o# those three things are goo reasons to ma$e someone a leaer! >%r &%r* rent systems #or &hoosing people to #ill positions o# po'er essentially #avor the sele&tion o# so&iopaths! y intro%&ing some ranomness into the pro&ess o# leaership sele&tion, the person in &harge 'ill #eel less e* serving o# the position ;espe&ially i# the list he 'as &hosen #rom 'as not short= an 'ill more li$ely a&t 'ith integrity! +t 'ill also ma$e it harer #or so&iopaths to manip%late their 'ay to the top! 8e sho%l also im* pose higher penalties on those in a%thority 'ho violate la's an moral r%les, to provie in&entives to &o%ntera&t leaers@ nat%ral greater ten* en&y to'ar hypo&risy! 8hatever o%r religio%s belie#s, i# 'e 'ant to live in a #air so&i* ety 'ith moral r%les that are %niversally appli&able an %niversally a&* &epte, 'e &annot t%rn to o or religion as the only so%r&e o# moral* ity! +# o e9ists, an i# the monotheisti& religions@ tea&hings are right that o is all*$no'ing an all*loving an &reate %s in his image ;meaning that he gave %s the ability to thin$ an reason in a 'ay that re* sembles ho' his min 'or$s=, then s%rely any system o# morality e* rive #rom rational prin&iples 'o%l mat&h his o'n moral la's any'ay! A system base on &are#%l reasoning is th%s something that most theists 1
?>RA+TF sho%l be able to loo$ to 'ith &on#ien&e as representing o@s 'ill, b%t also something that se&%lar people &an also #ollo'! A rational, reasonable moral system ma$es the esirability o# obeien&e to its prin&iples sel#*evient! +# a moral system is base on re* ality ;as best as 'e &an %nerstan it=, logi&, an reason, then it sho%l &onvin&e any obe&tive, rational person 'ho learns its prin&iples that it is esirable to #ollo' them! The #irst step to reasoning thro%gh a system o# morality is to start #rom #irst prin&iples, an then 'or$ #or'ar #rom o%r baseline premises! + 'ill th%s start by listing a set o# baseline premises that state the p%rposes an goals o# o%r moral system! + 'ill try to give rational %sti#i&ations #or ea&h o# these premises, b%t be&a%se these are the premises #rom 'hi&h 'e start o%r reasoning, some o# the %sti#i&ations are a bit &on&l%sory! Dven so, they are all pretty obvio%s an sel#*evient, an are not terribly &ontroversial! These are o%r #ive p%rposes an goals o# morality ;in ro%ghly es&ening orer o# impor* tan&e=3 1! Perpet%ation o# the h%man ra&e 2! (al%ing an prote&ting h%man li#e ! Respe&ting an #ostering inivi%al a%tonomy an a&&o%ntability 4! %iling an strengthening &omm%nity 5! Respe&t #or other living things +# 'e %se these #irst prin&iples to erive moral r%les, there 'ill still be &on#li&ts bet'een the r%les, an there 'ill be %estions abo%t 'hether a &ertain a&t is moral! The #ollo'ing three stanars ;o# e%al impor* tan&e= help %s prioritiBe 'hen there are moral &on#li&ts or %estions3 1! +ntentionalism an &onse%entialism 2! 7tilitarianism ! 7niversalism 8ith these prin&iples an stanars, 'e &an 'or$ o%t a reasonable sys* tem o# morality to help shape o%r thin$ing an g%ie o%r behavior! %t #irst, it is important to %nerstan 'hy ea&h prin&iple an stanar is important!
Dns%ring that the h%man ra&e as a gro%p s%rvives, thrives, an 16
T:D TR+PD PAT: progresses is more important than anything else! This prin&iple may seem to be remove #rom ay*to*ay li#e! He' o# %s 'ill ma$e &hoi&es that 'ill, by themselves, etermine the #ate o# all o# h%manity! %t at the same time, the aggregate o# o%r inivi%al &hoi&es oes etermine h%man$in@s estiny, an the 'el#are o# h%man$in sho%l ta$e pre&e* en&e over everything else! 8hyG There are several reasons3 1! Cons&io%sness3 the ability to thin$, reason, an %nerstan the 'orl is something spe&ial an %ni%e! The %niverse 'ill be a 'orse pla&e 'itho%t beings there to %nerstan it, so it is important to ma$e s%re that h%manity not only s%rvives, b%t that 'e &ontin%e to avan&e in o%r %nerstaning o# the %niverse! 2! iologi&al imperative3 evol%tion has shape o%r behaviors an esires to ens%re the s%rvival o# o%r genes, an hen&e o# o%r spe&ies! 8e o'e o%r very e9isten&e to these evol%tionarily*etermine behaviors an esires! These innate %rges, esires, an behaviors are po'er#%l an shape m%&h o# o%r behavior ;both &ons&io%sly an %n&ons&io%sly=! A reasonable moral system sho%l a&&o%nt #or these behaviors an esires an &hannel them to #%l#ill their p%rpose! ! Perpet%ation o# morality3 another ;albeit &ir&%lar= reason is that a s%&&ess#%l moral system nees to en&o%rage the perpet%ation o# the spe&ies so that moral thin$ing 'ill &ontin%e! The %niverse is a better pla&e having beings 'ho are able to &onsier the propriety o# their a&* tions an see$ to o goo! +# the spe&ies is not perpet%ate, then the moral system ;an the very &on&eption o# morality= 'ill not be perpet* %ate either! 4! ?ortality3 all o# %s are going to ie, b%t the perpet%ation o# h%manity ens%res that something o# o%rselves 'ill &ontin%e on! Dvery living h%man being is entitle to li#e! There are several reasons #or this3 1! +ntrinsi& val%e3 ea&h h%man being is %ni%e an is &apable o# ma$ing i##erent &ontrib%tions to o%r so&iety an to h%manity@s #%t%re! Da&h living, thin$ing being has intrinsi& val%e! e&a%se 'e are all mem* bers o# the same spe&ies, an be&a%se o%r lives are all inter&onne&te, ea&h h%man being has intrinsi& val%e to every other h%man! 1
?>RA+TF 2! A%tonomy3 be&a%se ea&h person is inepenent an a%tono* mo%s, ea&h person@s li#e has inepenent val%e! ! :%man nat%re3 it is h%man nat%re to val%e h%man li#e! A general &onsens%s on the val%e o# h%man li#e an the ne&essity to pro* te&t it bene#its ea&h o# %s inivi%ally! (al%ing h%man li#e is ne&essary to ma9imiBe the &ohesiveness an e##e&tiveness o# h%man &omm%nities! ?oreover, as a &omm%nal spe&ies, 'e seem to have evolve a nat%ral re* p%lsion to the eath an s%##ering o# other h%man beings! >nly psy* &hopaths seem to la&$ this innate h%man &hara&teristi& ;an most o# them learn to honor an #ollo' this norm, even tho%gh they might not be nat%rally preispose to #ollo' it=! 4! Re&ipro&ity3 nearly ea&h o# %s val%es o%r o'n li#e! 8e there* #ore o'e the same respe&t #or the lives o# others that 'e 'o%l e9pe&t others to give to %s! e&a%se 'e are separate inivi%als, 'e are ea&h #ree to eter* mine the &o%rse o# o%r o'n li#e an see$ a#ter o%r o'n happiness! Dven 'hen o%r #reeom is in#ringe by others, 'e are still #ree to ma$e &hoi&es 'ithin the &onstraints pla&e on %s, an 'e are #ree to thin$ 'hatever 'e 'ant! 8hile 'e are ea&h #ree to &hoose o%r a&tions, every a&tion has nat%ral &onse%en&es 'hi&h res%lt #rom that a&tion! 8hen 'e &hoose something, 'e are also there#ore &hoosing the &onse%en&es 'hi&h &ome 'ith that &hoi&e! This means that a%tonomy is inseparable #rom a&&o%ntability3 ea&h o# %s is a&&o%ntable #or the &onse%en&es o# o%r a&tions! The iss%e o# a%tonomy also raises the %estion o# 'hether #ree 'ill e9ists or 'hether o%r a&tions are etermine by pree9isting &ir&%m* stan&es! The istin&tion people ma$e bet'een eterminism an #ree 'ill, tho%gh, is %st a #alse i&hotomy! .ebates abo%t #ree 'ill are really %st ebates abo%t semanti&s an e#initions! .eterminists, 'ho o not be * lieve in #ree 'ill, arg%e that o%r a&tions are entirely governe by the &on* itions that pre*e9iste o%r a&tions! Th%s, many o# them 'ill arg%e that there is no #ree 'ill be&a%se i# yo% ha per#e&t in#ormation abo%t a per* son@s physi&al state an all o# the pre&eing events o# their li#e, yo% 200
T:D TR+PD PAT: &o%l per#e&tly prei&t their #%t%re a&tions! The problem is that no one has been able to e9perimentally prove i# this is possible, an perhaps %n* &ertainty at the %ant%m level means that it 'ill never be possible! Dven the most evote eterminist 'o%l have to amit that no one has #o%n e#initive e9perimental proo# to veri#y eterminism! The iea o# eterminism is set against a e#inition o# #ree 'ill that hols that #ree 'ill means 'e are #ree to ma$e &hoi&es inepenent o# &onstraints ;'ith i##erent #ree 'ill e#eners o##ering i##erent e9* planations or e#initions o# those &onstraints=! Dven the most evote #ree 'ill avo&ate 'o%l have to amit that the physi&al esires an sen* sations o# o%r boy e9er&ise a po'er#%l in#l%en&e on o%r &hoi&es! Physi* &al la's an prin&iples, tho%gh, govern most o# 'hat 'e o, #eel, an thin$! Physi&al moels ass%ming that 'e are physi&al beings operating in a physi&al %niverse have &reate the most &ompelling an &onvin&ing e9* planations o# h%man #%n&tion an behavior! ># &o%rse, even i# it 'ere tr%e that 'e &o%l &hoose to a&t inepenently o# the physi&al realities o# o%r boies, there 'o%l still be other &onstraints on o%r e&isions, s%&h as so&ial an psy&hologi&al &onstraints! Th%s, no one 'ho tal$s abo%t #ree 'ill &an really &laim that 'e are #ree o# all &onstraints on o%r a&tions! The ebates abo%t #ree 'ill vers%s eterminism are #r%itlessI neither position is strong, an the arg%ments en %p being more o# a pointless ebate abo%t e#initions o# 'ors than something that 'ill yiel %se#%l ieas abo%t morality an ho' 'e sho%l treat ea&h other! The p%rporte i&hotomy bet'een eterminism an #ree 'ill is #alse! There is valiity to both &on&epts, an only &onsiering both o# them together &an 'e really %nerstan h%man nat%re an behavior! This iea that #ree 'ill an eterminism &an both be right is &alle &ompatibilism! The reality is that o%tsie &onstraints o in#l%en&e o%r e&i* sions! %t it is e%ally tr%e that 'e are ea&h a%tonomo%s organisms 'ith a ne%rologi&al system that is &ompletely separate an %n&onne&te to anyone else@s ne%rologi&al system, an it is o%r ne%rologi&al system that etermines o%r per&eptions an behavior! +n &reating a reasonable sys* tem o# morality, 'e sho%l be pra&ti&al an 'orry abo%t #ining the best system possible, rather than arg%e over e#initions o# 'ors! 201
?>RA+TF
The prin&iples o# a%tonomy an a&&o%ntability o not re%ire that there be #ree 'ill in some metaphysi&al sense! This is be&a%se even tho%gh o%r a&tions are in#l%en&e by pre*e9isting &onitions, 'e are ea&h inivi%als &apable o# inepenent a&tion an be&a%se 'e &hange o%r #%t%re behavior in response to the res%lts o# o%r past a&tions! Da&h person enoys an e9isten&e separate #rom all others! Da&h o# %s is #ree be&a%se 'e are ea&h an inivi%al &apable o# inepenent a&tion! 8hile o%r previo%s e9perien&es an &%rrent &ir&%mstan&es have a strong in#l%en&e on o%r behavior an a&tions, o%r personal behavior is not etermine by any o%tsie #or&e ;e9&l%ing those rare &ases s%&h as those involving physi&al restraint or #or&ible mei&ation=, b%t by internal physi&al pro&esses rea&ting to o%r o'n %ni%e personal &hara&teristi&s an e9perien&e! +t oes not matter 'hether o%r behavior is etermine by meas%rable physi&al pro&esses that 'o%l allo' someone to prei&t o%r #%t%re a&tions! As a%tonomo%s inivi%als, 'e a&&%m%late e9peri* en&e an $no'lege an respon to o%r environment! 8e respon to in* &entives an a%st o%r behavior!1/ Th%s, in the en, ea&h o# %s is re* sponsible #or the &onse%en&es o# o%r o'n a&tions! +n the en, 'e are the masters o# o%r o'n #ate! 8e are so&ial animals, an 'e impose r%les an limits on ea&h other to &onstrain o%r a&tions 'ithin a&&eptable norms that, at least in an ieal 'orl, 'or$ to'ar promoting the &omm%nity@s 'el#are! The history o# h%man e9perien&e, ho'ever, &learly sho's that 'e #lo%rish 'hen #reeom is ma9imiBe an &onstraints are limite! 1 Dven %st re* %&ing a person@s belie# in #ree 'ill ma$es that person less help#%l an more aggressive!16 The &onstraint o# being a&&o%ntable #or o%r a&tions, tho%gh, is as important as o%r #reeom to a&t! ?oral r%les are a ne&essary part o# living in a &omm%nity o# other people! e&a%se o%r a&tions a##e&t every* one aro%n %s, 'e are a&&o%ntable not only #or the nat%ral personal &on* se%en&es o# o%r a&tions, b%t also #or the e##e&t o%r a&tions have on oth* ers! a's an moral r%les ens%re that 'e are hel a&&o%ntable not %st #or the e##e&ts o%r a&tions have on o%rselves, b%t also #or the e##e&t o%r a&tions have on others! +nee, 'e alreay seem to be nat%rally att%ne 202
T:D TR+PD PAT: to this reality! Resear&h ini&ates that 'e behave better 'hen 'e are re* mine o# a higher po'er ;'hether o or &ivi& instit%tions=1 or 'hen 'e #eel li$e 'e are being 'at&he ;posting a pi&t%re o# eyes above an honesty bo9 is eno%gh to in&rease the rate that people #ollo' the honor system an pay #or their p%r&hases #rom the bo9E parti&ipants in a Li&* tatorM game gave #i#ty*#ive per&ent more to their &o%nterparts 'hen there 'ere t'o eye*li$e shapes on a &omp%ter s&reen %ring the game=! 20 8hether or not 'e are #ree to a&t in some metaphysi&al sense, the physi* &al reality is that both inivi%als an so&ieties progress an #lo%rish only 'hen inivi%als are #ree to etermine their a&tions an are then hel a&&o%ntable #or the res%lts o# those a&tions! ome so&ieties elevate inivi%al a%tonomy over almost every* thing else, in&l%ing the &omm%nityE others p%t &omm%nity over the in* ivi%al! Da&h o# those e9tremes is in&ompleteboth inivi%al a%ton* omy an respe&t #or the &omm%nity are important! + ran$ a%tonomy as being slightly more signi#i&ant, b%t b%iling an strengthening the &om* m%nity is almost as important! "o one is an islan! 8e are so&ial ani* mals! 8e are ea&h part o# a larger &omm%nity an so&iety! Comm%nity is in&reibly important, an moral r%les sho%l ens%re that o%r so&iety an &omm%nity s%rvive an thrive #or the #ollo'ing reasons3 1! o&ial bene#its3 'e have evolve to nee so&ial &onta&t! iv* ing in a &omm%nity provies the so&ial intera&tions essential #or goo mental health! 2! Prote&tion3 living in a &omm%nity a##ors %s prote&tion #rom nat%ral an personal isasters an #rom other angers! ! ?aterial bene#its3 Almost all o# the material bene#its 'e erive #rom moern li#e ;s%&h as easy a&&ess to #oo an shelter, moern me* i&ine, an gagets an tools to ma$e li#e easier= &ome #rom the bene#its o# living in a &omm%nity! y o%rselves, none o# %s &o%l repli&ate all the bene#its 'e get #rom living in a &omm%nity! He' o# %s &o%l b%il a &ar or a &omp%ter on o%r o'n, or gro' eno%gh #oo to s%rvive! Da&h o# %s is immeas%rably better o## be&a%se o# o%r so&iety an o%r &omm%nity! 8e sho%l respe&t other living things an promote their 'el* 20
?>RA+TF #are, b%t only to the e9tent that it oes not threaten the 'el#are o# other h%mans! There are several reasons #or this3 1! Animals are a%tonomo%s! ?any o# them e9hibit some level o# sel#*a'areness, so the same %sti#i&ations #or the val%e o# h%man li#e also apply to animals, to the egree that they possess &ons&io%sness! 2! >%r s%rvival epens on the s%rvival o# the living things aro%n %s! The Darth remains habitable #or %s be&a%se o# the respiration o# plants an the &omple9 intera&tions o# living organisms! ?oreover, as omnivores, 'e epen #or s%stenan&e on eating a variety o# other liv* ing things! 8e also %se materials &reate #rom living things #or a variety o# other non*#oo %ses! ! The variety o# living things on the Darth ma$e it bea%ti#%l an pleasant! y themselves, these #irst prin&iples are not %ite eno%gh to #orm the basis o# a &omplete moral system that lets %s prioritiBe r%les an %ge the morality o# &on%&t! They o o##er some g%ian&e, tho%gh! The prin&iples are organiBe in es&ening orer o# impor* tan&e! Th%s, perpet%ation o# the h%man ra&e is the most important prin&iple, an respe&t #or non*h%man living things is the least impor tant! %t it is essential to realiBe that all o# the prin&iples are important ! That is 'hy they are #irst prin&iples! 7nerstaning all o# this, tho%gh, is not eno%gh! These #irst prin&iples o not provie ans'ers to i##i&%lt %es* tions abo%t 'hat to o 'hen moral r%les &on#li&t an ho' 'e %ge 'hether behavior is moral! +t 'o%l be too easy to %sti#y an immoral a&t i# all 'e &o%l loo$ at 'ere the relative priorities o# the #irst prin&i* ples! That is 'here the stanars &ome in! 8hen moral r%les &on#li&t, the stanars help %s prioritiBe an %ge an a&tion@s morality! A moral system sho%l in&entiviBe an ma9imiBe moral behav* ior! 8hen eval%ating ahea o# time 'hether an a&t is moral, 'e m%st loo$ at the intentions o# the a&tor an the li$ely &onse%en&es o# the a&t! 8hen eval%ating the morality o# an a&tion a#ter*the*#a&t, 'e loo$ at the intentions o# the a&tor an the a&t%al &onse%en&es o# the a&t 204
T:D TR+PD PAT: A moral system@s prin&ipal val%e &omes #rom in#l%en&ing the &on%&t o# inivi%als to bring abo%t positive res%lts! The morality o# an a&t th%s &annot be ivor&e #rom its &onse%en&esI'hen eval%ating an a&tion@s morality, the &onse%en&es o# that a&t matter! e&a%se res%lts matter, moral eval%ations m%st #o&%s on an a&tion@s &onse%en&es! 7n* erstaning that an a&t@s morality is inseparably &onne&te to the &onse* %en&es o# that a&t en&o%rages people to &are#%lly eval%ate the li$ely o%t&omes o# their e&isions an to try to ma9imiBe positive o%t&omes! An a&tor@s intentions are e%ally important, ho'ever, to eval%* ate an a&t@s morality! oo$ing at an a&tion@s &onse%en&es is not eno%gh! "one o# %s &an per#e&tly prei&t the #%t%re! +# the a&tions o# someone 'ho is 'ell*intentione has %n#oreseen negative res%lts, it 'o%l not be #air to p%nish that person as harshly ;or even at all, epening on the sit%ation= as someone 'ho a&te to eliberately bring abo%t that same negative res%lt! 8hen eval%ating the morality o# a #%t%re a&tion, the &onse%en&es that the a&tor e9pe&ts to res%lt #rom an a&t ;or ina&tion=, an the a&tor@s reasons #or oing ;or not oing= something are an im* portant &onsieration! A moral system sho%l th%s en&o%rage people to have moral intentions! 8hile it is tr%e that a person@s a&tions o not al'ays a&&om* plish that person@s intene res%lt, 'hen someone intens to a&&omplish something, he or she is generally more li$ely to a&hieve that res%lt than 'hen he or she oes not inten the res%lt! There 'ill th%s be more posi* tive o%t&omes 'hen the moral system en&o%rages people to a&t 'ith goo intentions! An ignorant person 'ith goo intentions, tho%gh, &an still bring abo%t many negative res%lts! A moral system sho%l not only en&o%rage goo intentions, b%t sho%l also en&o%rage people to be in* #orme, pra&ti&al, an reasonable! eing responsible #or the &onse* %en&es o# their a&tions en&o%rages people to thin$ more &are#%lly abo%t the &onse%en&es o# those a&ts! Ho&%sing on both intentions an &onse%en&es th%s en&o%rages people to &o%ple goo intentions 'ith in* #orme, realisti& eval%ations o# their a&tions! +t is better #or more people to be happy than #or #e'er people to be happy! +t is better #or more people to bene#it than #or #e'er people 205
?>RA+TF to bene#it! 8ithin the limits o# o%r #irst prin&iples an o# &onse%en* tialism an intentionalism, %tilitarianism means that a&tions that bring more happiness or improve 'el#are to more people are better than a&* tions that bring happiness an 'el#are to #e'er people! Th%s, all things being e%al, a&tions that ma9imiBe the happiness an 'el#are o# the greatest n%mber o# people are more moral than a&tions that o not ma9imiBe happiness an 'el#are! 7tilitarianism is not a %sti#i&ation, tho%gh, to a&tively &a%se harm to some people %st to bene#it others, even i# it 'o%l ma9imiBe overall 'ell*being! A moral system sho%l apply e%ally an %niversally to every* one! A sense o# #airness seems to be har'ire into %sIe9periments sho' that even small babies seem to have it! "o one li$es to #eel &heate or vi&timiBe! The less e%ally an %niversally a moral system is applie, the more it 'ill aro%se #eelings o# %n#airness an in%sti&e! An %n#air moral system 'ill be %nstable an sel#*e#eating be&a%se people living %ner s%&h a system 'ill #eel %sti#ie in ignoring its r%les! +# the system itsel# is hypo&riti&al, inivi%als living %ner that system 'ill #eel %sti* #ie in a&ting 'ith hypo&risy as 'ell! D%al an %niversal appli&ability is important not only be&a%se it appeals to o%r har'ire moral sense! +t is important be&a%se it is the best 'ay to ma9imiBe moral behavior! +# a moral system is applie %n * e%ally, then some o# the people living 'ithin that system &an a&t less morally than others! Applying %niversal stanars helps eliminate this problem! This stanar o# %niversality is also important be&a%se the only reasonable 'ay to %ge ea&h person@s moral 'orth is by ho' 'ell that person lives %p to the moral system@s stanars! Applying i##erent stanars to i##erent people eliminates any 'ay to easily &ompare them, or more importantly, it ma$es it impossible #or ea&h o# %s to properly assess o%r o'n moral progress! A person@s station in li#e tells yo% noth* ing abo%t ho' 'ell that person lives %p to the moral &oe! The only 'ay to $no' is to loo$ at the person@s intentions, a&tions, an the res%lts o# that person@s a&tions, an then to obe&tively &ompare them to a %niver* sal moral stanar! 20/
T:D TR+PD PAT: e&a%se every living h%man being is entitle to li#e an has in* epenent val%e, a rational moral system sho%l apply e%ally an &on* sistently to ea&h person! This means 'e m%st apply moral r%les %niver * sally as m%&h to o%rselves as 'e o to others! As is&%sse above, lea* ers an others in positions o# po'er have a nat%ral tenen&y o# not ap* plying moral r%les to themselves! 8e all have a nat%ral tenen&y to a&t 'ith hypo&risy! e&a%se o# this, it is important #or instit%tions to have transparen&y to ens%re that those in positions o# a%thority o not try to apply r%les more leniently to themselves! Transparen&y in o%r personal lives is also important to is&o%rage an limit o%r tenen&y to a&t 'ith hypo&risy!
:aving establishe o%r #irst prin&iples an stanars, 'e &an no' apply them to erive moral r%les to g%ie o%r a&tions! +s it possible to &reate a moral system o# &omprehensive r%les 'hi&h &an be me* &hanisti&ally applie to give %s the L&orre&t,M %nambig%o%s moral ans'er in all &ir&%mstan&esG "o! ?orality is &ompli&ate! Dver sin&e the inven* tion o# 'riting, 'e have been 'riting an ebating abo%t morality an ethi&s! ome people evote their entire &areer to st%ying ethi&s an morality! ?ost o# %s thin$ it interesting to poner an is&%ss moral %estions! The h%man &onition is too &ompli&ate an n%an&e #or someone to be able to 'rite o'n a set o# moral r%les that are al'ays appli&able at all times! Hor e9ample, 'hile nearly everyone 'o%l agree that lying is immoral, most o# %s 'o%l also agree that it 'o%l also sometimes be immoral to tell the tr%th! Clearly people 'ho hi Je's #rom the "aBis %ring 8orl 8ar ++ 'ere morally %sti#ie in lying to the "aBi a%thori* ties to prote&t h%man li#e! This is 'hy it 'as important #or %s to #irst establish basi& prin&iples an then 'or$ o%r 'ay %p #rom them! 7ner* staning these basi& prin&iplesIbe#ore 'e tal$ abo%t r%lesIgives %s an essential ae tool to be able to apply so%n moral reasoning to ne' sit%ations not &overe by any moral r%le! The in&ompleteness o# any moral system may lea to the temptation to %se that in&ompleteness to %sti#y %nethi&al behavior! 20
?>RA+TF 8hen o%r moral r%les o not &learly aress a parti&%lar sit%ation, it 'o%l be easy to %se that moral ambig%ity to %sti#y mis&on%&t! 8e h%mans are goo at rationaliBing an %sti#ying o%r ba behavior be * &a%se 'e are all nat%ral*born hypo&rites! :onestly re&ogniBing the in* herent #la's an gaps o# any ethi&al system is not a li&ense to a&t %neth* i&ally, espe&ially sin&e o%r hypo&riti&al nat%re ma$es it too easy to 'arp o%r per&eptions o# a sit%ation to ma$e it seem morally ambig%o%s 'hen it is not! ?a$ing e9pli&it the %nerlying premises o# a moral system an %sing reason to establish moral r%les ma$es it harer #or the hypo&rite in all o# %s to rationaliBe immoral behavior be&a%se no spe&i#i& moral r%les apply to the &%rrent sit%ationE even i# there is no spe&i#i& moral r%le to g%ie %s, 'e &an still al'ays reason #rom #irst prin&iples to #ig%re o%t an ans'er! %t no matter ho' e##e&tive o%r moral system or its prin&iples, 'e 'ill al'ays have the tenen&y to a&t 'ith hypo&risy, so 'e m%st all be on g%ar, an 'e m%st en&o%rage transparen&y in all #a&ets o# li#e to &ombat o%r nat%ral hypo&riti&al tenen&iesI'e are less li$ely to a&t hyp* o&riti&ally 'hen 'e $no' others are 'at&hing or i# 'e $no' 'e 'ill be hel a&&o%ntable! There are three basi& moral r%les 'hi&h erive #rom o%r #irst prin&iples an stanars! All other moral r%les #it 'ithin these three broa, basi& r%les! They are in orer o# priority3 1! A&t 'ith altr%ism an love, an live the golen r%le! 2! A&t no' to b%il a better #%t%re ! A&t #or the &omm%nity@s 'el#are The many spe&i#i& moral r%les that #it 'ithin the three main r%les in* &l%e both positive r%les ;r%les abo%t 'hat 'e sho%l be oing= an negative r%les ;r%les abo%t 'hat 'e sho%l not be oing=! An immat%re approa&h to morality is to #o&%s only on the negative r%les an 'orry more abo%t 'hat 'e sho%l not be oing! "egative r%les are important, b%t they are only a starting point! L.o not $illM or Lo not harm oth* ersM are s%br%les that #all 'ithin R%le 1! ?at%re morality, tho%gh, goes beyon 'orrying abo%t not &a%sing harm to others, to a&tively ta$ing steps to improve others@ lives! Da&h o# the three moral r%les is a broa statement en&aps%lating more s%br%les an e9pe&tations! et %s, there* #ore, is&%ss ea&h r%le in more etail! 206
T:D TR+PD PAT:
R%le 1 is La&t 'ith altr%ism an love an live the golen r%le!M This is the #irst r%le o# morality be&a%se, as 'e is&%sse earlier, moral* ity itsel# is premise on the notion that 'e a&t sel#lessly! (ery #e', i# any, o# o%r moral system@s esire res%lts &an be a&hieve 'hen 'e are sel#ish! The perpet%ation o# the h%man ra&e epens on %s ma$ing sa&* ri#i&es #or #%t%re generations! At a minim%m, the h%man ra&e &annot s%rvive %nless the &%rrent generation perpet%ates itsel# by having &hil* ren! :aving &hilren, an then raising them into a%lthoo, re%ires parents to sa&ri#i&e their time, in&ome, an e##ort! Respe&ting the val%e o# h%man li#e re%ires that 'e give %p o%r o'n reso%r&es to help the poor an the si&$! ?aintaining others@ inivi%al a%tonomy means lim* iting some o# o%r o'n &hoi&es, i# those &hoi&es 'o%l inter#ere 'ith others@ a%tonomy! Commitment to the prin&iple o# personal a&&o%nt* ability means being 'illing to s%##er the &onse%en&es o# o%r ba e&i* sions! 8or$ing to ens%re that o%r &omm%nity an so&iety s%rvive an thrive means giving %p some o# o%r personal reso%r&es #or the goo o# the &omm%nity! The obligation to a&t 'ith altr%ism is not %nlimite an is not generaliBe! Fo%r relationships 'ith others #orm &on&entri& &ir&les o# obligation! Fo% have greater obligations to those 'ho are in the &ir&les &losest to yo%, 'ith 'aning obligations to those #arther #rom yo%! Fo%r greatest obligation is to yo%r &hilren, then to yo%r spo%se, then to yo%r other &lose #amily members, then to yo%r #riens, then to other mem* bers o# yo%r &omm%nity, an then to others more broaly! A&ting 'ith altr%ism oes not mean a&ting 'ith &omplete is* regar #or yo%r o'n 'el#are! The moral obligation to have altr%ism oes not re%ire that yo% estroy yo%rsel#! Fo% have the right to ta$e &are o# yo%rsel# an ens%re that yo%r basi& nees are met! +n #a&t, yo% have an obligation to o soyo% 'ill not be able to sho' love an altr%ism to others #or very long i# yo% are #alling apart be&a%se yo%r o'n basi& nees are not being met! An yo%r obligation to a&t 'ith altr%ism oes not re%ire that yo% p%t others@ nees above those o# yo%r #amily an yo%rsel#! >n&e yo%r obligations to yo%r &hilren an spo%se have been met, yo% have the right to a&t 'ith pr%en&e to ens%re that yo%r an 20
?>RA+TF yo%r #amily@s o'n 'el#are is not isproportionately or %nne&essarily &ompromise, 'ith e&reasing obligations to those 'ho are not as &lose to yo%! %t this right to a&t 'ith pr%en&e is not by itsel# an e9&%se to 'ithhol ai to others, an it is never a %sti#i&ation #or harming others! Fo%r obligations to those 'ho are &lose to yo% is not an e9&%se to mis* treat or ignore others! +t is never moral to harm other people to gain an avantage #or yo%rsel# or #or those 'ho are &lose to yo%! 8hile yo%r greatest obligations are to those 'ho are &lose to yo%, yo% have a %niver* sal moral obligation to sa&ri#i&e to help everyone! Fo% sho%l have to stret&h yo%r &apa&ity, at least a little ;an hope#%lly a lot=, be#ore yo% 'ithhol yo%r help to others on the periphery o# yo%r &ir&les o# obliga* tion! Fo% have ines&apable moral %ties to every h%man being, even at the periphery o# yo%r &ir&les o# obligation! A&ting 'ith altr%ism means having more sel#lessness! +t means means over&oming yo%r atta&hment to yo%r o'n esires #or satis#a&tion an pleas%re #or yo%rsel# to a&t #or the bene#it o# others! el#lessness is &losely relate to love, an one o#ten leas to the other! ove is an a&tive &on&ern #or the 'ell*being o# others! Fo%r greatest obligations are to love those &losest to yo%, b%t yo% have an obligation to love everyone, no matter ho' atten%ate their &onne&tion to yo%! el#lessness &ombine 'ith love leas %s to ta$e a&tion to 'illingly sa&ri#i&e #or others@ bene#it! Combining love an sel#lessness leas %s to the olen R%le! The olen R%le has been aro%n #or tho%sans o# years, 'ith #orms o# it being ta%ght in An&ient Dgypt, 21 ree&e,22 an China!2 The olen R%le %s%ally &omes in either the positive or negative #orm! The most #amo%s version o# the positive #orm o# the olen R%le 'as ta%ght by Jes%s3 .o to others as yo% 'o%l have them o to yo%! 24 Con#%&i%s ta%ght a negative #orm o# the r%le3 8hat yo% o not 'ant one to yo%rsel#, o not o to others 25 The negative #orm o# the r%le, tho%gh, is &ontaine 'ithin the positive! .oing to others also in&l%es not oing to others! The 'riter eorge ernar ha' &riti&iBe the golen r%le be* 210
T:D TR+PD PAT: &a%se it oes not ta$e into a&&o%nt that o%r pre#eren&es might be i##er* ent #rom others@! 2/ This is a vali &riti&ism, b%t i# yo% are really #ollo'* ing the olen R%le, yo% 'ill alreay ta$e into a&&o%nt others@ pre#er* en&es be&a%se yo% 'ill 'ant them to ta$e yo%r pre#eren&es into a&&o%nt! 2 This is not al'ays obvio%s %st #rom hearing the olen R%le, tho%gh, an philosopher Karl Popper o##ere a %se#%l re#orm%lation o# the olen R%le to ma$e this point &learer3 N.oO %nto others, 'herever possible, as they 'ant to be one by!26 omeone 'ho is tr%ly loving has empathy #or those they love! Popper@s re#orm%lation o# the golen r%le emphasiBes the love an empathy 'e sho%l #eel #or others! +t &lari#ies that others have i##erent pre#eren&es #rom o%r o'n an that 'e sho%l honor those pre#eren&es! The golen r%le, ho'ever yo% #orm%late it, has a maor #la'3 'hat i# yo% ;or the other person= esire evil or immoral thingsG +n a va&%%m, the golen r%le 'o%l appear to allo' #or immoral a&ts to'ar others, so long as the other person esire it! +mman%el Kant &riti&iBe the golen r%le be&a%se Lon this prin&iple the &riminal might arg%e against the %ge 'ho p%nishes him!M2 +n other 'ors, the &onvi&te &riminal being senten&e &o%l arg%e to the %ge that the golen r%le re%ires his release, sin&e the %ge himsel# 'o%l not 'ant to be sen* ten&e to prison! Dven i# the %ge 'ere a eeply moral person an 'o%l 'ant to be senten&e i# he ha &ommitte a &rime, the moern #orm%lation o# the olen R%le 'o%l re%ire respe&t #or the &riminal@s pre#eren&es an 'o%l &ompel the &riminal@s release! +t is th%s &lear that the re%irements o# the golen r%le m%st be limite by other moral &onsierations! +n ay*to*ay li#e, reasonable people impli&itly %nerstan that there are limitations on the olen R%le that allo' a %ge to senten&e a &riminal to prison! Any reasonable reaing o# the positive #orm%lation o# the olen R%le ta$es into a&* &o%nt all o# these &riti&isms! %t sin&e it is better #or a moral system to be &lear an easily %nerstoo, + mean the olen R%le to be a short* han #or this longer, less ambig%o%s version3 .o to others as yo% 'o%l have them o to yo%! .o to others 211
?>RA+TF 'hat they 'o%l 'ant one to them! .o not o to others 'hat they 'o%l not 'ant one to them! .o not o to others that 'hi&h is harm#%l, that 'hi&h 'rong#%lly inter#eres 'ith their a%tonomy or a&&o%ntability, or 'hi&h 'o%l harm others or the &omm%nity! The point o# &reating the three broa r%les is to give general g%ies to behavior that 'e &an %se to apply to o%r &%rrent sit%ation! %t ea&h o# the main r%les also implies many s%br%les that 'e sho%l thin$ abo%t ahea o# time! Ta$e some time to thin$ abo%t 'hat s%br%les yo% thin$ are implie by R%le 1! + list belo' the s%br%les that + thin$ most important, in ro%gh orer o# importan&e3 1! ove yo%r neighbor as yo%rsel#! 2! .o not &a%se the eath o# another h%man being, 'hether by e* liberate a&tion or thro%gh ina&tion! The only e9&eption is sel#*e#ense! Killing in sel#*e#ense is only %sti#ie i# absol%tely ne&essary to prote&t yo%r o'n li#e or the li#e o# an inno&ent person! A&t to prevent the eath o# those 'ho are in anger or istress! ! .o not harm others! .o not o physi&al or emotional violen&e to others! The only e9&eption is oing the minim%m violen&e neee to e#en yo%rsel# or an inno&ent person #rom harm! 4! Horgive others! 5! .o not %ge others! /! e honest! ! e patient! 6! ive #ree #rom anger an hatre! ! 8or$ to empo'er an relieve the poor, the si&$, the neey, an the istresse! 10! .o not see$ revenge! 11! e #aith#%l to yo%r spo%se, physi&ally an emotionally! .o not &ommit a%ltery! 12! Tea&h yo%r &hilren, 'hile they are yo%ng, to see$ 'isom, o goo, an to have hope! 1! e open an avoi se&rets! e&rets poison relationships! 14! .o not gossip! 212
T:D TR+PD PAT: 15! pea$ $inly o# others! .o not 'aste yo%r time &riti&iBing them! 1/! :elp others a&hieve the same &om#ort an 'ell*being that yo% enoy! R%le 2 is La&t no' to b%il a better #%t%re!M A&ting #or the #%* t%re is a nat%ral e9tension o# R%le 1! Fo% &annot #ollo' R%le 1 by only a&ting 'ith altr%ism an love to'ar people in the present, b%t also by sho'ing that same love an altr%ism to'ars those in the #%t%re! +t means a&ting to ens%re the #%t%re prosperity an 'el#are o# h%man$in, o# the &omm%nity, an o# the inivi%als #or 'hom yo% have responsi* bility ;espe&ially #or yo%r &hilren or #%t%re &hilren=! +t also means sho'ing that same love an &on&ern #or yo%r #%t%re sel#! 8e thin$ o# o%r Lsel#M as one &ontin%o%s being, e9isting #rom birth %ntil eath! +t &an sometimes be help#%l, ho'ever, to &onsier this iea o# a &ontin%* o%s sel# as an ill%sion an &onsier the Lyo%M o# the present moment as a #inite entity, one 'hi&h 'ill soon no longer e9ist, an o# the i##erent Lyo%sM at #%t%re times as separate inepenent selves! Consier 'ho yo% 'ere ten years ago! Chan&es are that there are s%bstantial i##eren&es be* t'een 'ho yo% are no' an 'ho yo% 'ere in the past! Fo% probably loo$ i##erent! Fo%r opinions abo%t many things may have &hange! Fo%r personality may have &hange! Fo%r relationships an personal &ir* &%mstan&es may be i##erent! The &hanges probably happene gra%allyE it may be har to #i9 a moment in time 'hen the Lyo%M o# the past &hange into the Lyo%M o# the present, b%t it is probably &lear that the &hange has happene! >ne o# the %ni%e properties o# personhoo that ma$es %s &onsier o%r #%t%re an past selves to be the same Lsel#M is that the &on* ition o# ea&h o# yo%r #%t%re selves is largely etermine by yo%r a&* tions in the present! Ta$ing a moment #rom time to time to loo$ at yo%r #%t%re selves as separate, inepenent beings #or 'hom yo% have &om* plete responsibility helps yo% remember that be&a%se o# yo%r obliga* tions o# love an altr%ism, yo% have an obligation to 'or$ in the present to ens%re the 'el#are an personal evelopment o# yo%r #%t%re selves! 21
?>RA+TF
R%le 2 oes not mean living as a starry*eye reamer passively hoping #or a better tomorro'! 8here 'e are right no' is a ire&t res%lt o# 'hat happene be#ore! A&ting no' to b%il a better #%t%re means liv* ing in the present an 'or$ing har right no', b%t al'ays being moti* vate to b%il a better #%t%re! o oing, 'e help ens%re that ea&h ay 'e live, both inivi%ally an &olle&tively, is the best it &o%l have possibly been! :%man beings, tho%gh, are not very goo at prei&ting the #%* t%re! >%r prei&tions o# 'hat 'ill happen, an ho' 'e 'ill #eel abo%t it, are o#ten 'rong! >ver time, almost every m%t%al #%n %nerper#orms 'hen &ompare 'ith the mar$et average! P%nits an so*&alle e9perts generally avoi ma$ing spe&i#i& prei&tions that &an be easily meas%re an eval%ate, an 'hen they o, they are %s%ally 'rong ;o# &o%rse, they love to tr%mpet the rare o&&asions 'hen they are right, b%t &onve* niently #ail to mention the #ar greater n%mber o# times they 'ere 'rong=! >n a more personal note, 'e are very ba at prei&ting ho' 'e 'ill #eel in the #%t%re, an ho' potential li#e events 'ill a##e&t o%r #%t%re levels o# happiness!0 +# the #%t%re is so opa%e, 'hy sho%l 'e a&t #or the #%t%re, an ho' &an 'e o itG A&ting #or the #%t%re oes not re%ire that 'e prei&t spe&i#i& events, b%t that 'e engage in the behaviors most li$ely to #%l#ill the #irst prin&iples an stanars o# the moral system! :o' &an 'e $no' 'hi&h behaviors 'ill o thisG Hirst, 'e &an %se all o# o%r meth* os #or is&overing tr%th, in&l%ing the s&ienti#i& metho, past e9peri* en&e, observation, an trial an error! e&on, 'e &an ra' on the e9pe* rien&es o# others! 8e are all mostly similar to ea&h other! 8e &an get a goo iea abo%t the e##e&t o# &ertain behaviors on %s an o%r love ones by loo$ing at the e##e&t o# those same behaviors in others@ lives! 8e a&t #or the #%t%re by oing the things no' that 'ill ma$e the 'orl a better, more moral pla&e in the #%t%re! 8e a&t #or the #%t%re by improving o%rselves an oing the things 'hi&h 'ill ma$e %s better people in the #%t%re! A&ting #or the #%t%re means see$ing progress3 #or o%rselves, #or those aro%n %s, an #or all o# h%manity! The most basi& 'ay to s%mmariBe this iea is that 'e sho%l 'or$ to ma$e the 'orl a 214
T:D TR+PD PAT: better pla&e! The most basi& 'ay to Llive #or the #%t%reM is to live so that the 'orl 'ill have been a better pla&e #or having yo% in it! :%man morality rightly pla&es h%man beings at the &enter, so ma$ing the 'orl a Lbetter pla&eM #o&%ses #irst on ma$ing it a better pla&e #or h%man beings, b%t also se&onarily on ma$ing it a better pla&e #or all other living things, so long as 'e &an o it 'itho%t h%rting h%mans beings in the pro&ess! The #irst pla&e to start in trying to ma$e the 'orl better is in o%r o'n #amilies! This is #or t'o reasons3 1= this is 'here o%r personal a&&o%ntability is greatest an 2= this is 'here 'e 'ill have the most im* pa&t! Da&h o# %s 'as given li#e by o%r parents! +# 'e 'ere #ort%nate to have goo parents, 'e o'e it to them to o %st as 'ell or better 'ith o%r o'n &hilren! +# 'e e9perien&e the mis#ort%ne o# having ba par* ents, then 'e o'e it to so&iety an to o%rselves to o a better ob than o%r parents i 'ith %s to ma$e things better #or the ne9t generation! +n all that 'e o apart #rom o%r #amily li#e, #e' o# %s 'ill ma$e lasting &ontrib%tions o# great magnit%e to the #%t%re o# h%manity! A#* ter 'e ie, relatively #e' o# the 'orl@s pop%lation 'ill remember o%r &ontrib%tions or li#e@s story! A#ter a #e' generations, almost no one 'ill remember %s! (irt%ally none o# %s 'ill be remembere in history boo$s or en&y&lopeias! The vast maority o# even the #amo%s people o# to* ayIin&l%ing most s&holars, 'riters, politi&ians, movie stars, an m%si* &iansI'ill be barely remembere in 100 years, relegate to #ootnotes in boo$s that noboy reas! ?ost o# them 'ill be &ompletely #orgotten in 1,000 years! +# 'e live 'ell, 'e 'ill be best remembere by o%r es&en* ants, be&a%se o%r greatest impa&t #or goo 'ill be in the lives o# o%r &hilren an gran&hilren! An even 'hen o%r es&enants have #or* gotten %s, part o# %s 'ill very literally &ontin%e to live on in them thro%gh the ."A 'e have le#t behin in them! The most lasting &ontri* b%tion most o# %s &an ma$e to h%manity@s #%t%re an the greatest longterm in#l%en&e 'e &an have is thro%gh the &hilren 'e leave behin! e&a%se o%r greatest impa&t on the #%t%re is thro%gh o%r &hil* ren, 'e sho%l p%t a proportionate amo%nt o# time an e##ort into 215
?>RA+TF them, b%t not in the 'ay that most people 'o%l thin$! Things li$e an&e lessons or piano pra&ti&e, private s&hool t%ition an t%tors, e9tra home'or$, or sports pra&ti&es are not the most important pla&es to i* re&t o%r e##orts! +n the balan&e bet'een nat%re an n%rt%re, many o# %s vastly overestimate the po'er o# n%rt%re to shape &hilren! A large an gro'ing boy o# resear&h e9amining a variety o# li#e o%t&omes sho's that, o%t o# hereity, the home environment, an all the other #a&tors that a##e&t evelopment ;s%&h as ranom &han&e an the environment o%tsie the home=, the home environment is the least important vari* able!1 The home environment is also re#erre to as the share environ* ment, an in&l%es all environmental #a&tors that siblings reare in the same ho%sehol share in &ommon! Resear&hers have been able to assess the relative in#l%en&e o# hereity an environment by e9amining the i#* #eren&es in ho' ienti&al an #raternal t'ins, biologi&al siblings, an aopte &hilren t%rn o%t! 8hat the st%ies &onsistently sho' is that aopte siblings raise together in the same environment are as i##erent #rom ea&h other 'hen they gro' %p as &omplete strangers, 'hile t'ins an biologi&al siblings reare apart are almost as similar to ea&h other in a%lthoo as biologi&al siblings 'ho 'ere reare together by their par* ents! 8e $no' that biologi&al siblings an #raternal t'ins share abo%t #i#ty per&ent o# their ."A, ienti&al t'ins share essentially one h%nre per&ent, an aopte siblings share no more ."A than 'o%l t'o &omplete strangers! Resear&hers &an loo$ at ho' siblings t%rn o%t on a variety o# i##erent meas%res, &ompare 'ith ho' m%&h ."A they share, to #ig%re o%t ho' m%&h o# their o%t&omes &an be attrib%te to hereity, ho' m%&h &an be attrib%te to their share environment o# be* ing raise in the same ho%sehol, an ho' m%&h is attrib%table to other #a&tors ;s%&h as ranom &han&e an i##ering environments o%tsie the home=! >ver an over, the st%ies &on&l%sively sho' that the least im* portant variable is the home environment! +n other 'ors, the parents@ in#l%en&e is the 'ea$est eterminant o# ho' $is t%rn o%t! "e' st%ies have loo$e ire&tly at the genotypes o# %nrelate people, an have &on* #irme the res%lts o# the st%ies that loo$ at t'ins, siblings, an aopt* ees3 important h%man traits are heritable!2 21/
T:D TR+PD PAT: :ereity is strongly relate to a variety o# o%t&omes3 personal* ity, intelligen&e, an mental illnessE antiso&ial behavior ;in&l%ing &rim* inality, elin%en&y, aggression, an iagnoses o# anti*so&ial personality isorer an &on%&t isorer= 4 an psy&hopathology ;s%&h as &on* %&t, oppositional e#iant, an attention*e#i&it)hypera&tivity problems, as 'ell as epression an an9iety=5E ris$ aversion an altr%ism/E li#etime in&ome, e%&ational attainment, an psy&hologi&al aptit%e E ob stabil* ity, levels o# inepenen&e)sel#*relian&e, an levels o# &ons&ientio%s* ness)reliability 6E boy mass ine9 levels, 'eight, obesity,40 an &on* s%mption levels o# healthy an %nhealthy #oos 41E politi&al an so&ial at* tit%es ;in&l%ing abo%t iss%es s%&h as gay rights an immigration= 42E an even moral traits, s%&h as levels o# honesty! 4 The home environ* ment has very little or no in#l%en&e on any o# these traits! J%ith :arris, a resear&h psy&hologist 'ho spe&ialiBes in the st%y o# these nat%re)n%rt%re iss%es s%mmariBes 'hat the resear&h sho's3 Lt'o people reare in the same home by the same parents 'ere not noti&eably more ali$e Nin personalityO than t'o people pi&$e at ranom #rom the pop%lation, on&e yo% e%&te the similarities %e to share genes ! ! ! ! iblings are ali$e in personality only to the e9tent that they share genesE i# they o not share genes ;i# they are aoptive siblings or stepsiblings= they arenYt ali$e at all! ro'ing %p togetherIgoing on the same trips to the m%se%m or the ballpar$, &oming home to the same &ity apartment or ho%se in the s%b%rbs, living #or 16 years 'ith the same parent or parentsIoes not ma$e them more ali$e! ! ! ! +n star$ &ontrast to the here*toay*gone*tomorro' res%lts so &ommon in psy* &hologi&al resear&h, NtheseO behavioral geneti& res%lts have been reso%n* ingly &onsistent! .espite i##eren&es in the 'ays personality is meas%re ;stanar personality tests, %gments by parents or tea&hers, ire&t ob* servations o# behavior, et&!=, an i##eren&es in the $ins o# s%be&t pairs 'ho parti&ipate ;aoptive siblings, biologi&al siblings or hal#*sib* lings, ienti&al an #raternal t'ins, reare together or apart=, the &on&l%* sions are almost invariably the same! iblings are ali$e only to the e9tent that they share genes! enes ma$e biologi&al siblings more ali$e in per* sonalityE gro'ing %p together oes not! ! ! ! Regarless o# 'hat is mea* s%re an ho' it is meas%re, the res%lts are almost invariably the same3 21
?>RA+TF geneti& #a&tors a&&o%nt #or 40 to /0 per&ent o# the varian&eE share home environment a&&o%nts #or little or none!M 44 8hat this means is that 'hen yo% loo$ at o%tsie in#l%en&es, geneti&s an biology, an ho' yo% parent yo%r &hil, the least important #or&e to shape 'ho yo%r &hil 'ill be&ome is yo%r parenting! This oes not mean that parenting is %nimportant! The st%ies on heritability an environment loo$ at normal #amilies in the evel* ope 'orl! This means that &hilren in these st%ies ha a &ertain min* im%m level o# &areItheir basi& physi&al nees 'ere met ;they ha #oo, &lothing, shelter, et&!= an they i not have ab%sive parents! Parenting is very important, b%t not in the 'ay that most peo* ple thin$! oo parenting is obvio%sly better than ba parenting! ?ostly, tho%gh, this is be&a%se ba parenting &an have s%&h isastro%s e##e&ts! Any $in o# ab%se 'ill very li$ely have signi#i&ant li#elong nega* tive impa&ts on &hilren! Fo%r parenting &an th%s have maor bene#i&ial e##e&ts on yo%r &hilren, b%t those maor e##e&ts &ome #rom not being ab%sive! Fo% might also be able to have an e##e&t on some aspe&ts o# yo%r &hilren@s non*home environment an their #riens base on the lo&ation yo% &hoose to live an the s&hool 'here yo% sen yo%r &hil, b%t the e##e&t is li$ely minori# parents &o%l e9ert m%&h in#l%en&e here, it 'o%l most li$ely sho' %p in the resear&h as being part o# the e##e&t o# the home environment, sin&e &ir&%mstan&es o# &hilren that &an be in#l%en&e by parents generally sho' %p as being an e##e&t o# the home environment! An 'hile the e##e&t o# the home environment is small, it is not none9istent! oo parenting &an have e##e&ts at the mar* gins! +# yo%r &hil is on the ege o# ta$ing one path or another, the home environment@s small e##e&t &o%l be eno%gh to p%t yo%r &hil on the right path! Parents th%s nee to love their &hilren an sho' them a##e&tion, ta$e &are o# them, tea&h them spirit%al an moral tr%ths, tea&h them basi& manners an so&ial norms, an give them a&&ess to an e%&a* tion! There are some things that parenting &an help etermine! Hor e9ample, the home environment has a mil e##e&t on a person@s o&&%pa* tional interests an religiosity, b%t even here, geneti& in#l%en&es have an e%al or greater e##e&t!45 Hor other things, tho%gh, yo%r parenting is very 216
T:D TR+PD PAT: li$ely to have an e##e&t! Fo%r &hil@s politi&al party 4/ an religio%s e* nomination4 are largely etermine by environment an are li$ely to mat&h yo%r o'n politi&al party an religion! Fo%r &hil@s politi&al orien* tation ;&onservative or liberal= or level o# religiosity ;#re%ent or rare &h%r&hgoer=, ho'ever, have a strong heritable &omponent an are less li$ely to be a##e&te by yo%r parenting! 46 Parents &an also have an e##e&t on their &hilren@s %se o# toba&&o, al&ohol an r%gs, on %venile elin* %en&y, an on 'hen a%ghters start having se9! 4 %t ass%ming yo% are not ab%sive or negligent as a parent, many o# yo%r &hilren@s li#e o%t* &omes 'ill be mostly etermine by geneti&s an environmental #a&tors o%tsie o# yo%r &ontrol! There is plenty to stress abo%t 'hen yo% are a parent, b%t it is important to remember that many o# the things 'e thin$ are important #or a &hil@s #%t%re s%&&ess 'ill not a&t%ally ma$e m%&h o# a i##eren&e! >n the big iss%es ;in&ome, +<, level o# happiness, personality traits, re* ligiosity= yo%r parenting 'ill not ma$e m%&h o# a i##eren&e! Fo% &an ma$e a i##eren&e, tho%gh, on many other smaller aspe&ts o# yo%r &hil* ren@s lives that &an a val%e an ma$e #or a ri&her li#e #or them#or e9ample, most a%lts 'ho play a m%si&al instr%ment learne be&a%se their parents mae them learn as &hilren! 8hen approa&hing parenting e&isions, s%&h as e&iing a&tivities #or yo%r &hilren, remember that most o# 'hat yo% o 'ill only a##e&t the smaller aspe&ts o# yo%r &hil* ren@s lives! Fo% sho%l ma$e those e&isions base on 'hat 'ill li$ely a the most val%e to yo%r &hil@s #%t%re li#e, #or the lo'est &ost ;not %st in money, b%t also in time an aggravation=! 8hen ma$ing s%&h e* &isions, yo% sho%l as$ yo%rsel# the #ollo'ing #o%r %estions to eter* mine 'hat 'o%l be 'orth'hile ;the #irst three &ome #rom rian Ca* plan=3 1! .oes my &hil enoy itG 2! .o + enoy itG ! Are there any long*r%n bene#itsG 50 4! Are there any long*r%n negative &onse%en&esG + am not saying that yo% &an ignore or negle&t yo%r &hilren! i$e + sai be#ore, these st%ies generally loo$ at normal, mile &lass, non*ab%sive parents 'ho loo$e a#ter their &hilren! %t most o# the 21
?>RA+TF real bene#its #rom parenting ;both to parents an to &hilren= &ome #rom the personal relationships yo% b%il 'ith yo%r &hilren an the $in o# #amily yo% &reate! Parenting 'ill not o m%&h to &hange yo%r &hil@s intelle&t%al a&hievements, salary, or personality as an a%lt! e* yon the normal things that average parents o, tho%gh, 'hat yo%r par* enting &an o, i# yo% 'or$ at it, is etermine 'hat yo%r $is thin$ o# yo% an 'hat $in o# relationship yo% have 'ith them 'hen they gro' %p! There is little yo% &an o as a parent to give yo%r &hilren some $in o# a great e9tra avantage later in li#e, other than giving them goo genes! Parenting sho%l be abo%t boning an b%iling personal rela* tionships! There are generally t'o things that 'ill &ome #rom yo%r par* enting, a#ter yo%r &hilren gro' %p3 yo%r &hilren themselves, an yo%r &hilren@s memories o# yo% an their relationship 'ith yo%, so ma$e s%re that those memories an relationships are goo ones! The other thing that &omes #rom parenting is ho' it &an &hange yo% ! There is probably no better 'ay #or most o# %s to really learn abo%t sel#*sa&ri#i&e, love, an empathy than by be&oming a parent! +t seems that ea&h person is born thin$ing that the 'orl revolves aro%n themsel#! There is no %i&$er 'ay to start on the roa to'ar abanoning this poisono%s attit%e an to start learning abo%t sel#less* ness than by be&oming &ompletely responsible #or the li#e an 'ell*be* ing o# a helpless baby, a baby 'ho has no %nerstaning o# yo%r nees or esires or s&he%le, 'ho nees almost &onstant attention, an 'hose &are an 'ell being re%ire that yo% rearrange yo%r o'n li#e to #it his or her nees! +t is e9ha%sting, b%t there is almost nothing more re'aring! +t is #or this reason that + s%pport the approa&h o# atta&hment parenting! ?ost parenting avi&e boo$s seem to be #o&%se on ma9i* miBing the parent@s 'ell*being an &onvenien&e, o#ten at the e9pense o# the &hil@s nees ;the &ry*it*o%t an Herber methos #or getting &hilren to #all asleep &ome to min=! ># &o%rse, parents nee to ma$e s%re that their o'n nees are aressethey &annot very 'ell ta$e &are o# their &hilren@s nees i# they have &ompletely 'orn themselves o%t, b%t one@s o'n 'ell being sho%l not be the primary &on&ern o# parenting! Atta&h* ment parenting prioritiBes the &reation o# strong bons o# love bet'een parent an &hilE it re%ires parents to pay attention to their &hilren@s 220
T:D TR+PD PAT: nees an give them priority! An those things are e9a&tly 'hat parent* ing sho%l be all abo%t! "o', + o not ne&essarily agree 'ith all aspe&ts o# the atta&hment parenting philosophy, b%t + thin$ that it is the best pla&e to start #rom 'hen learning to be a parent! Hor a more &omplete e#ense an intro%&tion to atta&hment parenting, an #or a generally all*aro%n goo parenting avi&e boo$ #or ne' parents, + highly re&om* men The aby oo$3 Dverything Fo% "ee to Kno' Abo%t Fo%r aby #rom irth to Age T'o by .r! 8illiam ears, ?artha ears, .r! Robert ears an .r! James ears! To bring this is&%ssion ba&$ to 'here 'e starte, i# o%r par* enting oes not have m%&h e##e&t on ho' o%r &hilren t%rn o%t, ho' o 'e ma$e the 'orl a better pla&e thro%gh o%r &hilrenG Hirst, i# yo% are a e&ent person an are someone 'ho is &ontrib%ting to so&iety, the st%ies on hereity sho' that yo%r biologi&al &hilren 'ill li$ely be that 'ay too! o, yo% &an &ontrib%te most to #%t%re so&iety by #o&%sing on having more &hilren an less on mi&romanaging the min%tiae o# yo%r &hilren@s %pbringing ;min%tiae are #ine, so long as yo% o not let them tire yo% o%t an so%r yo% on having more &hilrenX=! "o', 'hen + say yo% sho%l have more &hilren, + o not mean yo% sho%l see$ to ma9imiBe 'itho%t limit the n%mber o# &hilren that yo% have! Fo% sho%l have as many &hilren as yo% &an reasonably pro* vie #or, both physi&ally an emotionally! Resolving ho' many &hilren to have is a personal %estion that is very epenent on personal &ir* &%mstan&e! 8hen e&iing ho' many &hilren to have, yo% sho%l 'eigh the potential &osts an bene#its! The strongest evien&e #or the positive impa&t o# be&oming a parent is that almost all parents 'o%l still be&ome parents i# they ha to &hoose all over again, an that most o# those 'ho never en %p be* &oming parents regret it! 8hen as$e i# they 'o%l still have &hilren i# they ha to o it over again, the vast maority o# parents in one st%y ninety one*per&entreporte that they 'o%l! Another poll #o%n that seventy*one per&ent o# &hilless a%lts over age #orty 'o%l have ha &hilren, i# they &o%l o things over again! 51 A st%y o# parents in sev* eral D%ropean &o%ntries #o%n that parents generally agree that 'at&h* ing &hilren gro' %p is one o# li#e@s greatest oys! Dighty*seven per&ent 221
?>RA+TF o# parents in the 7nite tates rate parenting as proviing a great eal or a lot o# #%l#illment!52 ?others 'ith &hilren living at home as 'ell as those 'ith gro'n &hilren 'ho have move a'ay both report higher li#e satis#a&tion than &hilless 'omen! Parents #eel greater meaning in their lives than non*parents, an they report #eeling greater meaning 'hen ta$ing &are o# their &hilren than 'hen oing other aily tas$s!5 Parents e9perien&e more aily positive emotions than non*parents, an they e9* perien&e more positive emotions 'hen they are 'ith their &hilren than 'hen they are not!54 ?en living 'ith their &hilren have higher rates o# happiness than &hilless men an than men living apart #rom their &hil* ren!55 A st%y #rom Polan sho'e that 'omen@s happiness levels go %p #ollo'ing the birth o# their #irst &hil, an that there are also happi* ness gains #or se&on, thir, an s%bse%ent &hilren! There 'ere similar patterns #or men, b%t the happiness levels i not in&rease as m%&h! 5/ %t there are also o'nsies to having &hilren! :aving &hil* ren is relate to a slight e&rease in marital satis#a&tion an to in&reases in personal an marital stress!5 Parents #eel signi#i&ant 'orry abo%t their &hilren@s 'el#are! They report #eeling more negative #eelings asso* &iate 'ith an9iety than o non*parents an also more #eelings o# anger!56 eing a parent is also asso&iate 'ith sleep eprivation an greater #atig%e! 5 :aving &hilren in the home is asso&iate 'ith higher levels o# #inan&ial stress! /0 Parents o# higher so&io*e&onomi& stat%s re* port #eeling less meaning 'hen ta$ing &are o# &hilren than those o# lo'er stat%s, an having more e%&ation is asso&iate 'ith more negative vie's to'ar motherhoo among 'omen an 'ith #ining less val%e an #%l#illment in parenthoo among men an 'omen! /1 8or$ing mothers 'ith &hilren have higher levels o# 'orry than those 'itho%t &hilren!/2 ome resear&h also sho's that having yo%r #irst &hil e&reases happiness levels a small amo%nt ;ea&h s%bse%ent &hil also e&reases happiness, b%t not by m%&h=! / ?ost o# these negative e##e&ts are most prono%n&e 'hen &hilren are yo%ng an 'ea$en as &hilren get oler! +nee, having oler &hilren is asso&iate 'ith greater #eelings o# &lose* ness an &onne&teness!/4 t%ies sho'ing lo'er happiness levels have also generally #aile to &ontrol #or the marital stat%s o# the parents! 7n* 222
T:D TR+PD PAT: marrie people 'ho be&ome parents, espe&ially #athers, en %p 'ith higher rates o# epression! Conversely, marrie 'omen 'ho be&ome mothers have lo'er rates o# epression, 'hereas %nmarrie mothers o not!/5 Parents 'ho have never been marrie have more epression an lo'er happiness an sel#*esteem than o marrie parents! ?arrie par* ents have higher or similar levels o# 'ell*being as marrie non*parents, b%t single parents have lo'er 'ell*being than single non*parents! // ome st%ies have also sho'n that biologi&al parents have lo'er levels o# e* pression an %nhappiness as &ompare to aoptive parents, step*parents, an non*parents!/ +n s%mmary, the resear&h sho's that parenting is har 'or$! +t is asso&iate 'ith more stress! %t #or marrie &o%ples, it is also asso&i * ate 'ith #%l#illment, meaning in li#e, an happiness, espe&ially #or bio* logi&al parents! o, 'hen 'eighing the n%mber o# &hilren to have, &on* sier all o# these #a&tors, an the potential personal &osts an bene#its to yo%rsel#! ?ore importantly, &onsier that greatest o# personal bene* #its that 'ill &ome to the ne' person 'hom yo% 'ill be &reatingthe gi#t o# e9isten&e! Also &onsier the bene#its yo%r #%t%re &hil might bring to so&iety an to yo%r &omm%nity! 8hen e&iing 'hether to have another &hil, remember that yo%r parenting style ;'ithin the bo%ns o# normal, nonab%sive #irst*'orl parenting styles= 'ill have lit* tle e##e&t on ho' yo%r &hil t%rns o%t, so yo% &an rela9 a little #rom the normal 'orries parents have abo%t ho' their $is 'ill t%rn o%t an abo%t ho' to allo&ate parenting e##orts! Then, #inally, &onsier 'hether yo% have the #inan&ial an emotional reso%r&es to s%pport another &hil, an e&ie 'hether having another &hil is right #or yo%r sit%ation! Hor mile &lass, intelligent, pro%&tive parents 'ho are marrie an &on* trib%ting to so&iety an to their &omm%nity ;an are th%s parents 'ho are li$ely to have a positive e9perien&e raising &hilren an are li$ely to pro%&e &hilren 'ho 'ill &ontrib%te to so&iety=, my personal opinion is that the optimal n%mber 'ill generally be some'here bet'een three an si9 &hilren! Conversely, i# yo% are not a e&ent person an are not &on* trib%ting to so&iety, yo%r &hilren 'ill most li$ely be li$e yo%, so yo% sho%l not have &hilren ;or have very #e'=, to minimiBe yo%r negative 22
?>RA+TF impa&t on #%t%re generations! Also, i# yo% are not marrie, yo% sho%l not have &hilrenit 'ill lea to negative o%t&omes in yo%r o'n li#e, an as 'e 'ill see in the ne9t se&tion, in yo%r &hilren@s as 'ell! This leas %s to the se&on thing yo% &an o to ma$e the 'orl better thro%gh yo%r #amily3 #o&%s on having a strong marriage! There are many important reasons to #o&%s on having a strong marriage, not least o# 'hi&h is the eep an satis#ying emotional &on* ne&tion that &omes #rom b%iling a li#e together 'ith someone yo% love! %t another important reason is be&a%se o# the e##e&ts on yo%r &hilren! >ther than ab%se, one o# the 'orst things that parents &an o to nega* tively in#l%en&e their &hilren is ivor&e! ome o# the negative o%t&omes observe in &hilren o# ivor&e parents are behavioral problems, emo* tional problems, s%bstan&e ab%se, aggression, &riminality, higher rates o# in%ry an illness in &hilhoo, early mortality, s&hool problems, lo'er levels o# a&hievement, an lo'er levels o# so&ial a%stment!/6 8hether a ivor&e parent stays single or remarries ma$es little i##eren&e to these o%t&omes, an the &hilren o# never*marrie 'omen #are even 'orse than those o# ivor&e parents!/ J%st li$e most other behaviors an li#e events, propensity #or i* vor&e appears to have a geneti& &omponentIthe heritability o# getting ivor&e is bet'een t'enty*nine an #i#ty*three per&ent! 0 This means that bet'een t'enty*nine an #i#ty*three per&ent o# the variation in someone@s li$elihoo o# getting ivor&e &an be attrib%te to hereity, an not to any environmental #a&ts in that person@s li#e! 8hat this li$ely means is that the personality traits that ma$e someone more li$ely to get ivor&e ;s%&h as isagreeableness, #or e9ample= are heritable! ome o# the same geneti& #a&tors that in&rease parents@ li$elihoo to ivor&e, an not the ivor&e itsel#, are responsible #or some o# the negative o%t&omes observe in &hilren o# ivor&e parents! Hor e9ample, a gene that gives yo% a i##i&%lt personality might in&rease yo%r li$elihoo o# ivor&e, b%t also be lin$e to other li#e problems as 'ell! +# yo%r &hil inherits that gene, then having an in&rease li$elihoo o# getting ivor&e 'o%l go along 'ith having a i##i&%lt personality, an that &hil 'o%l inherit a propensity #or ivor&e as 'ell as the other negative behavioral e##e&ts be* 224
T:D TR+PD PAT: &a%se o# that gene! 1 8e sho%l still #o&%s on strong marriages, tho%gh, be&a%se not all o# the ba e##e&ts o# ivor&e are &a%se by hereity! ome o# the negative o%t&omes e9perien&e by &hilren o# ivor&e parents, s%&h as behavioral problems an s%bstan&e ab%se ;an very possibly others=, ap* pear to be &a%se by the ivor&e itsel#, an not by geneti& #a&tors! 2 This means that one aspe&t o# goo parenting is being &ommitte to 'aiting %ntil marriage to have &hilren an to li#elong monogamy ;remember, &hilren o# single, never*marrie parents #are even 'orse than &hilren o# ivor&e parents, an &hilren raise by ivor&e parents 'ho have remarrie o almost as ba as &hilren o# ivor&e parents 'ho o not remarry=! Th%s, i# yo% have a #amily history o# ivor&e, yo% sho%l be &on&erne abo%t 'hether yo% might have a geneti& propensity #or i* vor&e an ta$e even greater pre&a%tions to avoi ivor&e ;an sho%l maybe even &onsier having #e'er &hilren, to avoi passing on yo%r propensity #or ivor&e=! ># &o%rse, there are sit%ations ;s%&h as ab%sive relationships= 'hen a ivor&e 'o%l be best #or &hilren, b%t in o%r 'orl o# no*#a%lt ivor&es, these are generally a minority o# &%rrent i* vor&es! The behaviors asso&iate 'ith traitional se9%al morality are among the #a&tors that in&rease the probability o# a stable, en%ring marriage! 8omen 'ho elay their #irst se9%al en&o%nter %ntil a%lthoo ;a#ter age 16= have m%&h lo'er ivor&e rates! A#ter ten years o# mar* riage, 'omen 'ho 'aite %ntil a%lthoo to have se9 ha a ivor&e rate o# t'enty*seven per&entE 'omen 'ho ha ha se9 be#ore a%lthoo ha a ivor&e rate o# #orty*seven per&ent! imilarly, 'omen 'ho have se9 be* #ore marriage, even i# it is only 'ith their #%t%re h%sban, have higher ivor&e rates than 'omen 'ho 'ait %ntil marriage to have se9! 8omen 'ho have m%ltiple se9%al partners be#ore age 16 have higher ivor&e rates than 'omen 'ho o not have m%ltiple partners be#ore age 16! imilarly, people 'ho live together be#ore marriage ;an espe&ially those 'ho o so be#ore getting engage= are more li$ely to have lo'er %ality relationships an are more li$ely to ivor&e! 4 +n these sorts o# st%ies, it is al'ays i##i&%lt to in#er &a%sality! +t &o%l be that some other #a&tor ma$es a 'oman both more li$ely to 225
?>RA+TF have se9 as an aoles&ent an also to get ivor&e later in li#e! The re* sear&hers, ho'ever, applie statisti&al te&hni%es to attempt to in#er &a%sality, an their res%lts ini&ate that it is more li$ely that having se9 at an early age itsel# ma$es 'omen more li$ely to get ivor&e! 5 The re* sear&h + have #o%n on this topi& all #o&%ses on yo%ng 'omen, b%t the ta$ea'ay is the same #or both se9es be&a%se the se9%al partners o# yo%ng 'omen are almost all yo%ng men! To prevent early se9%al behavior #rom in&reasing the li$elihoo o# ivor&e, then both yo%ng men an yo%ng 'omen sho%l 'ait %ntil a%lthoo to start having se9 ;an it is very possible similar negative e##e&ts #or early se9%al behavior e9ist #or men any'ay=! The resear&h on &ohabitation be#ore marriage is not gener spe&i#i&, it loo$s at both se9es an gives #%rther s%pport #or traitional notions o# se9%al moralitythat &o%ples sho%l 'ait to live together %ntil they are marrie! eyon %st the positive e##e&t marriages &an have on &hilren, strong lasting marriages are also goo #or marrie inivi%als an #or so&iety! eing marrie has a strong positive relationship 'ith happi* ness!/ Fo%ng men in their late teens an t'enties have high levels o# testosterone an are m%&h more prone to violent an &riminal behav* ior!6 Halling in love an having &hilren ea&h re%&e men@s testosterone levels, an getting marrie an having &hilren e&reases &riminal ten* en&ies in men!60 Traitional norms o# se9%al morality en&o%rage men to marry an have &hilren, th%s e&reasing their &riminality an en* &o%raging them to be&ome &ontrib%ting members o# so&iety! The e##e&ts o# li#elong monogamy on men is a se&onary bene* #it, ho'ever! The main moral reason #or monogamy is to ma9imiBe the n%mber o# &hilren 'ho are raise by their biologi&al parents! oth insie an o%tsie o%r #amily lives, 'e &an ea&h ma$e the greatest impa&t on the 'orl #or goo by be&oming the best person 'e &an! y oing this 'e not only ma$e s%re that 'e &an ta$e &are o# o%r* selves an not be a rag on so&iety, b%t 'e also evelop the intelle&t%al, moral, an li#e s$ills that 'ill allo' %s to have the greatest in#l%en&e #or goo! The most important thing 'e &an o to improve o%rselves is 'or$ to a&t 'ith more love, empathy, an $inness! 8e sho%l &onsier ho' 22/
T:D TR+PD PAT: 'e treat others an o everything in o%r po'er to ens%re that 'e treat them 'ith more love an respe&t! 8e sho%l see$ o%t 'ays to sho' love to others an to improve their lives! A&ting 'ith love #or others is the most important thing 'e &an o to ma9imiBe o%r impa&t #or goo, b%t it is not the only thing 'e sho%l #o&%s on! 8e sho%l evelop the intelle&t%al s$ills an $no'l* egebase neee to %nerstan the 'orl aro%n %s, an then 'e sho%l try to &ontrib%te to the great store o# a&&%m%late h%man $no'lege! This means al'ays reaing an see$ing ne' in#ormation an ne' %n* erstanings, see$ing ne' is&overies an improvements ;'hether it be in a pro#ession, at home, or in o%r hobbies=, an 'riting abo%t o%r is* &overies to share the $no'lege 'ith others! 8e sho%l also 'or$ to im* prove basi& li#e s$ills that are important to ta$e &are o# o%rselves an o%r #amilies, s%&h as learning an pra&ti&ing goo money management s$ills, having a goo 'or$ ethi&, living healthily, b%geting o%r time 'isely, so&ially relating to others, an $eeping %p o%r homes, vehi&les, an other possessions! The high levels o# e&onomi& gro'th sin&e the in%strial revol%* tion have &a%se previo%sly %nhear*o# ramati& improvements in %al* ity o# li#e #or large n%mbers o# people! 61 ome people li$e to portray h%manity@s #ar past as being an iylli& e9isten&e o# living in harmony 'ith nat%re, #ree o# e9ploitation or hierar&hies! They are 'rong! i#e #or o%r h%nter*gatherer #orebears 'as nasty, br%tish, an short! Hor h%nter gatherers, eath #rom interpersonal violen&e 'as &ommon at all ages #or in#ants ;parti&%larly in#anti&ie o# #emales=, &hilren, an a%lts ali$e! .eath #rom isease an a&&ient 'ere also &ommon! 62 >bserva* tions o# moern tribes an ar&haeologi&al evien&e ini&ate that h%nter* gatherer tribes 'ere probably in a state o# &onstant 'ar#are 'ith neigh* boring tribes! >n average, #i#teen per&ent o# all h%nter*gatherers, an t'enty to t'enty*#ive per&ent o# a%lt males, ie #rom interpersonal vio* len&e!6 i#e i not really get m%&h better a#ter the s'it&h to agri&%l* t%re! >%r #armer an&estors generally live lives &lose to s%bsisten&e ;an o#ten at the ege o# starvation=, oing ba&$brea$ing labor all ay, every 22
?>RA+TF ay %ring the gro'ing season! 64 Agri&%lt%ralists th%s lost one o# the positive aspe&ts o# the h%nter*gatherer li#estylesigni#i&ant amo%nts o# leis%re time! Hor both h%nter*gatherers an pre*in%strial agri&%lt%ral* ists, litera&y 'as rare, i# it e9iste at all! ?ei&al $no'lege an treat* ment 'as poor an ine##e&t%al! People i not have the leis%re or the $no'lege to 'orry abo%t things li$e e%&ation, the #%t%re o# h%manity, e&onomi& gro'th, or the environment! The tr%th is that the only reason people in the present ay 'orry abo%t s%&h things is be&a%se e&onomi& gro'th an s&ienti#i& avan&es have given them eno%gh e%&ation, pros* perity, an leis%re to be able &onsier them! A&ting #or the #%t%re means oing the things 'e &an o no' to ma$e s%re that the #%t%re is a better pla&e to live #or o%rselves, o%r e* s&enants, an other h%man beings! D&onomi& gro'th is the best 'ay to ma$e s%re the #%t%re is a better pla&e to live! :o' &an 'e as inivi%als ma9imiBe e&onomi& gro'thG >ne o# the biggest long*r%n eterminants o# e&onomi& gro'th is the savings rate! 8e sho%l save o%r money an avoi %sing ebt to #inan&e per* sonal &ons%mption! "ot all ebt is ba! 8e &an %se ebt to a&&%m%late pro%&tive &apital, s%&h as %sing ebt to b%il physi&al &apital ;s%&h as a #a&tory or a ne' b%siness= or going into ebt to get an e%&ation an b%il o%r h%man &apital! .ebt*#inan&e e%&ation is only %sti#ie 'hen it b%ils h%man &apital, an that only happens i# the e%&ation in&reases o%r earning po'er an gives %s s$ills 'hi&h 'ill &ontrib%te to so&iety! ?ore than %st saving, 'e sho%l be #r%gal an restraine in o%r li#estyle an &ons%mption o# reso%r&es! >ne o# the marvels o# the h%man &onition sin&e the in%strial revol%tion is e&reasing pri&es #or almost every type o# goo! 8hat this means is that even 'ith the pres* s%res o# limite nat%ral reso%r&es an in&reasing pop%lation siBes there have been better living &onitions #or ever*gro'ing n%mbers o# people! +t 'o%l be easy to ass%me that this 'ill al'ays &ontin%e, b%t in#inite gro'th is physi&ally impossiblethere is only so m%&h matter an en* ergy in the %niverse! At some point in the #%t%re, e&onomi& gro'th 'ill slo' o'n or stop! Pr%ent %se o# energy an reso%r&es 'ill lengthen the time 'e &an s%stain e&onomi& gro'th an gro'ing stanars o# liv* ing! 226
T:D TR+PD PAT: +t ma$es sense to &onserve o%r reso%r&es! The great prosperity 'e enoy in the evelope 'orl is a ire&t res%lt o# the #r%gality an savings o# o%r #orbears! +t is #as&inating to rea abo%t the living &oni* tions o# average Ameri&ans #rom previo%s eras! They en%re many harships to be able to save their money an ens%re a better #%t%re #or their &hilren! The in#rastr%&t%re an physi&al &apital that 'e have no' in the 7nite tates is the res%lt o# generations o# har'or$ing Ameri* &ans 'ho save an 'or$e an b%ilt %p o%r &o%ntry! 65 8e o'e it to #%* t%re generations to o the sameIit 'o%l be tremeno%sly short*sighte an sel#ish to re#%se to o #or #%t%re generations 'hat o%r #orbears i #or %s! oth as inivi%als an as so&ieties, 'e sho%l live belo' o%r means an save o%r money! 8e sho%l be #r%gal in 'hat 'e b%y an &onservative in 'hat 'e &ons%mere%&e, re%se, re&y&le! 8e have a moral obligation to not ie penniless or as ebtors, b%t to leave a s%r* pl%s behin #or #%t%re generations! eyon %st saving money, a simple, high*impa&t &hange 'e &an ma$e to live pr%ently an &onserve reso%r&es is to minimiBe o%r &on* s%mption o# meat! +n the #oo &hain, any time energy is &onverte into another #orm, the &onversion is not per#e&t an a lot o# energy is 'aste! "early all o# the energy 'e &ons%me %ltimately &omes #rom the s%n! 8hen yo% eat plants, yo% are only one step remove #rom the en* ergy so%r&e ;s%n → plant → yo%=! 8hen yo% eat animals, yo% are t'o or three steps remove #rom the energy so%r&e ;s%n → plant → animal → yo%, or s%n → plant → animal → animal → yo%=! +t is #ar more e##i&ient to evote the same lan an reso%r&es %se to #ee an raise animals #or instea gro'ing &rops #or h%man &ons%mption! 6/ Dating a meat*heavy iet li$e the average iet in the 7nite tates is so 'aste#%l that i# every* one ate the same $in o# iet as Ameri&ans, at &%rrent agri&%lt%ral pro* %&tion levels, the 'orl 'o%l only be able to s%pport abo%t 2!5 bil* lion people!6 >n a so&ietal level, 'e sho%l see$ governments an e&onomi& systems that en&o%rage e&onomi& gro'th! This means governments #ree o# &orr%ption an #ree o# ine##i&ient or onero%s e&onomi& reg%lations! +t means governments an so&ieties that en&o%rage real &ompetition be* 22
?>RA+TF t'een #irms ;an not the oligopolies an monopolies 'e see in so many in%stries toay= an that prevent &orporate e9e&%tives #rom e9tra&ting high rents ;in the #orm o# rii&%lo%sly high salaries= or #rom maintain* ing a shortsighte perspe&tive #o&%se on short*term pro#its ;to $eep a high sto&$ pri&e so they &an get bon%ses= at the e9pense o# real long term gro'th! As 'e i 'ith R%le 1, 'e have only is&%sse some o# the im* pli&ations o# this r%le, b%t there are many more! R%le 2 implies many s%br%les that 'e sho%l thin$ abo%t ahea o# time! Ta$e some time to thin$ abo%t 'hat s%br%les yo% thin$ are implie by R%le 2! + list belo' the s%br%les that + thin$ most important3 1! Persist in oing goo! 2! A&t 'ith sel#*&ontrol! ! Al'ays see$ to improve yo%r &hara&ter an is&ipline yo%rsel#! 4! et marrie, an o not &heat on yo%r spo%se! .o not &ohabit be#ore marriage! Avoi pre*marital se9! 5! +# yo% are a goo person, have &hilren! :ave more &hilren, i# yo% &an s%pport them physi&ally an emotionally an provie a stable an n%rt%ring environment #or them!! /! e goo to yo%r &hilren! Tea&h them an give them the oppor* t%nities an tools #or s%&&ess in li#e! ! Pra&ti&e the things yo% 'ant to s%&&ee oing! 6! ive %p %nne&essary or less important thingsE prioritiBe 'hat is ne&essary an important! ! ive 'ithin yo%r means! 10! e #r%gal! ave yo%r money! e sel#*reliant! 11! Avoi ebt! 12! ?inimiBe the reso%r&es yo% %se! 1! 8or$ har! 14! .o 'or$ that &ontrib%tes to so&iety! 15! +n 'hatever 'or$ yo% o, balan&e yo%r e##orts so that yo% o not negle&t 'hat is more important3 yo%r #amily an relationships 'ith others! 1/! Al'ays see$ greater $no'lege an 'isom! 20
T:D TR+PD PAT:
"o one is an islan! 8e h%mans are a &omm%nal spe&ies, an most o# o%r nees an esires &an only be #%l#ille be&a%se o# o%r membership in a &omm%nity! ?any o# the great so&ial pathologies in the 'orl &ome #rom poorly*#%n&tioning &omm%nities! 8e ea&h have an obligation to a&t #or the &omm%nity@s 'el#are an to be an a&tive an &ontrib%ting parti&ipant in o%r &omm%nity! R%le , tho%gh, &an be an* gero%s i# it is %se to %sti#y a &ombative L%s vers%s themM attit%e, es* pe&ially 'hen &ombine 'ith a Bero*s%m vie' o# the 'orl! This is 'hy R%le &omes last! Promoting the &omm%nity@s 'el#are oes not %sti#y a&ts that violate R%les 1 an 2! :%man$in@s history o# religio%s an moral tho%ght has been one o# a general ;tho%gh o#ten #altering= progression to'ar an ever*e9* paning notion o# 'ho 'e in&l%e in o%r &on&eption o# L%s!M 8e &an see this in the &reation o# the more %niversal 'orl religions o# the a9ial age that trans&en ra&e an ethni&ity ;at least in theory, i# not al'ays in pra&ti&e=, s%&h as %hism, Christianity, an +slam! R%les 1 an 2 em* boy that %niversal spirit! %t even 'ith an ever*e9paning e#inition o# 'ho 'e in&l%e in o%r &on&eption o# L%s,M there are still i##erent &ategories o# L%s!M There al'ays 'ill be! Hor e9ample, imagine yo% see t'o people staning in the roa in the path o# an on&oming tr%&$! >ne o# them is a stranger an the other is a &lose #rien or a #amily member! Fo% only have eno%gh time to save one o# the t'o people by p%shing them o%t o# the 'ay! 8ho o yo% save #irstG Almost everyone 'o%l, 'itho%t hesitation, save their &lose #rien or #amily member, an there is nothing 'rong 'ith this nat%ral tenen&y! :%mans are primates, an %st li$e other primates, 'e are so* &ial animals! All primatesh%mans in&l%ehave an innate nee to maintain so&ial &onta&t 'ith others! 8e are aapte to #lo%rish an thrive as members o# a m%t%ally s%pportive gro%p! There appears, ho'* ever, to be physi&al &ognitive limits to the n%mber o# people 'ho 'e &an emotionally an int%itively in&orporate into o%r mental moel o# the 21
?>RA+TF 'orl! ritish anthropologist Robin .%nbar 'as the #irst person to pro* pose this &ognitive h%man limit! .%nbar note that among primate spe&ies, there is a relation* ship bet'een the average siBe o# a so&ial gro%p in a spe&ies an the siBe o# that spe&ies@ neo&orte9 region in the brain! :e hypothesiBe that the amo%nt o# ne%rons in a primate@s neo&orte9 limite ho' many relation* ships the primate &o%l $eep tra&$ o# at the same time! 8hen a primate gro%p gre' beyon the average limit #or the spe&ies, the gro%p 'o%l be&ome %nstable an brea$ apart!66 .%nbar #o%n that the best prei&tor o# a primate spe&ies@ av* erage gro%p siBe is the ratio o# the average vol%me o# the spe&ies@ neo* &orte9 'ith the average siBe o# the spe&ies@ brain! Applying his res%lts #or other primates to h%mans, he #o%n that, base on h%mans@ average neo&orte9 ratio, the e9pe&te nat%ral h%man gro%p siBe 'o%l be abo%t 150 ;at a 5 &on#ien&e level the range 'o%l be some'here bet'een 100 an 20=!6 This n%mber o# 150 people is no' $no'n as .%nbar@s n%mber! .%nbar #o%n evien&e #rom a variety o# #iels that sho'e this n%mber seeme to be a limit on h%man &omm%nity siBes in the real 'orl! ?oern h%nter gatherer tribes &ommonly live in gro%ps averag* ing 146 members ;'ith a range o# 0 to 221!5=! Ar&haeologists@ pop%* lation estimates #or an&ient stone*age villages in ?esopotamia sho'e a range o# 150 to 200 people! There are also a n%mber o# &ontemporary e9amples o# this limit3 :%tterite ;a gro%p similar to the Amish= #arming &omm%nities limit their siBe to 150 peopleE army %nits #rom Roman times %ntil the present have remaine bet'een 100 an 200 peopleE an b%sinesses ;or s%b*organiBations 'ithin larger b%sinesses= o not #%n&* tion 'ell 'hen they have more than 150 inivi%als! 0 T'o anthropologists %sing s%rveys to st%y the siBe o# per* sonal net'or$s in the 7nite tates have #o%n a similar ;b%t larger= limit to the n%mber o# so&ial ties that 'e have 'ith others in moern so&iety! :! R%ssell ernar an Peter Kill'orth #o%n that inivi%als in the 7nite tates have a mean o# 20 meaning#%l so&ial ties ;the me* ian 'as 21=!1 8hy is there a i##eren&e bet'een .%nbar@s n%mber o# 150 an the ernar*Kill'orth n%mber o# 20G +t &o%l be i##eren&es in methoology or 'hat 'as being meas%re! ?aybe o%r move to agri * 22
T:D TR+PD PAT: &%lt%re an living in larger gro%ps has sele&te #or better &ognitive aap* tations #or ealing 'ith the larger, more &omple9 so&ieties o# moern li#e! 8hether the n%mber is 150 or 20, the ta$ea'ay #rom this resear&h is that, on average, the n%mber o# people 'ith 'hom 'e are mentally &apable o# maintaining meaning#%l so&ial ties seems to be %ner 00! "ote that + sai Lon average!M ># &o%rse some people 'ill have a greater nat%ral &apa&ity to #orm so&ial bons than others! %t 'hether o%r &a* pa&ity is above or belo' average, there appears to be a &ognitive limit on ho' many people 'ith 'hom 'e &an #orm &lose so&ial ties! + 'ill &all this gro%p o%r L&ore so&ial net'or$!M Consiering the n%mber o# people 'ho live in an average to'n, &ity, or &o%ntry, an average &ore so&ial net* 'or$ o# 00 or less &ertainly seems li$e a relatively lo' n%mber 'hen 'e thin$ abo%t being part o# a &omm%nityX >bvio%sly moern neighborhoos, to'ns, an &ities are %s%ally larger than %st 00 people! 8hat + thin$ .%nbar@s n%mber sho's is that there is a limit on ho' many people 'e &an emotionally in&l%e in o%r &on&eption o# L%s!M 8e may intelle&t%ally %nerstan that all peo* pleIeven those o%tsie o%r &ore so&ial net'or$Iare 'orthy o# e%al moral &onsieration, b%t in the real 'orl, 'hen a tr%&$ is barreling to* 'ar both o%r #rien an a stranger, 'e p%sh o%r #rien o%t o# the 'ay #irst! This is&onne&t bet'een o%r intelle&t%al %nerstaning o# morality an o%r emotional %nerstaning gro's o%t o# the h%man ten* en&y over the last #e' millennia to'ar living in ever*larger politi&al %nits an so&ieties! +n small gro%ps, maintaining so&ial &ohesion is rela* tively easy be&a%se 'e are 'ell*aapte to this behavior! +n larger gro%ps, ho'ever, 'e la&$ the &ognitive an emotional &apa&ity to int%itively sel#* organiBe in the 'ay that small stone age bans an moern h%nter*gath* erer tribes organiBe themselves! The large instit%tions o# moern li#e ;along 'ith the res%lting stability an te&hnologi&al progress they bring= are #oreign to o%r nat%ral &onstit%tions! +n light o# .%nbar@s n%mber, it th%s be&omes &lear 'hy the %niversalisti& tenen&ies o# the maor 'orl religions 'ere ne&essary #or the #lo'ering o# h%man &%lt%re an evelopment that has happene over the last #e' tho%san years! %&h moral r%les give %s the &ognitive 2
?>RA+TF an emotional tools to step beyon o%r normal mental limits to rea&h o%t o# o%r so&ial &ir&les an a&t morally to Lothers!M %t %niversally*ap* pli&able moral r%les o not &ome nat%rally to %s! Th%s, 'hile o%r intel* le&t%al &on&eption o# 'ho 'e in&l%e in L%sM has e9pane, in pra&ti&al terms, o%r innate biologi&al tenen&y is to morally an emotionally &ommit o%rselves to relatively small so&ial gro%ps! 8e o not per&eive a star$ either)or i&hotomy bet'een a ho* mogeneo%s L%sM in o%r &ore so&ial net'or$ vers%s an %ni##erentiate LthemM in the o%tsie 'orl! Rather, 'e #eel the strongest &onne&tion 'ith those in the &enter o# o%r &ore so&ial net'or$, %s%ally o%r immei* ate #amily an &lose #riens! >%r &ore so&ial net'or$ is mae %p o# smaller Lprimary net'or$sM that gro%p together into a larger so&ial net* 'or$! This is tr%e #or so&ial gro%pings in all primates3 gro%ps are mae %p o# &oalitions o# smaller primary net'or$s o# &lose #riens 'ithin the larger primate gro%p!2 8e th%s have a m%&h smaller gro%p o# &lose #riens an #amily 'ith 'hom 'e most &losely ienti#y as L%s!M >%r greatest emotional a##inity an o%r strongest so&ial ties rest 'ith this smaller n%&le%s o# &lose #riens an #amily! ?oving o%t #rom there, 'e have gro'ing &on&entri& &ir&les o# people 'ith 'hom 'e have so&ial &onne&tions %ntil 'e rea&h o%r &ore so&ial net'or$ o# 150 to 00 peo* ple #or 'hom 'e have evote o%r brains@ limite &apa&ity #or b%iling strong so&ial ties! ?ost o# %s have so&ial &onta&t 'ith more than %st 150 to 00 people in a given 'ee$ or month! The #arther those people are #rom o%r so&ial &ore, the more 'e start to emotionally &onsier them as being Lother!M As o%r so&ial istan&e #rom others gro's, o%r emotional ties to them 'ea$enE 'e start to apply learne r%les o# morality to o%r intera&* tions 'ith them rather than %sing o%r brains@ nat%ral so&ial &apa&ity! The more i##erent a person is #rom %ss%&h as having a i##erent re* gional a&&ent, geographi&al origin, native lang%age, religion, ethni&ity, or &o%ntrythe greater o%r tenen&y to &onsier that person as being an Lother!M "one o# %s has one single stati& &on&eption o# L%s!M +nstea, 'e ea&h have &on&entri& an overlapping emotional e#initions o# L%s,M an those spe&i#i& e#initions are i##erent #or ea&h person! omeone 24
T:D TR+PD PAT: 'ill be more or less o# an L%sM an more or less o# a LthemM base on that person@s so&ial istan&e #rom %s! +t is espe&ially important that the #irst t'o r%les ta$e pre&een&e over R%le not %st be&a%se o# their higher intrinsi& priority, b%t be&a%se %niversal moralisti& thin$ing oes not &ome nat%rally to %s! 8e nat%rally see the 'orl in terms o# a small gro%p o# L%sM to 'hom 'e o'e moral %ties, an a larger gro%p o# LthemM 'ho are not as 'orthy o# moral &onsieration! >%r great h%man abilities #or learning, rational thin$ing, an aapting to novel sit%ations ma$es %niversally*appli&able moral r%les possibleE the #r%its o# these moral evelopments have be&ome obvio%s over the last #e' tho%san years as violen&e in h%man so&ieties has gra* %ally e&rease an stability has in&rease ;along 'ith a&&ompanying in&reases in material 'el#are=! %t no rational moral system &an ignore the realities o# h%man biology! An th%s R%le has tremeno%s impor* tan&e be&a%se h%mans nat%rally organiBe themselves into gro%ps an &omm%nities, an m%&h o# the meaning an #%l#illment 'e get #rom li#e &omes #rom o%r membership an parti&ipation in the &omm%nities o# 'hi&h 'e are a part! ?ore than that, m%&h o# the material an emo* tional s%pport 'e get #rom others %ring times o# i##i&%lty &omes #rom o%r so&ial net'or$s! Comm%nity members &are #or ea&h other, an are 'illing to ma$e sa&ri#i&es #or ea&h other that per#e&t strangers 'o%l be %n'illing to ma$e! The strength o# o%r so&ial lin$s to others e&lines as 'e move #rom o%r small &ore gro%p to others, b%t ea&h o# those &on&en* tri& &ir&les &onstit%tes a &omm%nity that 'e 'o%l ienti#y as being an ever*'ea$ening version o# L%s!M 8e are innately so&ial beings! 8e nee o%r &omm%nities! An be&a%se 'e nee o%r &omm%nities, 'e o'e a %ty to s%pport an strengthen them! ?any people &onsier i##eren&es an iversity to be o# s%preme importan&e! They o have a point! Hor mysel#, be&oming a&* %ainte 'ith i##erent &%lt%res an ieologies has #or&e me to loo$ at things #rom a i##erent perspe&tive, has helpe me sharpen my thin$ing, an has broaene my perspe&tives! %t being part o# &omm%nities o# people 'ho 'e emotionally &onsier to be L%sM is also important #or o%r personal 'ell being an #or the #%t%re o# o%r so&iety! 25
?>RA+TF :arvar politi&al s&ientist Robert P%tnam has #o%n that greater ethni& iversity in a &omm%nity e&reases the tr%st resients have #or those o# other ethni&ities! ?ore s%rprisingly, greater iversity e* &reases tr%st that resients have #or people o# their o'n ethni&ity! P%t* nam #o%n other etrimental e##e&ts o# ethni& iversity! The more i* verse the &omm%nity, the less li$ely it 'as that resients 'o%l 'or$ to* gether on &omm%nity proe&ts an give to &harity or vol%nteer! Resi* ents o# more iverse &omm%nities ha #e'er &lose #riens, lo'er happi* ness, an lo'er per&eive %ality o# li#e! Dven 'hen &ontrolling #or a va* riety o# variables ;s%&h as age, ethni&ity, so&ioe&onomi& &lass, an poverty an &rime levels=, the relationship still hel bet'een ethni& i* versity an these negative e##e&ts! P%tnam #o%n that Lthe i##eren&e be* t'een living in an area as homogeneo%s as ismar&$, "orth .a$ota, an one as iverse as os Angeles is ro%ghly as great as the i##eren&e be* t'een an area 'ith a poverty rate o# per&ent an one 'ith a poverty rate o# 2 per&ent, or bet'een an area 'ith / per&ent &ollege gra%ates an one 'ith none!M4 P%tnam, a liberal progressive, 'as so sho&$e an ismaye by his res%lts that he 'aite over si9 years to p%blish them 'hile he sear&he in vain #or other potential e9planations #or his re* s%lts! 5 imilarly, resear&h by other politi&al s&ientists has sho'n that higher levels o# ethni& an ling%isti& iversity in a &o%ntry is &orrelate 'ith higher levels o# instability an lo'er levels o# emo&ra&y!/ o ho' o 'e aress the problems &a%se by iversityG The sol%tion is not ne&essarily that 'e sho%l live in ra&ially or ethni&ally segregate &omm%nities! Dthni&ity is a #l%i &on&ept! omeone &an have m%ltiple ethni&ities at the same time ;s%&h as, #or e9ample, a :ispani& Je'=, an ethni& ientities &an &hange! +n the 1th an early 20th Cent%ry in the 7nite tates, people o# +rish or +talian heritage 'ere o#ten &on* siere to be a separate ethni&ity #rom ol sto&$ 'hite Ameri&ans! %&h sharp ethni& istin&tions base on i##erent D%ropean an&estries, tho%gh, have gra%ally #ae a'ay in the 7nite tates! The important lesson #rom this resear&h abo%t ethni& an lin* g%isti& iversity is not that segregation is optimal or esirable, b%t that 'e #lo%rish 'hen 'e live in a &omm%nity o# people 'ho 'e see as being L%sM an not Lthem!M :o' o 'e a&&omplish thisG Hirst, 'e sho%l see$ 2/
T:D TR+PD PAT: to e9pan o%r sel#*&on&eption o# L%sM to be as 'ie as possible! e&om* ing #riens 'ith others o# i##erent ba&$gro%ns an e9perien&ing other &%lt%res helps %s to %nerstan the &ommonalities 'e share an e9pan o%r e#inition o# %s! e&on, 'e sho%l see$ to be&ome part o# &om* m%nities 'here 'e #it in an 'here 'e &an easily per&eive other members as being part o# an L%sME similarly, &omm%nities sho%l limit amittan&e o# ne' members to those 'ho 'ill most easily assimilate into the gro%p! Thir, an most importantly, 'e sho%l see$ to assimilate o%r* selves to the norms, lang%age, an &%lt%re o# the &omm%nities o# 'hi&h 'e are a part! +t is impossible to &reate an L%sM %nless ea&h person is 'illing to &hange themsel# to be&ome a part o# the gro%p! %t in all o# o%r e##orts to a&t #or the &omm%nity@s 'el#are, it is important that 'e remember 'e have %niversal obligations to all h%man beings! The #irst t'o R%les ta$e pre&een&e over the thir! The orering o# the three R%les tries to stri$e the balan&e bet'een eriving the bene* #its o# &omm%nity 'hile not #orsa$ing the nee #or a %niversal morality! 8e o'e strong moral %ties to all h%man beings! Dven tho%gh 'e have even greater moral %ties to'ar those 'ho are &lose to %s, this is never a %sti#i&ation #or treating o%tsiers immorally! +t is never right to a&t immorally or ishonestly to'ars an o%tsier in an attempt to get some bene#it #or those 'ho are &lose to yo%! >n the other han, it is morally %sti#iableinee, morally re%irethat 'e prote&t those 'ho are &lose to %s #rom threatene harm, even to the point o# %sing violen&e in sel#*e#ense 'hen threatene! Hor e9ample, it is not moral to beat %p yo%r neighbor an steal his possessions! +t is moral, ho'ever, to %se #or&e against a neighbor 'ho is trying to steal yo%r possessions or harm yo% or yo%r #amily! >n&e 'e are #ollo'ing the #irst t'o R%les as best 'e &an, then &reating %ni#ie &omm%nities promotes so&ial 'el#are, b%t R%le &an be angero%s i# misinterprete! +t is not a %sti#i&ation #or bigotry! +t oes not %sti#y harming o%tsiers to bene#it the &omm%nity! in&e strong &omm%nities an strong so&ial ties are so bene#i&ial, ho'ever, it is im* portant to properly s%pport the iea o# &omm%nity! e&a%se o# o%r so* &ial nat%re, the best #%t%re o%t&omes #or h%manity 'ill &ome #rom b%iling strong an &ohesive &omm%nities o# ethi&al people 'ho try to 2
?>RA+TF integrate themselves into a %ni#ie gro%p! :o' o yo% #ollo' R%le G Hirst, ienti#y yo%r &omm%nities! oo$ at the e9paning &on&entri& &ir&les o# the so&ial gro%ps that yo% are a part o#, starting 'ith yo%r &losest asso&iates ;s%&h as #amily an &lose #riens= an e9pan ea&h ne' &ir&le o%t to slightly more istant re* lationships! Then, thin$ o# the moral obligations that yo% have %ner R%les 1 an 2 an apply those r%les even more strongly to the members o# yo%r &omm%nity! oo$ #or 'ays to ma$e sa&ri#i&es to help them! A&* tively parti&ipate in the &omm%nity! .o yo%r #air share o# the 'or$ to $eep it #%n&tional! (ol%nteer in yo%r &omm%nity an promote goo re* lationships 'ithin it ;s%&h as by rea&hing o%t to others an by avoiing negative gossip=! Again, the same moral obligations an behaviors be* haviors #rom R%le 1 an R%le 2 apply to yo%r ealings 'ith #ello' &om* m%nity members, only more so! 8o%l it be better i# 'e &o%l &on&eive o# h%manity as being one giant &omm%nityG Fes! %t o%r brains are probably %st too limite to emotionally &on&eive o# a &omm%nity o# billion people! R%le 1 an R%le 2 point %s to'ar a %niversal h%man &omm%nity an help %s #o&%s o%r behavior to'ar that ieal! %t it is important to re&ogniBe o%r bio* logi&al an &ognitive limits an that is 'hy it is not only morally %sti#i* able, b%t also esirable, #or %s to also #o&%s on b%iling strong small &omm%nities in o%r ay*to*ay lives as 'ell! Part o# s%pporting the &omm%nity@s 'el#are is assimilating into the &omm%nity! Comm%nities evelop their o'n %ni%e rit%als, trai* tions, an norms that set them apart #rom other &omm%nities! ?any o# these rit%als, traitions, an norms o not have a strong moral &ompo* nent, b%t are instea amoral g%ies to ens%re &on#ormity 'ith &omm%* nity stanars an to &reate a #eeling o# %nity an L%s*ness!M + &all them Lnorms o# &ohesion!M "orms o# &ohesion are r%les or e9pe&tations that are not base on the #%namental prin&iples o# morality, b%t instea are r%les o# behavior 'hi&h help members o# a &omm%nity establish their separate ientity! These pra&ti&es serve an important %ni#ying p%rpose be&a%se these norms o# &ohesion impose &osts in time an #oregone 26
T:D TR+PD PAT: bene#its, #ollo'ing them provies a 'ay to signal to other gro%p mem* bers one@s &ommitment to the gro%p an to its moral prin&iples! :aving s%&h o%t'ar signals o# &ommitment ma$es it easier #or gro%p members to spot potential #reeriers ;'ho, not being &ommitte to the gro%p or to its moral tea&hings, 'ill be less 'illing to #ollo' norms o# &ohesion that impose &osts= an to %ge 'hom is 'orthy o# tr%st an in&l%sion in the gro%p! Hrom an o%tsier@s perspe&tive, e9amples o# these sorts o# norms o# &ohesiveness in&l%e ?ormonism@s prohibition on &o##ee an tea ;an also arg%ably its restri&tions on al&ohol= or J%aism@s ietary re* stri&tions ;s%&h as avoiing por$=! ?ormons an Je's 'ill tell yo% that they #ollo' these r%les be&a%se o &ommane it ;many might also believe that there are health bene#its to r%les against things li$e al&ohol an &a##eine, b%t even in the #a&e o# resear&h, #or e9ample, that al&ohol an &o##ee &ons%mption are asso&iate 'ith positive health e##e&ts, they &ontin%e to #ollo' their religion@s r%les be&a%se their primary motivation is in #ollo'ing o, not in getting health bene#its=, b%t to an o%tsier, these r%les o not serve any moral p%rposethere is no e9ternal moral reason to #ollo' them, other than o@s p%rporte &omman! Dven ?ormons an Je's 'ill a&$no'lege that these r%les are not %niversal moral r%les bining on people o%tsie their #aith! ?ormons 'ho o'n #oo servi&e b%sinesses #eel no g%ilt preparing &o##ee or al&ohol an serving it to non*?ormons,6 b%t ?ormons e9pe&t even non*?ormons to #ollo' the olen R%le! .ivine origin or not, the pra&ti&al p%rpose serve by the ?ormon an Je'ish ietary r%les is to help members o# those gro%ps isting%ish themselves an set themselves apart as a sepa* rate &omm%nity by #ollo'ing behavioral restri&tions bining only on gro%p members ;an inee, these stri&t r%les appear to be one &ompo* nent o# these gro%ps@ s%&&ess at maintaining their separate ientity=! These r%les o# &ohesiveness &an serve an important p%rpose #or gro%p members an #or the &omm%nity, b%t they sho%l never be &on* #%se 'ith the %niversal moral prin&iples emboie in the three R%les! 8hen obeying a r%le o# &ohesiveness 'o%l re%ire yo% to brea$ one o# the three R%lesespe&ially the #irst t'othen yo% m%st #ollo' the %niversal R%le an isobey the r%le o# &ohesiveness! 2
?>RA+TF
Closely relate to r%les o# &ohesion ;an o#ten overlapping 'ith them= are r%les o# p%rity &entere on helping %s gro' &loser to the ivine! +n his boo$ The :appiness :ypothesis , psy&hologist Jonathan :ait is&%sses resear&h that ini&ates that one o# the maor gro%ps into 'hi&h o%r moral &on&epts &l%ster is Lthe ethi& o# ivinity!M 8hen people apply the ethi& o# ivinity, Ltheir goal is to prote&t #rom egra* ation the ivinity that e9ists in ea&h person, an they val%e living in a p%re an holy 'ay, #ree #rom moral poll%tants s%&h as l%st, gree, an hatre!M100 LThe &ore iea o# the ethi& o# ivinity is that ea&h person has ivinity insie, so the ieal so&iety helps people live in a 'ay &onsis* tent 'ith that ivinity!101 ?oral r%les base on the ethi& o# ivinity are #o&%se on main* taining p%rity! >%r esire #or p%rity is relate to the nat%ral emotion o# isg%st! 8e normally #eel isg%st in relation to several i##erent areas3 L#oo, boy pro%&ts, animals, se9, eath, boy envelope violations, an hygiene,M102 an r%les o# p%rity %s%ally #o&%s on these areas! D9amples o# these types o# r%les range #rom the ietary r%les o# many &%lt%res an religions to r%les abo%t hygiene ;s%&h as ta$ing o## shoes be#ore en* tering the home in many Asian &%lt%res= to r%les abo%t se9%al morality an &o%rtship ;'hi&h are #o%n in every &%lt%re an religion=! 8e seem to #eel a nat%ral emotional, psy&hologi&al &onne&tion bet'een physi&al p%rity an internal #eelings o# moral avan&ement an spirit%al trans&enen&e! ?oral r%les o# p%rity are #o&%se on helping %s separate the pro#ane an irty o%tsie 'orl #rom an inner 'orl o# p%* rity an ivinity! They o not ne&essarily have any real*'orl %sti#i&a* tion ;altho%gh many o# them o?ormonism@s prohibition on to* ba&&o is a goo iea, inepenent o# any religio%s %sti#i&ation #or it=, b%t they are a potent 'ay o# helping %s have po'er#%l spirit%al emo* tional e9perien&es that inspire %s to live more virt%o%s lives! Hollo'ing e9ternal r%les o# p%rity helps en&o%rage #eelings o# the ivine 'ithin %s, 'hi&h invigorates o%r esire to see$ in'ar p%rity in o%r tho%ghts an a&tions to'ars others! These r%les o# p%rity are th%s also r%les o# i* vinity 'hi&h help %s live more elevate, virt%o%s lives!
240
T:D TR+PD PAT: J%st as 'ith r%les o# &ohesion, #ollo'ing r%les o# p%rity are not as important as #ollo'ing the higher moral r%les that g%ie ho' 'e a&* t%ally treat other people! R%les o# p%rity are th%s o# lo'er priority than the #irst t'o %niversal r%les! R%les o# p%rity sho%l help en&o%rage %s to obey the other r%les, not ra' %s a'ay #rom them! Their p%rpose is to help %s live more virt%o%slythey are not ens in themselves that m%st be obeye #or their o'n sa$e! As Jes%s sai, Lthe sabbath 'as mae #or man, an not man #or the sabbath!M10 8hen obeying a r%le o# p%rity 'o%l re%ire yo% to brea$ one o# the three R%lesespe&ially the #irst t'othen yo% m%st #ollo' the %niversal R%le an isobey the r%le o# p%rity! Dven more important than is&overing tr%th abo%t the 'orl aro%n %s is learning ho' 'e sho%l a&t! iving morally is the best thing ea&h o# %s &an o to ma$e the 'orl a better pla&e an help %s live happy, #%l#illing lives! The more morally 'e a&t, the better o%r lives, &omm%nities an so&ieties 'ill be! o, remember the three r%les3 R%le 13 A&t 'ith altr%ism an love, an live the golen r%le! R%le 23 A&t no' to b%il a better #%t%re! R%le 3 A&t #or the &omm%nity@s 'el#are!
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Anthony +! Ja&$, Abigail .a'son, Katelyn egany, Regina ! e&$ie, Kevin arry, Angela Ci&&ia, an Abraham nyer&, L#?R+ reveals re&ipro&al inhibition bet'een so&ial an physi&al &ognitive o* mains,M "e%ro+mage , (ol! //, "o! 1, Hebr%ary 201, Pp! 65I401, https3))'''!s&ien&eire&t!&om)s&ien&e)arti&le)pii)10561112 010/4/, http3))'''!to nya&$!org)#iles)2012 "e%roimage Ja&$ et al >pposing.om ainsS%n&orre&te proo# ;1=!p#! 2 ars :all, Petter Johansson, an Thomas tranberg, Li#ting the (eil o# ?orality3 Choi&e linness an Attit%e Reversals on a el#*Trans#orming %rvey,M P> >"D , (ol! , "o! , eptember 1, 2012, e4545, http3))'''!plosone!org )arti&le)in#oAoi 2H10!112Ho%rnal!pone!004545! .eborah A! mall, eorge oe'enstein, Pa%l lovi&, Lympathy an &allo%sness3 The impa&t o# eliberative tho%ght on onations to ienti#iable an statisti&al vi&tims,M >rganiBational ehavior an :%man .e&ision Pro&esses , (ol! 102, "o! 2, ?ar&h 200, pp! 14I15, https3))'''!s&ien&eire&t!&om)s&ien&e)arti&le)pii)0 4560/00005, http3))opim!'harton!%penn!e%)ris$)library) J200>:.PS.ASsympathy!p# ! 4 Jesse Preston an Ryan ! Ritter, L.i##erent e##e&ts o# Religion an o on proso&iality 'ith the ingro%p an o%tgro%p,M Personality an o&ial Psy&hology %lletin , (ol! , "o! , eptember 201, http3))psp!sagep%b!&om)&ontent)early)201)06)21)014/1/2 14!long, http3))labs!psy&hology!illinois!e%)pramlab)Pape rs)PrestonSRitterSPP!p#! 5 .e%teronomy 32 ;"R(= / ?atthe' 1034 ;"R(= %$e 223/ ;"R(= 6 ?atthe' 53, 44 ;"R(= ?atthe' 312 ;"R(= 10 John 63 ;KJ(= 11 art Dhrman, ?is%oting Jes%s , 2005, p! /5! 12 art Dhrman, Jes%s, +nterr%pte , 200, p! 61E see also art Dhrman, ?is%oting Jes%s , 2005! 1
242
T:D TR+PD PAT: 1 art Dhrman, Jes%s, +nterr%pte , 200E see also art Dhrman, ?is* %oting Jes%s , 2005, pp /5*/6! 14 Joris ammers, .ieeri$ A! tapel, an Aam .! alins$y, LPo'er +n&reases :ypo&risy ?oraliBing in Reasoning, +mmorality in ehav* ior,M Psy&hologi&al &ien&e , (ol! 21, "o! 5, ?ay 2010, pp! * 44, http3))pss!sagep%b!&om)&ontent)21)5), http3))epo&a!gl obo!&om)ei&)/1/)/1/SPo'erS:ypo&risySPsy&hS&ien&eSinSpr ess!p# ! 15 .ana R! Carne, .! .%bois, "! "i&hipor%$, ! ten rin$e, .! .! R%&$er, A! .! alins$y, LThe .e&eption D%ilibri%m3 The Po'er#%l Are etter iars b%t the Po'erless Are etter ie*.ete&tors,M 7n* p%blishe ?an%s&ript, http3))#a&%lty!ha as!ber$eley!e%)anaS&arn ey)e&eption!e%illibri%m!ms!an!ols!p# ! 1/ There are t'o e9&eptions3 1= &hilren, 'hose brains are still evel* oping an learning an 2= the mentally ill, 'hose brains are not 'or$ing right in some 'ayE in both &ases, there is a lo'er stanar o# a&&o%ntability#or &hilren, 'e apply a lo'er stanar o# a&* &o%ntability that in&reases as the &hilren gro' an mat%re an 'e ta$e time to tea&h an train them 'hen they ma$e mista$es, #or the mentally ill, 'e give them treatment an also sometimes remove them #rom so&iety i# they pose a anger to themselves or to others! 1 Hor e9ample, see Arth%r C! roo$s, ross "ational :appiness3 8hy :appiness ?atters #or Ameri&aan :o' 8e Can et ?ore o# +t , 2006E Hraser +nstit%te, D&onomi& Hreeom o# the 8orl3 2004 Ann%al Report , pp! 22*25, http3))'''!#reethe'orl
!&om)2004)e#'2004&h1!p# ! 16 Roy H! a%meister, D!J! ?asi&o, an C! "athan .e'all, LProso* &ial bene#its o# #eeling #ree3 isbelie# in #ree 'ill in&reases aggression an re%&es help#%lness,M Personality an o&ial Psy&hology %l* letin , (ol! 5, "o! 2, Hebr%ary 200, https3))'''!n&bi!nlm!nih!gov )p%bme)1141/26, http3))'''*so&psy!l!%*to$yo!a&!p)$arasa' a)Ssr&)s&11)a%meister 20et20al!20262002!p#! 1 ABim H! hari##, Ara "orenBayan, Lo +s 8at&hing Fo% Priming o Con&epts +n&reases Proso&ial ehavior in an Anonymo%s D&o* nomi& ame,M Psy&hologi&al &ien&e , (ol! 16, "o! , eptember 24
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20
21
22
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200, pp! 60*, https3))'''!n&bi!nl m!nih!gov)p%bme)1/0 ! ?elissa ateson, .aniel "ettle an ilbert Roberts, LC%es o# be* ing 'at&he enhan&e &ooperation in a real*'orl setting,M iology etters , (ol! 2, "o! , eptember 22, 200/, pp! 412*414, http3)) rsbl!royalso&ietyp%blishing!org)&ontent)2))412 , http3))rsbl!roya lso&ietyp%blishing!org)&ontent)2))412!#%ll!p#E Kevin J! :aley an .aniel ?!T! Hessler, L"oboy@s 'at&hingG %btle &%es a##e&t gen* erosity in an anonymo%s e&onomi& game,M Dvol%tion an :%man e* havior , (ol! 2/, "o! , ?ay 2005, pp! 245*5/, http3))'''!s&ien&e ire&t!&om)s&ien&e)arti&le)pii)100516050000/! Ri&har Jasno', A ate Perio :ierati& 8isom Te9t3 P! roo$lyn 4!216!15 , 12, p! 5, http3))oi!%&hi&ago!e%)p #)sao&52!p#! The version o# the olen R%le #o%n in this Dgyptian te9t #rom the #o%rth &ent%ry C says LNtOhat 'hi&h yo% hate to be one to yo%, o not o it to another!M +so&rates ;4/I6 C=, 1314 ;.emo&rit%s=, LCon%&t yo%rsel# to'ar yo%r parents as yo% 'o%l have yo%r &hilren &on%&t them* selves to'ar yo%,M http3))'''!perse%s!t%#ts!e%)hopper)te9tGo& +so&!201!14E +so&rates, 2324 ;"i&o&les=, L.eal 'ith 'ea$er states as yo% 'o%l e9pe&t stronger states to eal 'ith yo%,M http3))'' '!perse%s!t%#ts!e%)hopper)te9tGo&+so&!202!24E +so&rates, 3/1 ;"i&o&les or the Ciprians=, L.o not o to others that 'hi&h angers yo% 'hen they o it to yo%,M http3))'''!perse%s!t%#ts!e%)hopper)te9 tGo&+so&!20!/1! Con#%&i%s, Anale&ts ! 15324, L8hat yo% o not 'ant one to yo%r* sel#, o not o to others,M http3))&te9t!org)anale&ts)'ei*ling*gongE Con#%&i%s, Anale&ts ! 5312, L8hat + o not 'ish men to o to me, + also 'ish not to o to men,M http3))&te9t! org)anale&ts)gong*ye*&h angE Con#%&i%s, Anale&ts ! 1232, N(irt%e isO not to o to others as yo% 'o%l not 'ish one to yo%rsel#,M http3))&te9t!org)anale&ts)ya n*y%an! ?atthe' 312 ;"R(= Con#%&i%s, Anale&ts ! 15324, L8hat yo% o not 'ant one to yo%r* sel#, o not o to others,M http3))&te9t!org)anale&ts)'ei*ling*gong! 244
T:D TR+PD PAT: 2/ eorge ernar ha', ?a9ims #or Revol%tionists , 10, http3))' 2
26
2 0 1
''!g%tenberg!org)&a&he)ep%b)2/10)pg2/10!html ! 8alter T! ta&e, The Con&ept o# ?orals , 1, p! 1/, https3))ar& hive!org)stream)&on&epto#morals02/0mbp)&on&epto#morals02 /0mbpSv%!t9t! LZN.Ooing as yo% 'o%l be one by@ in&l%es ta$ing into a&&o%nt yo%r neighbo%rYs tastes as yo% 'o%l that he sho%l ta$e yo%rs into a&&o%nt!M Karl Popper, The >pen o&iety an +ts Dnemies, (ol! ++ , 5th e!, 1//, p! 501 ;2011 printing=, http3))boo$s!google!&om)boo$sGi &Q>a'a98Pv
?>RA+TF ?i&helle %&iano, L:appiness is a personal;ity= thing3 the geneti&s o# personality an 'ell*being in a representative sample,M Psy&ho* logi&al &ien&e , (ol! 1 "o! , ?ar&h 2006, pp! 205I10, http3))' ''!n&bi!nlm!nih!gov)m)p%bme)16156) , http3))'''!mi%s! 'is&!e%)#inings)p#s)6!p# E Thomas J! o%&har, Jr! ;see Chap* ter 5, #ootnote 12=, Leneti& +n#l%en&e on :%man Psy&hologi&al Traits3 A %rvey!M 2 ! .avies et! al!,, Lenome*'ie asso&iation st%ies establish that h%man intelligen&e is highly heritable an polygeni&,M ?ole&%lar Psy&hiatry , (ol! 1/, "o! 10, >&tober 2011, pp! /*1005, htt p3))'''!n&bi!nlm!nih!gov)pm&)arti&les)P?C16255), http3)) '''!behavioralne%ros&ien&e!org)ne%rogeneti&sS#iles).avies20et 20al!20*20201120*207n$no'n!p# ! ame E Thomas J! o%&har, Jr! ;see Chapter 5, #ootnote 12=! 4 oo :y%n Rhee an +r'in .! 8alman, Leneti& an Dnvironmen* tal +n#l%en&es on Antiso&ial ehavior3 A ?eta*Analysis o# T'in an Aoption t%ies,M Psy&hologi&al %lletin , (ol! 126, "o! , ?ay 2002, pp! 40*52, http3))9!oi!org)10!10)00*20!126! !40, https3))in#otomb!&om)ev$op!p# ! 5 ! Ale9anra %rt, LRethin$ing Dnvironmental Contrib%tions to Chil an Aoles&ent Psy&hopathology3 A ?eta*Analysis o# hare Dnvironmental +n#l%en&es,M Psy&hologi&al %lletin , (ol! 15, "o! 4, J%ly 200, /06*/, http3))'''!n &bi!nlm!nih!gov)p%bme)15 6/1/4, http3))psy&h!&olorao!e%)['ill&%tt)p#s)%rtS200!p#! / .avi Ale9aner Cesarini, Dssays on eneti& (ariation an D&o* nomi& ehavior, ?assa&h%setts +nstit%te o# Te&hnology Ph!.! .is* sertation, J%ne 2010, pp! 20 an 5, http3))spa&e!mit!e%)hanle )121!1)56, http3))spa&e!mit!e%)bitstream)hanle)121! 1)56)/55601!p#! ame , pp!114*1/E Ari :yytinen, Pe$$a +lma$%nnas, Dvar Johans* son, an >tto Toivanen, L:eritability o# i#etime +n&ome,M :el* sin$i Center o# D&onomi& Resear&h .is&%ssion Paper "o! /4 , April 2014, http3))papers!ssrn!&om)sol)papers!&#mGabstra&tSi 2252/4, https3))hela!helsin$i!#i)bitstream)hanle)101 6)6 24/
T:D TR+PD PAT:
6
40
41
42
4
661):DCDRS.P/4!p#! John C! oehlin, Joseph ?! :orn, Joy ! Drnst, Leneti& an Dn* vironmental +n#l%en&es on A%lt i#e >%t&omes3 Dvien&e #rom the Te9as Aoption Proe&t,M ehavioral eneti&s , (ol! , "o! , ?ay 200, pp! 4/*/, http3))'''!n&b i!nlm!nih!gov)p%bme)154 0//, http3))'''!resear&hgate!net)pro#ile)JohnSoehlin)p%bli&ati on)/4516Seneti&SanSenvironmentalSin#l%en&esSonSa%ltSli #eSo%t&omesSevien&eS#romStheSTe9asSAoptionSProe&t)lin$s) 0ee&5214e&be/1ea000000!p#! ibran :emani, et! al!, L+n#eren&e o# the eneti& Ar&hite&t%re 7n* erlying ?+ an :eight 'ith the 7se o# 20,240 ibling Pairs,M The Ameri&an Jo%rnal o# :%man eneti&s , (ol! , "o! 5, "o* vember , 201, pp! 6/5*65, http3))9!oi!org)10!101/)!ahg!2 01!10!005, http3))'''!t'ins%$!a&!%$)'p*&ontent)%ploas)201 )11):emani*AJ:?*201!p# ! Carlos ?! rilo an ?i&hael H! Pog%e*eile, LThe nat%re o# envi* ronmental in#l%en&es on 'eight an obesity3 a behavior geneti& anal* ysis,M Psy&hologi&al %lletin , (ol! 110, "o! , "ovember 11, pp! 520*, http3))'''!n&bi!nlm!nih!gov)p%bme)15621! Kais% Kes$italo, Karri ilventoinen, :ely T%orila, ?ar$%s Perola, Kirsi :! Pietil\inen, Aila Rissanen, an Jaa$$o Kaprio, Leneti& an environmental &ontrib%tions to #oo %se patterns o# yo%ng a%lt t'ins,M Physiology ehavior , (ol! , "o! 1*2, Jan%ary 2006, pp! 25*242, http3))9!oi!org)10!101/)!physbeh!200!06!025 , http 3))'''!iogenes*e%!org)" e's)arti$el20Jaa$$o!p# Peter K! :atemi, John R! :ibbing! arah D! ?elan, ?atthe' C! Keller, John R! Al#or, Kevin ! mith, "i&holas ! ?artin, an inon J! Daves, L"ot by T'ins Alone3 7sing the D9tene Hamily .esign to +nvestigate eneti& +n#l%en&e on Politi&al elie#s,M Ameri* &an Jo%rnal o# Politi&al &ien&e , (ol! 54, "o! , J%ly 2010, pp! 6* 614, http3))oi!'iley!&om)10!1111)!1540*50!2010!004/1!9, ht tp3))'''!matthe'&$eller!&om)1/!:atemi!et!al!2010!"%&!#am!aps! p#! Peter J! oe'en, Christopher T! .a'es, "ina ?aBar, ?agn%s Jo* hannesson, Philipp Koellinger, Patri$ K!D! ?agn%sson, LThe heri* 24
?>RA+TF tability o# moral stanars #or everyay ishonesty,M Jo%rnal o# D&onomi& ehavior >rganiBation , (ol! , eptember 201, pp! /I//, http3))'''!s&ien&eire&t!&om)s&ien&e)o%rnal)aip)01 /2/61, http3))papers!ssrn!&om)sol)papers!&#mGabstra&tSi22 150! The a%thors &on&l%e Lthat m%&h o# the variation in per* &eptions o# the a&&eptability o# ishonest a&tions is attrib%table to geneti& variation bet'een inivi%als!M They #o%n the #ollo'ing levels o# heritability ;or the per&entage o# varian&e in a trait that &an be attrib%te to hereity= #or believing that these behaviors 'ere a&&eptable3 &laiming si&$ ays 'hen one is not si&$3 42!5E not paying p%bli& transit #ees3 42!E avoiing ta9es3 2/!E an a&* &epting bribes3 !! 44 J%ith Ri&h :arris, L8hy CanYt irth >rer A&&o%nt #or the .i#* #eren&es et'een iblingsGM 2001, http3))%ithri&hharris!in#o)tn a)birth*orer)sibi##!htm! 45 Thomas J! o%&har, Jr! ;see Chapter 5, #ootnote 12=! 4/ Peter K! :atemi an Rose ?&.ermott, LThe geneti&s o# politi&s3 is&overy, &hallenges, an progress,M Trens in eneti&s , (ol! 26, "o! 10, >&tober 2012, pp! 525*5, http3))'''!&ell!&om)trens )geneti&s)abstra&t)01/6*525;12=00111*4, http3))'''!l%isarr oyo!&om)'p*&ontent)%ploas)2012)10)enCAti&a*y*pol CA.ti&a*:atemi1!p# ! 4 Thomas J! o%&har, Jr! ;see Chapter 5, #ootnote 12=! 46 Peter K! :atemi an Rose ?&.ermott ;see #ootnote 4/=E Thomas J! o%&har, Jr! ;see Chapter 5, #ootnote 12=! 4 ryan Caplan, LThe reeers@ C%p,M The 8all treet Jo%rnal , J%ne 1, 2010, http3))'''!'s!&om)ne's)arti&les)10 001424052 460426504551201221562/! 50 These #irst three %estions &ome #rom rian Caplan, el#ish Rea* sons to :ave ?ore Kis , 2011! 51 rian Caplan ;see #ootnote 4=! 52 Kostain K%shlev, D9ploring Parental 8ell*being3 +s Chil&are As* so&iate 'ith Parental 8ell*eing an 8hat Ha&tors Can Dnhan&e +t , ?asters Thesis, Ree College, 2006, pp! *6, https3))&ir&le!%b&!
&a)bitstream)hanle)242)/65)%b&S2011S#allS$%shlevS$osta 246
T:D TR+PD PAT:
5 54
55 5/
5 56 5 /0 /1 /2 / /4 /5
// / /6
in!p# ! ame at 10*12, 2/! ! Katherine "elson an Kostain K%shlev, LThe Pains an Plea* s%res o# Parenting3 8hen, 8hy, an :o' +s Parenthoo Asso&iate 8ith ?ore or ess 8ell*eingG,M Psy&hologi&al %lletin , (ol! 140, "o! , ?ay 2014, pp! 64/*65, p! 6/, http3))9!oi!org)10!10 )a005444, http3))sonaly%bomirs$y!&om)#iles)2012)0)"els on*K%shlev*y%bomirs$y*in*press1!p#! ame at 660! Anna arano's$a an Anna ?atysia$, L.oes parenthoo in&rease happinessG Dvien&e #or Polan,M in (ienna Fearboo$ o# Pop%la* tion Resear&h, (ol! , Repro%&tive e&ision*ma$ing , pp! 0*25, 2011, http3))'''!stor!org)stable)4142615, https3))ssl*$olegia !sgh!'a'!pl)pl)KAD)str%$t%ra)+si.)p%bli$a&e).o&%ments)8o r$ingSPaper)++.S8PS14 S2011!p#! Kostain K%shlev ;see #ootnote 52= at 2*E ! Katherine "elson an Kostain K%shlev ; see #ootnote 54= at 652 an 6! ! Katherine "elson an Kostain K%shlev ;see #ootnote 54= at 6! ame! ame at 6*6! ame at 662! ame at 66! rian Caplan ;see #ootnote 4=!
! Katherine "elson an Kostain K%shlev ;see #ootnote 54= at 660! Kei ?! "omag%&hi an ?elissa A! ?il$ie, LCosts an Re'ars o# Chilren3 The D##e&ts o# e&oming a Parent on A%lts@ ives!M Jo%r* nal o# ?arriage an Hamily , (ol! /5, "o! 2, ?ay, 200, pp! 5/* 4, http3))'''!stor!org)stable) /00062! ! Katherine "elson an Kostain K%shlev ;see #ootnote 54= at 661! ame at 66! Thomas ! >@Connor, Avshalom Caspi, John C! .eHries, Robert Plomin, LAre Asso&iations et'een Parental .ivor&e an Chilren@s A%stment eneti&ally ?eiateG An Aoption t%y,M .evelop* mental Psy&hology , (ol! /, "o! 4, J%ly 2000, pp! 42*, http3)) '''!apa!org)p%bs)o%rnals)releases)ev/442!p#E Charles ?%r* 24
?>RA+TF
/ 0
1
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4
ray, Coming Apart3 The tate o# 8hite Ameri&a, 1/0*2010 , 2012, Chapter 15! Charles ?%rray ;see #ootnote /6=, Chapter 6! Kenneth ! Kenler an Jessi&a :! a$er! Leneti& in#l%en&es on meas%res o# the environment3 a systemati& revie',M Psy&hologi&al ?ei&ine , (ol! , "o! 5, 200, p! /1! Thomas ! >@Connor, et! al! ; see #ootnote /6=E rian ?! .@>no* #rio, Dri& T%r$heimer, Robert D! Dmery, :ermine :! ?aes, J%y ilberg, inon J! Daves, LA &hilren o# t'ins st%y o# parental i* vor&e an o##spring psy&hopathology,M Jo%rnal o# Chil Psy&hology an Psy&hiatry , (ol! 46, "o! , 200, pp! //I/5, https3))'' '!n&bi!nlm!nih!gov)pm&)arti&les)P?C204/), http3))people!vi rginia!e%)[ent&)papers2)ono #rio2!p#! ame ! Anthony Pai$, LAoles&ent e9%ality an the Ris$ o# ?arital .is* sol%tion,M Jo%rnal o# ?arriage an Hamily, (ol! , "o! 2, April 2011, pp! 42I465, http3))onlinelibrary!'iley!&om)oi)10!1111 )!141*!2010!0061!9)#%ll , http3))'''!%nav!es)matrimoni oy#amilia)b)top)2011)Pai$SJ??SAoles&ent*se9%ality!p#! Casey D! Copen, Kimberly .aniels, Jonathan (espa, an 8illiam .! ?osher, LHirst ?arriages in the 7nite tates3 .ata Hrom the 200/I2010 "ational %rvey o# Hamily ro'th,M "ational :ealth tatisti&s Reports , "o! 4, ?ar&h 22, 2012, http3))'''!&&!go v)n&hs)ata)nhsr)nhsr04!p# E &ott ?! tanley an alena K! Rhoaes, LThe Timing o# Cohabitation an Dngagement3 +mpa&t on Hirst an e&on ?arriages,M Jo%rnal o# ?arriage an Hamily , (ol! 2, "o! 4, A%g%st 2010, pp! 0/*16, https3))'''!n&bi!nlm! nih!gov)pm&)arti&les)P?C2045/1) E alena K! Rhoaes, &ott ?! tanley, an :o'ar J! ?ar$man, LThe pre*engagement &ohab* itation e##e&t3 a repli&ation an e9tension o# previo%s #inings,M Jo%r* nal o# Hamily Psy&hology ! (ol! 2, "o! 1, Hebr%ary 200, pp! 10* 11, https3))'''!n&bi!nlm!nih!gov)p%bme)1201/5E see also .avi Popenoe an arbara .a#oe 8hitehea, Lho%l 8e ive TogetherG 8hat Fo%ng A%lts "ee to Kno' abo%t Cohabitation be#ore ?arriage, A Comprehensive Revie' o# Re&ent Resear&h,M 250
T:D TR+PD PAT: The "ational ?arriage Proe&t3 The "e9t eneration eries, http3) )'''!smartma rriages!&om)&ohabit!html! 5 ame ! / Charles ?%rray ;see #ootnote /6=, Chapter 15! P!:! ?ehta, an R!A! Josephs, LTestosterone,M in R! a%meister an K! .! (ohs ;Ds!=, Dn&y&lopeia o# o&ial Psy&hology , 200! 6 John 8right, :anboo$ o# Crime Correlates , 200! !J! erg an K!D! 8ynne*D'ars LChanges in testosterone, &orti* sol, an estraiol levels in men be&oming #athers,M ?ayo Clini& Pro* &eeings , (ol! /, "o! 1, pp! 562I52, J%ne 2001, https3))'''!n& bi!nlm!nih!gov)p%bme)114/, http3))'''!resear&hgate!net) p%bli&ation)11446SChangesSinStestosteroneS&ortisolSanSes traiolSlevelsSinSmenSbe&omingS#athers)#ile)e4150a046 &#!p#E .! ?araBBiti an .! Canale, L:ormonal &hanges 'hen #all* ing in love,M Psy&hone%roeno&rinology , (ol! 2 "o! , A%g%st 2004, pp! 1I/, https3))'''!n&bi!nlm!nih!gov)p%bme)1510 ! 60 Robert J! ampson, John :! a%b, an Christopher 8imer, L.oes ?arriage Re%&e CrimeG A Co%nter#a&t%al Approa&h To 8ithin*+n* ivi%al Ca%sal D##e&ts,M Criminology , (ol! 44, "o! , pp! 4/5*506, http3))s&holar!harvar!e%)sampson)#iles)200/S&riminologySla% b'imer!p# E Din, Kathryn, Timothy J! "elson, an Re&helle Para* nal! LHatherhoo an +n&ar&eration As Potential T%rning Points in the Criminal Careers o# 7ns$ille ?en,M pp! 4/*5, in ?ary Patillo, .avi 8eiman, an r%&e 8estern, Ds!, +mprisoning Ameri&a3 The o&ial D##e&ts o# ?ass +n&ar&eration , 2004, http3))'''!h$s!harva r!e%)ine%ality)%mmer)%mmer01)papers)Din01b!p# ! 61 Hor a great ill%stration o# the magnit%e o# &hange &a%se by the in%strial revol%tion, see :ans Rosling, The Joy o# tats , C Ho%r, http3))'''!yo%t%be!&om)'at&hGvb$R Foo! 62 Kim :ill, A!?! :%rtao, an R!! 8al$er, L:igh a%lt mortality among :i'i h%nter*gatherers3 impli&ations #or h%man evol%tion,M Jo%rnal o# :%man Dvol%tion , (ol! 52, "o! 4, April 200, pp! 44* 454, https3))'''!s&ien&eire&t!&om)s&ien&e)arti&le)pii)00424 640/0021, http3))&o%rses!'ashington!e%)evpsy&h):i'i*h%nte r*gatherers*J:D200!p# E regory Clar$, A Hare'ell to Alms , 200! 251
?>RA+TF 6 teven Pin$er, The etter Angels o# >%r "at%re3 8hy (iolen&e :as .e&line , 2011E teven e lan&, Katherine D! Register, Constant attles3 8hy 8e Hight , 2004E The D&onomist , L"oble or savageG
64
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The era o# the h%nter*gatherer 'as not the so&ial an environmental Den that some s%ggest,M .e&ember 1, 200, http3))'''!e&onom ist!&om)noe)10260 E regory Clar$, A Hare'ell to Alms , 200! ame ! tanley ebergott, The Ameri&ans3 An D&onomi& Re&or , 164, pp! 2* ;an the rest o# the boo$, too=! tephen .! %tB, &ien&e o# Darth ystems , 2004, pp! 5*40, http3))boo$s!google!&om)boo$sGiJ4ArbvQQ.DCpgPA5 E ion Dshel an Pamela A! ?artin, LDnergy, an lobal 8arm* ing,M Darth +ntera&tions , (ol! 10, "o! , April 200/, pp! 1*1, htt p3))pge!%&hi&ago!e%)'or$shop)o&%ment s)martin1!p#! D'ar >! 8ilson, The H%t%re o# i#e , 200, p! ! Robert +! ?! .%nbar, L"eo&orte9 siBe as a &onstraint on gro%p siBe in primates,M Jo%rnal o# :%man Dvol%tion , (ol! 22 "o! /, J%ne 12, pp! 4/I4, https3))'''!s&ien&eire &t!&om)s&ien&e)arti&l e)pii)004246420061J E http3))isites!harvar!e%)#s)o&s)i&b! topi&5145/6!#iles).%nbarS"eo&orte920siBe20as20a20&o nstant20on20gro%p20siBe20in20primates!p# ! Robert +! ?! .%nbar, LCoevol%tion o# neo&orte9 siBe, gro%p siBe an lang%age in h%mans,M ehavioral an rain &ien&es , (ol! 1/ "o! 4, 1, pp! /61*5, http3))gro%ps!lis!illinois!e%)amag)lange v)paper)%nbar&oevol%tion>#!html , http3))'''!%vm!e%)[p os)#iles)papers)others)1)%nbar1a!p# !
0 ame! 1 Christopher ?&Carty, Peter .! Kill'orth, :! R! ernar, D%gene C! Johnsen, an ene A! helley, LComparing T'o ?ethos #or Dsti* mating "et'or$ iBe,M :%man >rganiBation , (ol! /0, "o! 1, pring 2001, pp! 26IE see also, :! R! ernar, ene Ann helley, Peter Kill'orth, L:o' ?%&h o# a "et'or$ oes the an R8 .rege 7pGM o&ial "et'or$s , (ol! , "o! 1, pp! 4I/, 16! 2 Robert +!?! .%nbar, LCoevol%tion o# neo&orte9 siBe, gro%p siBe an lang%age in h%mansM ;see #ootnote 6=! 252
T:D TR+PD PAT: Hor a etaile es&ription o# the evien&e that violen&e has been e* &reasing, an a is&%ssion o# &a%ses, see teven Pin$er, The etter Angels o# >%r "at%re3 8hy (iolen&e :as .e&line , 2011! 4 Robert .! P%tnam, LD Pl%rib%s 7n%m3 .iversity an Comm%nity in the T'enty*#irst Cent%ry The 200/ Johan $ytte PriBe e&t%re,M &aninavian Politi&al t%ies , (ol! 0, "o! 2, J%ne 200, pp! 1I 14, http3))onlinelibrary!'iley!&om)oi)10!1111)!14/*4!2 00!001/!9)p#! 5 ame at 15E John eo, Lo'ling 8ith >%r >'n3 Robert P%tnam@s sobering ne' iversity resear&h s&ares its a%thor,M City Jo%rnal , J%ne 25, 200, http3))'''!&ity*o%rnal!org)html)eon200*0/*25l!html! / Christopher Clag%e, %Banne leason, an tephen Kna&$! L.eter* minants o# asting .emo&ra&y in Poor Co%ntries3 C%lt%re, .evel* opment, an +nstit%tions!M Annals o# the Ameri&an A&aemy o# Po* liti&al an o&ial &ien&es ,(ol! 5, "o! 1, pp! 1*41, Jan%ary 2001, http3))ann!sagep%b!&om)&ontent)5)1)1/!abstra&t, http3) )mpra!%b!%ni*m%en&hen!e)26046)1)lastingSemo&ra&y!p# E C%r* tis Thompson! LPoliti&al tability an ?inority ro%ps in %rma,M eographi&al Revie' , (ol! 65, "o! , J%ly 15, pp! 2/*265, htt p3))'''!amergeog!org)gr)abstra&t)%ly5*thomson!htmlE James Rogers, :onors Thesis3 The +mportan&e o# the ?ile Class in Po* liti&al tability an the trength o# .emo&ra&ies , righam Fo%ng 7niversity, 2005! ee Ri&har osis an Cana&e Al&orta, Lignaling, soliarity, an the sa&re3 the evol%tion o# religio%s behavior,M Dvol%tionary An* thropology (ol! 12, "o! /, "ov! 200, pp! 2//*/6, http3))9!o i!org)10!10022Hevan!10120, http3))'''!anth!%&onn!e%)#a&%l ty)sosis)p%bli&ations)sosisanal&ortaDA!p#! 6 +nee, the . &h%r&h itsel# allo's al&ohol to be serve in its City Cree$ Center mall in o'nto'n alt a$e City! Jonathan :ait, The :appiness :ypothesis , 200/, pp! 16*211! 100 ame , p! 166! 101 ame , p! 20! 102 ame , p! 166! 10?ar$ 232 ;KJ(=! 25
The #ollo'ing stories are #i&tion! They are not abo%t tr%e events, b%t are %se#%l #or learning Tr%th! Three &ities, ea&h some istan&e #rom the other, 'ere sprea o%t along one sie o# a great river! The river 'as 'ie an eep, 'ith a po'er#%l an #ast &%rrent! %mber 'as in short s%pply, an boats 'ere s&ar&e! Crossing the river 'as angero%s an rarely a&&omplishe! There 'ere legens that a&ross the river lay an %nis&overe &o%ntry, 'here &o%l be #o%n great 'ealth an $no'lege! >&&asionally, those 'ith an avent%ro%s an see$ing spirit 'o%l sear&h o%t that 'ealth an $no'l* ege! They 'o%l iligently save their reso%r&es to be able to b%il a boat, an then &are#%lly pra&ti&e their boating s$ills to be able to ma$e the &rossing! 8hen they #inally mae the &rossing an then ret%rne, they spo$e o# marvelo%s 'oners that &o%l only be %nerstoo by go* ing there an e9perien&ing them! Da&h &ity ha s$ille engineers an b%ilers &apable o# b%iling a brige, an materials ne&essary to o so! +ntrig%e an e9&ite by the stories o# the %nis&overe &o%ntry, the people o# ea&h &ity e&ie to b%il a brige to &onne&t itsel# to the other sie! +n the #irst &ity, the &itiBens 'ere &on&erne 'ith the trivialities o# li#e, s%&h as sporting &ontests, entertainment, an personal gossip! They &o%l not be bothere 'ith the etails o# s%&h things as brige* b%iling! They le#t these sorts o# problems to their leaers to solve, blinly giving them po'er over s%&h matters! "o one monitore the leaers or hel them a&&o%ntable #or their a&tions! e&a%se o# this, the evil an &orr%pt 'ere most attra&te to leaership positions! Those #e' leaers 'ho i not start o%t &orr%pt 'ere %i&$ly &orr%pte by the sys* temby the la&$ o# a&&o%ntability an by the in#l%en&e o# alreay*&or* r%pt leaers 'ho pre&ee them! The &orr%pt leaers %se their po'er to bene#it themselves an not the people! The leaers is&o%rage %estioning 25
PARAD an inepenent thin$ing, an 'hen anyone trie to &hallenge their leaership, the leaers 'o%l emoniBe an ostra&iBe that person to ne%traliBe that person@s potential ability to threaten their po'er! The leaers &are abo%t money, not abo%t 'isom or $no'lege! 8hen the &ity e&ie to b%il a brige, the leaers &ra#tily re' o%t the pro&ess so they &o%l r%n %p the e9penses an ivert as m%&h money #rom the proe&t to themselves an their &ronies! Dvent%ally, ne' &orr%pt 'o%l* be leaers 'ere able to seiBe po'er an, seeing that m%&h o# the ongo* ing proe&t e9penses 'o%l still go to the ol leaersY &ronies 'ho ha se&%re the b%iling &ontra&ts, they &an&ele the ol brige proe&t, ma$ing e9&%ses abo%t the brige@s %ality an sa#ety, an starte a ne' one they &o%l &ontrol! This pro&ess repeate yet again! The #irst &ity never &omplete a brige, having only the eyesore o# three in&omplete briges %tting o%t partially into the river, only hal# #inishe! The to'nspeople #o%n %tility in the %n#inishe brigesthey %se them #or so&ial gatherings, #or pi&ni&s, an #or #ishing, b%t they never serve the p%rpose #or 'hi&h they 'ere b%ilt, an the meager %ses to 'hi&h they 'ere p%t &o%l not %sti#y the e9pense o# b%iling them! +n the se&on &ity, the 'ealthy an po'er#%l &are abo%t little beyon their o'n so&ial staning an 'ealth! There 'as less personal &orr%ption among the &ity@s leaers, b%t they 'ere &ontrolle by the elite &itiBens, an the leaers manage the &ity@s a##airs to #%rther the inter* ests o# the 'ealthy an po'er#%l! The 'ealthy an po'er#%l i not li$e to thin$ o# themselves as being only &on&erne abo%t their o'n inter* ests, so they pretene to ma$e sho's o# their &on&ern #or the interests o# the poor! %t really s%&h sho's 'ere %st stat%s &ompetitions amongst themselves to prove 'hi&h o# them &o%l appear more &on* &erne an &haritable! 8hen it &ame o'n to a &on#li&t bet'een &harity an their o'n interests, they al'ays s%pporte the &ity poli&ies that 'o%l promote their interests! They is&o%rage %estioning an ine* penent thin$ing, an 'hen anyone o%tsie o# the elite trie to &hal* lenge the leaership o# the elite, they 'o%l emoniBe an ostra&iBe that person to ne%traliBe that person@s potential ability to threaten their po'er an position! "one o# the elite 'ante to have a ne' roa to the river an a brige b%ilt near their homes! They 'ere 'orrie abo%t all 256
T:D TR+PD PAT: the e9tra tra##i& on the roa, the %nsavory &hara&ters 'hom it might bring &lose to their neighborhoos, an that it might r%in their vie's o# the river! They 'ante all o# the bene#its o# the brige 'itho%t bearing any o# its &osts! They 'ere &on&erne 'ith %nimportant min%tiae o# the brige@s &onstr%&tion an spent years ebating %nne&essary an irrele* vant etails o# its &onstr%&tion! Dvent%ally the brige 'as b%ilt, b%t on the poor sie o# to'n! The brige ha ta$en so long to b%il that its esign ha been &hange several times over its &onstr%&tion, an it ha be&ome sale 'ith so many %nne&essary elements that it 'as %gly, an not entirely sa#e! To ma$e s%re that the ne' roa an brige i not #a* &ilitate travel #or those they eeme %nesirable, the elite impose a toll on anyone &rossing the brige or %sing the roa! 8orse still, the 'ealthy &itiBens set %p a &ompany o'ne by themselves that 'o%l &ontrol an operate the roa an brige! They planne to %se the pro#its #rom the tolls to pay lavish salaries to themselves an to'ar the %p$eep o# their o'n neighborhoos, rather than #or the bene#it o# all to'nspeople! %t the &o%ntry on the other sie %se a i##erent $in o# &%rren&y than the to'n, an &itiBens #rom the other &o%ntry 'ere %nable to pay the tolls to &ross the brige! eing o##ene at the 'ealthy to'nspeople@s %n%st attempts to &ontrol a&&ess to their &o%ntry an at being sp%rne by the 'ealthy to'nspeople, the &itiBens o# the &o%ntry on the other sie o# the river re#%se to allo' &onta&t bet'een their &o%ntry an the to'n, an they &lose the brige at their en! As in the #irst &ity, the ri&h to'nspeople 'ere still able to #in %tility in the brige, %sing it as a spa&e #or so&ial gatherings, #or pi&ni&s, an #or #ishing, b%t the brige never serve its real p%rpose an the meager %ses to 'hi&h it 'as p%t never %sti#ie the e9pense o# b%iling it! +n the thir &ity, the poor i not let their leaers or the 'ealthy ta$e avantage o# them an the 'ealthy an po'er#%l i not see$ to ab%se their po'er #or their o'n gain! The resients o# ea&h neighborhoo met together o#ten, to #oster a sense o# &omm%nity! They bane together to assist one another, to #ight in%sti&es, an ens%re that 'rongoers 'ere hel a&&o%ntable! They so%ght #or %nity not %st 'ith* in neighborhoos, b%t also bet'een them! The to'nspeople #rom all 'al$s o# li#e strive to &reate #rienships one 'ith another an to be a 25
PARAD %ni#ie people! They $ept their leaers a&&o%ntable an they limite ho' long anyone &o%l remain in po'er! e&a%se o# all this, there 'as m%&h less i##eren&e bet'een in&ome an 'ealth o# the ri&hest an the poorest &itiBens! 8hen the to'nspeople e&ie to b%il a brige, they i not elegate its &onstr%&tion to someone else, b%t ea&h person vol* %nteere his s$ills an &ooperate in his #iel o# e9pertise to b%il it! They b%ilt the roa an brige thro%gh the mile o# to'n, to give ev* eryone e%al a&&ess, an to %ni#y the to'n aro%n the brige! They &are more abo%t the long*term 'el#are o# their &omm%nity than abo%t petty &on&erns! All to'nspeople &ontrib%te their time an money to the brige@s &onstr%&tion, an it 'as b%ilt %i&$ly an e##i&iently! 8hen it 'as one, it 'as bea%ti#%l an be&ame the prie o# the to'n! A&&ess to &ross the river 'as given to all to'nspeople e%ally, be&a%se they ha all &ontrib%te 'hat they &o%l to its &onstr%&tion! There 'as #ree inter* &o%rse bet'een the to'n an the &o%ntry on the other sie! The 'ealth to be #o%n on the other sie 'as not money, b%t a great library #%ll o# boo$s tea&hing $no'lege an 'isom! Thro%gh the greater $no'lege an 'isom that they learne, along 'ith their trae 'ith the other &o%ntry, the to'n gre' prospero%s an its people@s lives be&ame more #%ll o# oy an meaning! The to'nspeople o# the #irst t'o to'ns &ontin%e in their ig* noran&e an misery, %na'are o# the 'isom an oy that 'as possible! >&&asionally, a #e' resients #rom the #irst t'o to'ns 'o%l learn o# the thir to'n@s prosperity an try to move there! The thir to'n 'el* &ome 'ith open arms all those 'ho prove they 'ere 'illing an able to be&ome one 'ith the to'nspeople! All those 'ho aopte its lan* g%age an &%stoms an 'or$e to b%il, s%pport, an &ontrib%te to the &omm%nity, 'ere 'el&ome! These things 'ere re%ire o# the ne'&om* ers be&a%se these things ha given the &omm%nity the strength an %nity to b%il its brige! The ne'&omers 'ho prove themselves be&ame great pillars an e#eners o# the &omm%nity, an they #%lly e9perien&e an elighte in the 'isom an oy to be #o%n there! All others 'ho &ame to the to'n an i not aopt the to'n@s lang%age an &%stoms, an all those 'ho i not 'or$ to b%il, s%pport, an &ontrib%te to the &om* m%nity, 'ere &ast o%t an permanently #orbien #rom ret%rning to the 2/0
T:D TR+PD PAT: to'n! They 'ere &ast o%t be&a%se they 'ere see$ing to gain all o# the bene#its o# living in the to'n, b%t 'itho%t paying the ne&essary &osts an %nerta$ing the re%ire responsibilities o# be&oming a to'nsper* son, an allo'ing s%&h people to remain 'o%l estroy 'hat ha mae the to'n great! There on&e 'as a vain emperor #or 'hom nothing mattere more than 'hat others tho%ght o# him! >ne ay, t'o s'inlers entere his $ingom! They presente themselves as 'eavers an tailors o# #ine &lothing! Hor a very large s%m, they o##ere to ma$e the #inest, most bea%ti#%l, an most spleni s%it o# &lothes ever seen! Dven more, they sai that the &lothes@ #abri& 'as magi& an 'o%l be invisible to anyone la&$ing in 'isom or virt%e! They 'ere very &onvin&ing! The emperor an his ministers believe the s'inlers, an the emperor hire them to ma$e ne' &lothes #or him! As the s'inlers pretene to #it the &lothes on the emperor an &%t an se' them, neither the emperor nor his ministers &o%l see anything! Da&h o# them began to o%bt 'hether the s'inlers ha been telling the tr%th, b%t none 'ante to amit that they &o%lnYt see the &lothes! "o one 'ante to &ontrai&t 'hat they tho%ght 'as the &on* sens%s o# the gro%p! An no one 'ante the others to thin$ that he 'as la&$ing in 'isom an virt%e! Hinally, the s'inlers e&lare that the &lothes 'ere reay! The emperor sent o%t a pro&lamation to all his s%be&ts that he 'o%l have a pro&ession to sho' his ne' &lothes, b%t that they &o%l only be seen by the 'ise an the virt%o%s! >n the ay o# the pro&ession, the emperor presente himsel# to the s'inlers, resse only in his %nergarments! The s'inlers pretene to ress him! The emperor again o%bte 'hether there 'ere really &lothes on him, b%t he #eare amitting that he &o%l see no &lothes an loo$ing li$e he la&$e 'isom or virt%e! An even i# he &o%l prove that the tailors 'ere s'inlers, he #eare loo$ing li$e a #ool #or having been e&eive by them long eno%gh to have gotten to the point o# having &alle #or an imperial pro&ession! :e tho%ght it better to go along 'ith them an rely on the small &han&e that maybe the &lothes 'ere real! 2/1
PARAD The emperor mar&he o%t in a regal pro&ession amongst his s%be&ts, 'ho 'ere gathere in large &ro's o%tsie the pala&e! The s%b* e&ts all mae a sho' o# being in a'e o# his #ine &lothes! "one 'ante to isagree 'ith the re&eive 'isom, an none 'ante to appear to be la&$ing in 'isom or virt%e! The emperor passe by a &hil 'ho la%ghe an as$e 'hy the emperor 'as paraing aro%n in his %ner'ear! The &hilYs parents 'ere eeply embarrasse! They sharply is&ipline him, an the &hil learne to not &ontrai&t the gro%pYs opinion! ater, the emperor passe a man 'ho 'as $no'n #or staning %p #or the tr%th as he sa' it! :e 'as not arg%mentative, b%t he 'asnYt a#rai to share 'hat he tho%ght, even i# it &ontrai&te others! i$e the boy, he stoo %p an sai that the emperor ha no &lothes! +n the ays an 'ee$s a#ter the pro&ession, he &ontin%e to insist that the emperor ha not been 'earing any &lothes! The man 'as ostra&iBe by his #riens an neighbors, an #e' pai hee to his opinion! The emperor &ontin%e to 'ear his ne' L&lothes!M The s'inlers began ma$ing &lothes #or the emperorYs ministers, then #or the nobles in the empire, then #or the 'ealthy, an then #or the &ommoners! The s'inlers gre' 'ealthy an po'er#%l! >nly a #e' people 'ho 'ere not a#rai to stan %p #or the tr%th ;as best they &o%l %nerstan it= &ontin%e to 'ear &lothes! They 'ere loo$e o'n %pon by the maority an sometimes even sh%nne! They 'ere mo&$e #or la&$ing 'isom an virt%e! The empire ha a 'arm &limate! Hor many years, the maority 'ho resse in preten &lothes 'ere able to go abo%t their lives resse only in their %ner'ear 'ith relatively little is&om#ort! Hinally, tho%gh, a rare bliBBar &ame thro%gh the empire! ?ost o# the s%be&ts no longer ha any real o%ter &lothes le#t to 'ear! The ostra&iBe s%be&ts 'ho still 'ore &lothes trie to share their &lothes 'ith the others, b%t they re* #%se! y no', they ha banishe their o%bts! They ha #oole them* selves into believing that their &lothes 'ere real! They all #roBe to eath, #irm in their #alse belie#s! The only ones 'ho s%rvive 'ere those 'ho i not let them* selves be #oole by the s'inlers an the gro%p@s opinions! They sho'e 2/2
T:D TR+PD PAT: their 'isom an virt%e not thro%gh imaginary magi& or by pretening to see things that 'eren@t there or by %n&riti&ally #ollo'ing the maority@s opinion, b%t by #irmly staning #or tr%th, even 'hen it 'as har an there o#ten seeme to be little immeiate re'ar #or oing so! A 'ise tea&her &ame among a &omm%nity o# the blin! :e ta%ght the people 'hat they neee to o to &%re their o'n blinness! The people 'hom he ta%ght 'ere so in a'e o# his 'isom an &ompas* sion that they 'ante to $no' more abo%t 'ho he 'as! eing blin, they %se their hans to #eel him to %nerstan his #eat%res! Da&h per* son to%&he a i##erent part o# him! >nly being able to be&ome a&* %ainte 'ith a small part o# the tea&her, they ea&h &on&l%e i##erent things abo%t his nat%re an traits! Da&h person 'as so sel#*ass%re abo%t his or her limite per&eption o# the tea&her, tho%gh, that ea&h pres%me to %nerstan the #%ll tr%th abo%t him! The tea&her 'as only 'ith the people a short time! Almost as soon as he le#t, the people began arg%ing abo%t 'ho an 'hat he 'as! "e's o# his visit, as 'ell as ne's o# the isagreements abo%t his nat%re, passe %i&$ly thro%gh the &omm%nity! Da&h person 'ho ha en&o%n* tere him in person tol a i##erent story abo%t his visit an gave a i#* #erent interpretation o# his nat%re! As the stories sprea, the etails 'ere slightly &hange 'ith ea&h retelling, an ea&h person #orme an opinion abo%t the tea&her base on 'hi&h story they ha #irst hear or base on 'hi&h story mae them #eel best! "one o# them a&$no'lege the tea&her@s imper#e&tionsthey &o%l not ioliBe an imper#e&t being! The people began to ivie into gro%ps base on 'hi&h opin* ions abo%t the tea&her they believe! There 'as great isagreement be* t'een the i##erent gro%ps, an the people spent m%&h time ebating the min%te etails o# all aspe&ts o# the tea&her@s s%per#i&ial nat%re! Al* most all o# their opinions 'ere either 'rong or misleaing be&a%se they 'ere ta$en o%t o# &onte9t! The people 'ere so obsesse 'ith valiating their #a%lty per&eptions an opinions abo%t the tea&her that they ene %p ignoring most o# his tea&hings abo%t ho' to heal their blinness! Da&h gro%p remembere only small remnants o# the tea&her@s original &%re, remnants that 'ere %s%ally ine##e&t%al on their o'n or 'hi&h gave 2/
PARAD only the barest in$lings o# sight! ome people realiBe that the &%res promise by the i##erent gro%ps in@t 'or$! They be&ame isill%* sione, an spent their time atta&$ing the gro%ps an the tea&her, rather than see$ing o%t a real &%re! The members o# the &omm%nity o# the blin live o%t their lives in %nne&essary ar$ness, &linging to #alse, mis* leaing, trivial, an petty belie#s abo%t the tea&her, rather than sear&hing #or a &%re to heal themselves! ong a#ter the tea&her le#t, one o# the blin 'ho ha hear the tea&her@s original instr%&tions #inally heee them an &%re himsel# o# his blinness! :e e&lare himsel# a #ollo'er o# the tea&her an a healer o# the blin! :e trie to sprea the tea&her@s original message! The members o# the &omm%nity ha $no'n the #ollo'er sin&e he 'as a boy! They $ne' all o# his 'ea$nesses an imper#e&tions! Among all the &on* #li&t abo%t i##erent belie#s in the tea&her, they re#%se to believe that the #ollo'er@s simple message ha any relevan&e! They mo&$e him an re#%se to listen to him! They &ast him o%t! The #ollo'er spent time in &ontemplation an meitation alone in the 'ilerness! :e #inally realiBe that the &%re he 'as prea&h* ing 'as so easy an simple that no one believe it 'o%l 'or$! A#ter 'anering alone in the 'ilerness, he #o%n his 'ay to another &omm%* nity o# the blin! :e prea&he to the &omm%nity members, saying that he ha a great hien se&ret to &%re their blinness! :e re#%se to reveal it to them at #irst! :e sai the &%re 'as a gran an sa&re se&ret, an that he 'o%l only reveal it to those 'ho ha been initiate in its mys* teries! 8hen he i reveal the &%re to ne' initiates, he ae many %n* ne&essary steps an #alse e9planations abo%t ho' the &%re 'or$e, ma$* ing the &%re a m%&h longer an more onero%s pro&ess! 8orse still, he ha #orgotten several ne&essary, easy steps an #aile to tea&h them to his #ollo'ers! e&a%se he ha #orgotten, his #ollo'ers 'ere only partially &%re o# their blinness! %t even their partial &%re appeare mira&%lo%s to them! :e 'as haile as a visionary, an a&&laime as a great healer! :e re' many #ollo'ers to himsel#! :e e9ploite their aoration o# him to his personal avantage, a&&r%ing great 'ealth, po'er, an prestige 2/4
T:D TR+PD PAT: 'ithin the &omm%nity! :is #ollo'ers 'ere never #%lly &%re o# their blinness, tho%gh, an the &%re they i re&eive &ame a#ter m%&h %nne&* essary pain an e##ort! >ne o# the #ollo'ers o# the healer o# the hal# blin gre' is* satis#ie 'ith the se&ret tea&hings o# the healer! The #ollo'er 'as grate* #%l #or the hal#*sight he ha re&eive! :e $ne' that he &o%l see many things he &o%ln@t see be#ore! %t it #elt to him li$e there 'as also m%&h that 'as missing #rom the healer@s &%re an #rom his tea&hings! The #ol* lo'er starte noti&ing ho' m%&h he still &o%ln@t see! >be&ts 'ere bl%rry! :e &o%ln@t see etail! :e &o%ln@t tell the i##eren&e bet'een similar shaes :e &o%ln@t see #ar a'ay! An he &o%ln@t see 'ell in the ar$! :e also began to s%spe&t that there 'ere other things to see that he 'asn@t even a'are o#! :e resolve to o%rney ba&$ to the earliest so%r&e o# the &%re that he $ne' o#ba&$ to the healer@s original &om* m%nityan see 'hat more he &o%l is&over abo%t the &%re! A#ter a long an i##i&%lt o%rney, he #o%n his 'ay ba&$ to the original &omm%nity o# the blin! They 'ere still blin, an they 'ere still ivie into gro%ps that &l%ng to i##erent belie#s abo%t the tea&her! :e st%ie the tea&hings o# the i##erent gro%ps! ?ost o# their tea&h* ings 'ere irrelevant o&trines abo%t the tea&her! They also ta%ght some things, tho%gh, abo%t ho' to &%re their blinness! :e noti&e some things in &ommon bet'een almost all o# the i##erent gro%ps@ tea&hings abo%t the &%re! ome o# them 'ere ne' things he ha not hear o# or trie be#ore! :e trie those things, an noti&e that his eyesight got bet* ter! "e9t, he trie the %ni%e tea&hings an pra&ti&es o# ea&h gro%p! ;ome o# them &ame #rom the tea&her, an some 'ere ne'! The ne' ones ha evelope slo'ly over time as the gro%ps iverge #rom ea&h other an ne' pra&ti&es an tea&hings not #rom the original tea&her &rept in!= ?ost o# these %ni%e tea&hings an pra&ti&es ha little val%e an ha no e##e&t on his eyesight! %t o&&asionally some o# them 'o%l ma$e his eyesight even better! :e &ompile a list o# 'hat 'or$e an 'hat in@t! Combine together, the things that 'or$e ha great posi* tive e##e&t! Dvent%ally, he re*is&overe a &omplete &%re to his blinness! 8ith the ne' aitions, the &%re 'as even better than the tea&her@s orig* 2/5
PARAD inal &%re! :e 'ante to share this &%re 'ith everyone! %t he $no' that the members o# the &omm%nity ha ree&te s%&h &%res in the past! :e th%s avoie #or&e#%lly promoting his &%re! +nstea, he so%ght o%t those 'ho #elt their blinness, even tho%gh they in@t $no' 'hat it 'as li$e to seethose 'ho yearne #or a real &%re, as he ha! :e ta%ght #irst in the &omm%nity o# the blin, then he ret%rne to his home in the &om* m%nity o# the hal#*blin! Hinally, he starte traveling an tea&hing thro%gho%t the &o%ntry, to pla&es he ha never been! :e is&overe that everyone in the &o%ntry 'as blin an neee to be &%re! The #ollo'ers o# the tea&her an the healer ha also starte tea&hing thro%gho%t the &o%ntry, tho%gh, an there 'ere many 'ho &hose to #ollo' their %seless or only partially s%&&ess#%l &%res! Those 'ho applie the real &%re to heal themselves began to #orm a gro%p #o&%se on the &%re, not on the healer or the tea&her o# the &%re! An they trie o%t ne' approa&hes to improve the &%reE some 'or$e, some in@t! They s%spe&te that the &%re still ha %nne&essary parts in it! They trie removing things #rom the &%re an testing ho' 'ell it 'or$e! They $ept the ne' things that 'or$e an is&are the ol ones that in@t! The &%re got better an better as more people trie it o%t an 'or$e on improving it! They i not try to be se&ret or &overt abo%t 'hat they 'ere oing, b%t they 'ere is&reet! They $ne' that many 'eren@t emotionally prepare to a&&ept this ne' approa&h or #or the sensory overloa o# &omplete sight! Their gro%p o# &%re*#ollo'* ers gre'! +t 'as not as large as the others, b%t it attra&te 'ise an pra&* ti&al people 'ho &o%l tell the i##eren&e bet'een #alsehoo an tr%th, bet'een 'hat is relevant an irrelevant! They be&ame leaers in their &omm%nities, helping the rest to see the 'ay! Dvent%ally, many 'ere heale o# their blinness! A traveler lost his min an be&ame a#rai o# his o'n shao' an gre' to hate his #ootprints! :e trie to #ree himsel# by r%nning a'ay! :is r%nning %st &reate even more #ootprints, an his shao' never le#t him no matter ho' #ast he ran! "ot realiBing that he 'as the so%r&e o# 'hat 'as &a%sing his anger an hatre, he ran #aster an #aster 2//
T:D TR+PD PAT: 'itho%t stopping %ntil his strength gave o%t an he &ollapse %ner a tree! >nly then, in %iet ina&tion in the shae, i he #in respite #rom his shao' an #ootprints! A#ter resting li$e this #or some time, he #i* nally &ame to himsel#! Hearless an 'itho%t hate, he got %p an 'al$e into the s%nlight! oo$ing #or'ar, the traveler i not even noti&e his #ootprints behin him or his shao' to his sie as he %i&$ly move to* 'ar his estination! Fo% are the so%r&e o# yo%r #ears an hatres! .o not be a#rai o# yo%rsel#yo% &annot es&ape #rom yo%rsel#! Fo% 'ill never #ree yo%r* sel# by r%shing yo%r min thro%gh trivialities or vain p%rs%its! +nstea, still yo%r min an #in pea&e an 'isom! Then, &oming to yo%rsel#, yo% 'ill move s'i#tly along the triple path, %na'are o# yo%rsel#! oo$ at yello' san passing thro%gh an ho%rglass to mar$ the time! The san in the bottom has alreay gone, it is the past! The san #lo'ing thro%gh the ne&$ is the present! The san in the top is 'aiting #or its moment to move o'nit is the #%t%re! %t it is all the same yello' san! At its #inish, t%rn the ho%rglass %psie o'n'hat 'ere on&e past, present, an #%t%re %mble together an the #lo' starts ane'! Da&h grain o# san #alls a i##erent 'ay this time, in a i##erent orer! %t the same thing happens every timethe top b%lb empties into the bottom b%lb! +t is all the same yello' san! A man 'as shot 'ith a poisone arro'! As he lay in%re, his #amily an #riens bro%ght a o&tor to him to remove the arro' an a* minister an antiote #or the poison! The man re#%se, saying, L+ 'ill not have this arro' remove %ntil + $no' 'hether the person 'ho 'o%ne me 'as 'ealthy or poor, 'ell*li$e or %npop%lar, sane or &raBy, po'er#%l or impotent! + 'ill not have it remove %ntil + $no' the name o# the person 'ho 'o%ne meE %ntil + $no' 'hether he 'as tall, mei%m, or shortE %ntil + $no' 'hether he 'as ar$ or paleE blon, br%nette, or bla&$*haireE %ntil + $no' 'hether his eyes 'ere bl%e, bro'n, green, or grayE %ntil + $no' his &ity, &o%nty, state, an &o%ntryE %ntil + $no' the lang%age he spea$sE %ntil + $no' 'hether the bo' 'ith 'hi&h + 'as 2/
PARAD 'o%ne 'as a long bo' or a &rossbo'E %ntil + $no' 'hether the bo'* string 'ith 'hi&h + 'as 'o%ne 'as mae o# nat%ral or arti#i&ial #i* bersE %ntil + $no' 'hether the sha#t 'ith 'hi&h + 'as 'o%ne 'as 'oo, bamboo, ree, al%min%m, or &arbon #iberE %ntil + $no' 'hether the arro'hea 'as a o$in point, a %o point, or a broahea!M :is #amily begge him to at least re&eive an ine&tion o# the antiote! :e sai, L+ 'ill not re&eive an antiote to the poison %ntil + $no' 'hether the poison is nat%ral or syntheti&E %ntil + $no' 'hether it is a&i or baseE %ntil + $no' 'hether it is ne%roto9i&, &ar&inogeni&, or ra* ioa&tiveE %ntil + $no' ho' m%&h poison has entere my bloostreamE %ntil + $no' the lethal osage o# the poisonE %ntil + $no' the &hemi&al #orm%la o# the antioteE an %ntil + $no' the amo%nt to be aminis* tere to me!M That man 'o%l ie an those things 'o%l still remain %n* $no'n to him! +nee, #or those aro%n him 'ith the tools to save him his #amily, #riens, an o&torthe ans'ers to many o# his %estions 'ere as m%&h mysteries to them as they 'ere to him! An even #or the ans'ers they i have, there 'as not eno%gh time to e9plain them all an still save him! omeone 'ho believes he 'ill #in 'isom simply by reaing or hearing the 'ors o# others is li$e a person 'ho #an&ies himsel# a traveler be&a%se he reas to%rist g%ie boo$s! omeone 'ho thin$s virt%e &omes merely by #eeling &on&erne abo%t oing 'hat is right is li$e a a person 'ho thin$s himsel# a s%&* &ess#%l b%sinessman be&a%se he esires 'ealth! omeone 'ho thin$s that laboring 'ith hope &an be a&&om* plishe by oing only 'hat brings #eelings o# elevation an emotional satis#a&tion is li$e a #irst*time r%nner 'ho thin$s he &an 'in a marathon 'itho%t #eeling any pain or is&om#ort! +# yo% see$ #%l#illment an happiness thro%gh stat%s, posses* sions, or physi&al pleas%re, then yo% are li$e a man starting an %rgent an important o%rney 'ho #ille his $napsa&$ 'ith #oo, not $no'ing that there 'as a small hole on the bottom o# the bag thro%gh 'hi&h the 2/6
T:D TR+PD PAT: #oo 'o%l gra%ally #all o%t! 8hen he arrive at his estination eager #or s%stenan&e, all he got 'as emptiness an h%nger! :e sorro'e, real* iBing only at the en o# his o%rney that he ha le#t that 'hi&h 'o%l have s%staine him on the gro%n to be trample! A #lo'ering plant that oes not pro%&e see brings #leeting bea%ty into the 'orl, b%t soon ies, having ha little lasting impa&t! A #lo'ering plant that pro%&es see brings into the 'orl its o'n #leeting bea%ty, b%t also lasting bea%ty an great impa&t thro%gh its many sees, an the plants that gro' there#rom! A so'er 'ent o%t to so' sees! oo an ba sees 'ere mi9e together in his bag! ome sees #ell on the sie o# the roa an 'ere eaten by the birs! ome #ell on stony gro%n! e&a%se there 'as no epth to the soil, they &o%l not ta$e root an 'ithere an ie! ome sees #ell among thorns! The thorns &ho$e the sees an 'orms ate them! ome sees #ell on goo gro%n! The goo sees sprang %p an gre' an yiele goo #r%it, some thirty, an some si9ty, some a h%nre! The ba sees that #ell on goo gro%n i not spro%t an 'ere eaten by the birs! T'o yo%ng men starting on their &areers both sai to them* selves3 L+ 'ill 'or$ har to earn 'ealth an prosperity! Then, 'hen + am ri&h + 'ill %se the leis%re + have earne to see$ 'isom, o goo, an la* bor 'ith hope!M These 'ere their intentions, b%t that same night the #irst ie 'itho%t 'ealth, 'isom, virt%e, or hope! The se&on toile many years, getting m%&h money, b%t he never attaine eno%gh to satis#y him* sel#! :e 'as too b%sy 'or$ing #or money an never mae the time to p%rs%e 'isom, virt%e, an hope! :e too ie 'itho%t 'ealth, 'isom, virt%e, or hope! et yo%r resolve to live the triple path an yo%r pra&ti&e o# it be li$e a #orti#ie &ity b%ilt on a mo%ntain, strong an not hien! "o one gets a lamp, t%rns it on, an then p%ts a ar over it to 2/
PARAD &over it, or hies it a'ay in a &loset! et the light o# 'isom, virt%e, an hope shine thro%gh in all yo% o! +t is easy to see other people@s #a%lts, b%t not so easy to see yo%r o'n! .o not see$ o%t an gather %p $no'lege o# other people@s #a%lts, li$e someone gathering %ng to #ertiliBe a #ielE s%&h #ertiliBer only gro's 'ees an poisono%s plants in yo%r min! .o not hie yo%r #a%lts! ee$ to #in them o%t, an then to strip them #rom yo%rsel# li$e someone &learing a ne' plot o# lan! Th%s having prepare the #iel o# yo%r &hara&ter, yo% may so' the sees o# 'isom into yo%r li#e an gather a bo%nti#%l harvest! +# yo% rea 'ors o# 'isom, hope, an virt%e an a&t on them, then yo% are li$e a 'ise man 'ho b%ils his ho%se on a #o%na* tion o# ro&$! 8hen rain #alls, #loos &ome, an 'ins blo', that ho%se 'ill not #all o'n! 8hen yo% see$ an #in 'isom, 'hen yo% a&t 'ith virt%e, an 'hen yo% labor 'ith hope, yo% strengthen yo%r &hara&ter an min, so that 'hen li#e@s i##i&%lties &ome, yo% 'ill stan #ast against them! +# yo% o not #ollo' these prin&iples, then yo% are li$e a #oolish man 'ho b%ils his ho%se on a #o%nation o# san! 8hen rain #alls, #loos &ome, an 'ins blo', that ho%se 'ill #all! 8hen yo% #ail to see$ 'isom, 'hen yo% a&t 'itho%t virt%e, an 'hen yo% o not labor 'ith hope, then yo% 'ea$en yo%r &hara&ter an min, an yo% ma$e yo%rsel# less able to eal e##e&tively 'ith li#e@s i##i&%lties an &hallenges! .o not be #oole into thin$ing yo% &an easily &ategoriBe 'hat yo% e9perien&e into one opposite or the other! There are many shaes o# grey bet'een bla&$ an 'hite! Th%s, as yo% move along the triple path, al'ays see$ a eep perspe&tive! >ther'ise, yo% might not see #ar eno%gh ahea to %nerstan 'hether the shae o# grey yo% are heaing to'ar is lighter or ar$er than the shaes behin yo%! >nly 'ith this eep per* spe&tive &an yo% tell 'hether yo% are moving #or'ar or ba&$'ar on the triple path! A lily 'ill gro' #%ll o# s'eet per#%me an elight even on top 20
T:D TR+PD PAT: o# a garbage heap! Hollo' the triple path an yo%r 'isom, virt%e, an hope 'ill also gro', no matter yo%r &ir&%mstan&es! The re'oo see is among the smallest o# sees! +t starts in* sie a &one, imprisone, in&apable o# gro'th or &hange %ntil #ire releases it into the 'il! 8hen it #alls on #ertile gro%n, tho%gh, it gro's into the mightiest o# treestaller, bigger, an oler than any other living thing, an then it spreas its sees %ntil it is s%rro%ne by a #orest o# great re'oos! o too is it 'ith yo% an 'isom, virt%e, an hope! et the #ire o# yo%r esire to enter the triple path release the sees o# 'is* om, virt%e, an hope 'ithin yo%! They 'ill start small, b%t 'ill gro' 'ithin yo% into greatness, i# yo% n%rt%re them! An then, yo% 'ill sprea their sees %ntil there is a great #orest o# 'isom, virt%e, an hope in the 'orl! +n the evening, a ba$er too$ a small meas%re o# yeast an ae it to a l%mp o# brea o%gh! +n the morning, the o%gh ha risen to many times its original siBe! The o%gh 'as ba$e, an yiele eli&io%s, no%rishing brea! 8isom, virt%e, an hope are li$e yeast! +# yo% #in even %st a little o# any o# these three an let it into yo%rsel#, they 'ill enlarge yo%r &hara&ter, so that it gro's many times larger, #%ll o# 'isom, virt%e, an hope! An %st as the heat o# the oven trans#orms o%gh into no%rish* ing brea, the heat o# e9perien&e 'ill trans#orm the malleable o%gh o# yo%r &hara&ter into 'holesome brea 'hi&h 'ill no%rish yo%rsel# an those aro%n yo%! "ever stop see$ing to #ill yo%rsel# 'ith 'isom, virt%e, an hope, no matter ho' slo'ly it seems to ta$e! +# yo% see$ them, yo% 'ill be&ome #%ll o# 'isom, virt%e, an hope, even i# yo% gather them little by little! A b%&$et &an still be #ille rop by rop! %t a b%&$et 'ill never be #ille i# there are no ropsX .o not thin$ lightly o# #oolishness, evil, an laBy espair, #lip* pantly e9&%sing yo%r mista$es an #ollies! A b%&$et &an also be emptie rop by ropE yo% may be&ome empty o# 'isom, virt%e, an hope an 21
PARAD #%ll o# #oolishness, evil, an laBy espair, even i# it happens little by lit* tle! A #oolish man hear that it 'as possible to see one@s re#le&tion by loo$ing into 'ater! "ever having pai attention to his re#le&tion on the 'ater, he ha never seen himsel#! :e resolve to go see 'hat he loo$e li$e, an 'ent to a pool o# 'ater to loo$ at his re#le&tion! The pool 'as very small, an the man roppe a ro&$ into the 'ater to see ho' eep it 'as! The ro&$ sent ripples thro%gh the 'ater an $i&$e irt #rom the bottom o# the pool %p into the 'ater! The man stare at his m%r$y, rippling, haBy re#le&tion in the m%y 'ater! :e i not %n* erstan 'hat he sa', an 'as p%BBle! :e &ame a'ay more &on#%se abo%t 'ho he 'as than he ha been be#ore he trie to see himsel#! A 'ise yo%th 'ent to the same pool! :e let the pool sit %nis* t%rbe, an i not allo' any interlopers to thro' stones into it! The 'ater be&ame still an &lear on its o'n! The pool be&ame empty o# 'hat &lo%e it, an the yo%th &o%l easily see his o'n re#le&tion in the smooth, still 'ater! The yo%th &ame a'ay #rom the same pool 'ith a better %nerstaning o# himsel# an his pla&e in the 'orl! Thin$ o# a &lass o# people, a so&ial gro%p, a type o# person, or an ethni&ity 'hom yo% #in to be eplorable or rep%lsiveE a gro%p 'hose members yo% 'o%l &onsier as enemies or aversaries! "o', in the #ollo'ing story, #ill in the blan$s 'ith that gro%p! A man 'as 'al$ing along a roa 'hen a gang o# robbers beat him %p an stole all o# his belongingseven his &lothes! They le#t him na$e an %n&ons&io%s, hal# ea, on the sie o# the roa! A revere leaer in the &omm%nity, $no'n #or her moral re&tit%e, passe by in her &ar! he sa' the man, b%t i not stop! The leaer o# the man@s reli* gio%s &ongregation also passe! :e sa' the man, b%t i not stop! A SSSS also passe by! 8hen he sa' the man %n&ons&io%s in the roa, he 'as move 'ith pity! :e stoppe his &ar an 'ent to the man! :e &leane an banage his 'o%ns, an rove him to the hospital! :e 'aite the night 'ith the man an mae s%re that he 'as 'ell*&are #or! +n the morning, he pai t'enty tho%san ollars to the hospital an 22
T:D TR+PD PAT: sai, LPlease &are #or him! 8hen + ret%rn, + 'ill pay 'hatever aitional &osts yo% in&%r!M 8hi&h o# these three 'as a neighbor to the man 'ho #ell among the robbersG The one 'ho sho'e mer&y, o# &o%rse! "o' yo% go an o li$e'ise! %t, it is easy to #eel &ompassion an sho' $inness to those in nee 'hom yo% &an see! +# it is virt%o%s to sho' $inness to them, ho' m%&h better is it to sho' $inness to those in nee 'hom yo% &annot see an #or 'hom it is th%s i##i&%lt to #eel &ompassionX .o not %st see$ to be a neighbor to those near to yo%, b%t also to those 'ho are remove #rom yo%both those 'ho are physi&ally an temporally istant! ee$ to atten not only to the nees o# those yo% &an see, b%t also to all others 'ho have nee o# yo%r &onsieration an $inness! +t is %n'ise to #o&%s yo%r attention only on the near*neey 'hen the #ar*neey may have even greater nee! e a neighbor to those in #oreign lans an #%t%re generations as 'ell! >ne &ol 'inter@s ay, a #armer passe a sna$e lying hal#*ea in the sno'! Pitying the poor 'ret&h, he pi&$e it %p an p%t it into his &oat to 'arm it %p an save it #rom &ertain eath! 8hen he 'as restore by the 'armth, the sna$e slithere %p the #armer@s boy, bro%ght its #angs to his ne&$, an elivere a #atal bite! As the #armer lay ying in the sno', he tho%ght to himsel#, L+ sho%l have e9pe&te nothing less #rom trying to help a s&o%nrel!M A#ter the man ha ie, the sna$e &%rle %p ne9t to the 'armth o# the #armer@s boy! e#ore long, tho%gh, the #armer@s boy &oole an then #roBe! There 'as no more 'armth #or the sna$e! +t soon ie also! A 'ealthy ban$er 'ante to settle the a&&o%nts o# those 'ho o'e him money! T'o men ha ointly borro'e one billion ollars #rom him! They &o%l not pay, an the ban$er orere that the ebtors@ ho%ses be #ore&lose %pon, their 'ages garnishe, an that they be s%e to have all o# their possessions an assets seiBe an sol to ai in re* payment o# the ebt! The ebtors #ell on their $nees an begge, Lplease have patien&e an 'e 'ill repay all!M >%t o# pity #or them, the 2
PARAD ban$er release the ebtors an #orgave their ebt! The ebtors than$e him e##%sively, to 'hi&h he respone, Lsho' yo%r than$s not 'ith yo%r 'ors to me, b%t by oing li$e'ise to others!M The #irst ebtor 'ent o%t an &ame to one o# his neighbors 'ho o'e him #i#ty tho%san ollars! :e grabbe his neighbor violently an emane, Lpay 'hat yo% o'e!M :is neighbor #ell o'n an begge, Lplease have patien&e 'ith me an + 'ill repay everything!M The #irst ebtor re#%se an #ore&lose on his neighbor@s ho%se, garnishe his 'ages, an s%e to have the neighbor@s property sol to repay the ebt! 8hen their other neighbors sa' 'hat ha happene, they 'ere very istresse! They 'ent to the ban$er an reporte 'hat ha o&* &%rre! :e s%mmone the ebtor an sai, Lyo% hypo&riteX + #orgave all o# yo%r great ebt 'hen yo% pleae #or me to have patien&e! ho%ln@t yo% have sho'n the same mer&y to yo%r neighbor, as + sho'e to yo%GM An so the ban$er 'ithre' his #orgiveness o# the ebt, an the ebtor lost his home, his 'ages, an his possessions! The se&on ebtor, on the other han, ha gone home reoi&* ing, resolving to sho' the same mer&y an $inness to others! :e also ha a neighbor 'ho o'e #i#ty tho%san ollars! The neighbor &ame to him an #ell on his $nees, begging Lplease have patien&e an + 'ill repay all!M Remembering the great $inness that ha been sho'n to him by the ban$er, he #orgave the ebt! The neighbor than$e him e##%sively! The se&on ebtor tol the story o# ho' the ban$er ha #or* given his o'n ebt! :e e9plaine ho' the mer&y he 'as no' sho'ing 'as a res%lt o# the mer&y initially sho'n to him by the ban$er! oo$ing o'n in regret, the se&on ebtor sai, Lho' m%&h better 'o%l it have been ha + sho'n mer&y 'itho%t neeing to be remine! ho' yo%r than$s to me by oing li$e'ise to others, an by see$ing to sho' more love an mer&y in all #a&ets o# yo%r li#e 'itho%t being remine, as + no' too resolve to o!M T'o men 'ent into &h%r&h to pray! >ne sat in the very #ront an &enter, an praye to himsel# th%s, Lo, + am grate#%l that + am not as others are, li$e the a%lterers, &riminals, an %nbelievers! + #ast 24
T:D TR+PD PAT: t'i&e a 'ee$ an + pay a tenth o# all my in&ome as tithing! + am grate#%l that yo% have separate me, my #amily, an my people #rom others an that 'e have been spe&ially &hosen o# yo%! + am grate#%l that 'e have the tr%th an have not been le a'ay by the #alse an #oolish traitions be* lieve by those aro%n %s! Amen!M The se&on man, staning #ar o##, sat in the ba&$ &orner an praye to o, saying, Lo, + am in nee o# mer&y! + am a #oolish, ig* norant, an %nvirt%o%s manX + am vain an nee more h%mility! + nee greater 'isom an more virt%e! + hope, at least in some small 'ay, to be&ome more li$e yo%, an this is 'hat + again resolve to 'or$ to'ar! Amen!M The se&on man 'ent ba&$ to his home %sti#ie, b%t not the #irst! All 'ho e9alt themselves 'ill be h%mble an all 'ho h%mble themselves 'ill be e9alte! A &areless ho%seholer never lo&$e his oors! Dven 'orse, he ha pai no attention to the &hara&teristi&s o# the neighborhoo in 'hi&h he ha p%r&hase his home! :e a'o$e one morning to is&over that a thie# ha bro$en into his ho%se in the night an stolen all o# the val%able possessions 'ithin! An attentive ho%seholer mae s%re to lo&$ his oors an se* &%re his ho%se every night! e#ore even moving, tho%gh, he ha mae s%re to b%y a ho%se in a se&%re neighborhoo, one in 'hi&h neighbors $ne' ea&h other an helpe 'at&h over ea&h other@s property! :e loo$e #or 'ea$nesses in his home@s se&%rity an promptly #i9e them! :e also $ept vigilant 'at&h over his ho%se as ne&essary! %t, it 'as less ne&essary than it 'o%l other'ise have been be&a%se o# all the other steps he ha ta$en to se&%re his ho%se! :is ho%se 'as never bro$en into, an his pos* sessions remaine se&%re thro%gho%t his li#e! A thie# 'ill brea$ in 'hen yo% are paying the least attention #or him! +# the robbe ho%seholer ha $no'n 'hat ho%r the thie# 'as &oming, the ho%seholer 'o%l have 'at&he an resiste! Fo% are al'ays in anger o# #alling into #oolishness, %nvirt%e, an laBy espair! They 'ill &reep into yo%r li#e 'hen are paying the least attention #or them! Ta$e &are that yo% e#en yo%rsel# against them, #or 25
PARAD yo% o not $no' 'hen they might &ome! trengthen yo%r &hara&ter an establish yo%rsel# in so&ial sit%ations that ma$e see$ing 'isom, oing goo, an laboring 'ith hope easier! Dstablish the patterns o# yo%r li#e to ma$e it i##i&%lt #or #oolishness, %nvirt%e, an laBy espair to enter in! An al'ays $eep 'at&h over yo%rsel# that yo% o not #all into #ool* ishness or evil! A 'ealthy man 'as leaving to a #ar*o## &o%ntry #or many years! :e neee someone to &are #or his val%able property in his absen&e! :e s%mmone si9 people to a&t as his #i%&iaries, entr%sting his property to their &are! ome o# the #i%&iaries 'ere more gi#te than others, an he entr%ste his property a&&oring to their apparent abilities! To the #irst t'o, he gave #ive million ollars o# property ea&hE to the se&on t'o, he gave three million ea&hE an to the last t'o, he gave one million ea&h! Then, he 'ent a'ay! The t'o to 'hom ha been entr%ste #ive million ollars ea&h 'ent their separate 'ays! The #irst too$ the #ive million ollars an %se it to start several ne' enterprises base on &reative an original ieas! Da&h enterprise &on%&te b%siness %stly, treating its employees an &%stomers 'ell, not ta$ing avantage o# either! ome o# the b%sinesses 'ere s%&&ess#%l an some 'ere not, b%t overall, the #i%&iary a&hieve s%&&ess an %ar%ple the property@s 'orth to t'enty million ollars! The other #i%&iary investe the property in b%sinesses that e9ploite others thro%gh e&eptive mar$eting, %s%rio%s lening to the poor, an the sale o# e#e&tive or e#i&ient pro%&ts to the %n'ary! This #i%&iary also %ar%ple the val%e o# the #ive million ollars to t'enty million! The t'o to 'hom ha been entr%ste three million ollars also ea&h 'ent their separate 'ays! The #irst lent the three million to people 'ho 'ere responsible, yet poor, an neee &apital to help them be&ome sel#*s%##i&ient an li#t themselves o%t o# poverty! :e o%ble the val%e o# the property, in&reasing its val%e to si9 million ollars! The other #i%&iary $ne' that his master 'o%l not ret%rn #or many years! :e &rave the #inest l%9%ries an pleas%res in li#e, an he 'ante them right a'ay! :is master@s ret%rn ate 'as %n&ertain, an seeme li$e an eternity a'ay! The #i%&iary th%s too$ the property, an spent it on himsel#! :e 2/
T:D TR+PD PAT: spent it on go%rmet #oo, #ine &lothes, l%9%ry apartments, an on yo%ng 'omen! :e believe that, someho', he 'o%l be able to earn the money ba&$ be#ore his ay o# re&$oning! >nly a#ter many years i he #inally realiBe he ha been #ooling himsel# an that earning the money ba&$ 'o%l be impossible! .esperate, he t%rne to gambling to try to 'in ba&$ eno%gh to at least repla&e 'hat he ha spent! +nstea, he lost all that 'as remaining o# his master@s property! :e ene %p 'ith nothing, living on the street, h%ngry, an in rags! The t'o to 'hom ha been entr%ste one million ollars also ea&h 'ent their separate 'ays! The #irst p%t the money into high interest a&&o%nts in the ban$, an a&hieve one an a hal# times 'hat he starte 'ith, in&reasing the val%e o# the property to one an a hal# million ol* lars a#ter ten years! The other #i%&iary $ne' that the master 'as %st an a%stere! :e 'as tempte to spen the money on himsel#, b%t #eare the reper&%ssions an are not e9ploit the property #or his o'n am%se* ment! :e b%rie the property to sa#eg%ar it 'hile he trie to thin$ o# a 'ay to p%t it to pro%&tive %se! Dven tho%gh this #i%&iary 'as %nimaginative an not very bright, he 'o%l li$ely have #ig%re o%t a 'ay to p%t the property to goo %se, ha he not also been laBy! :e &on* tente himsel# 'ith #leeting an #rivolo%s entertainmentstelevision, movies, sporting events, an games! :e never got aro%n to oing any* thing 'ith the property, an a#ter ten years, it 'as still b%rie in the gro%n! 8hen the ten years ha passe, the master #inally ret%rne! :e &alle all o# the #i%&iaries in to a&&o%nt #or the property! Hirst, he &alle in the t'o 'ho ha re&eive #ive million! Da&h o# them pro%ly reporte 'hat they ha one to %ar%ple the master@s money! The master sai to the #irst, L8ell one! Fo% have proven yo%rsel# to be a &reative an &apable manager! + give to yo% all that yo% have earne #or me!M The se&on, anti&ipating the same re'ar, smile e9pe&tantly, b%t the master t%rne to him angrily an sai, yo% have &ertainly in&rease the val%e o# my property, b%t yo% have tainte it thro%gh gree an evil* oing! :onor an virt%e re%ire that + ret%rn all that yo% have gaine to right the 'rongs &a%se by yo%r e9ploitations! .i yo% not $no' that + am a %st an a%stere manG :o' &o%l + $eep this money, that has been 2
PARAD %n%stly earneG An 'ith that, he too$ ba&$ all o# his property, &ast o%t the #i%&iary, an ha him arreste #or his &rimes! "e9t, he &alle in the t'o #i%&iaries 'ho ha re&eive three million ollars! The #irst #i%&iary #elt embarrasse that he ha a&hieve less gain than the #irst t'o! :e gave an a&&o%nting o# his %se o# the property, e9plaining ho' he ha o%ble its val%e! :e %sti#ie the lo'er ret%rn by e9plaining all the goo that he ha one 'ith it, an the lives he ha &hange! The master smile, saying, L'ell one, goo an #aith#%l servant! Fo% have prove yo%rsel# to be not only &reative an &a* pable, b%t also å, + give to yo% all that yo% have earne #or me!M The se&on #i%&iary $ne' he ha misspent the master@s property on his o'n sel#ish esires, b%t only o##ere e9&%ses to e9plain 'hat happene, blaming other people an his personal sit%ation #or his misees! Dven* t%ally, the master ha ha eno%gh o# the #i%&iary@s e9&%ses! :e p%t %p his han to silen&e him! LDno%gh o# yo%r e9&%sesX Fo% $ne' that this property 'as entr%ste to yo% to &are #or on my behal#! +t i not be* long to yo%, yet yo% 'aste it on yo%rsel#! There is no one to blame #or this b%t yo%! Fo% are even 'orse than the last ba #i%&iary! + may have to ret%rn his ill*gotten gains, b%t at least the original prin&ipal still re* maine! Fo% have 'aste 'hat 'as given to yo%, an no' yo% 'ill s%##er 'ith nothing!M An 'ith that, he &ast o%t the #i%&iary, seiBe all o# the #i%&iary@s property to repay 'hat he ha lost, an ha him arreste #or his &rimes! Hinally, he &alle in the t'o #i%&iaries 'ho ha re&eive one million ollars! The #irst &ame in an reporte ho' he ha gaine a re* t%rn o# #i#ty per&ent on the master@s property by epositing the prop* erty 'ith the ban$ an earning interest! LFo% have been %nimaginative an sloth#%l in yo%r &are #or my property! + &o%l have pla&e the prop* erty in the ban$ mysel# an earne interest! "evertheless, yo% have not lost anything an have a&hieve gains #or me! + shall pay yo% yo%r #ee!M The master pai ten per&ent o# the property to the #i%&iary, 'hi&h 'as the &%stomary #ee in that &o%ntry #or #i%&iaries@ servi&esone per&ent #or ea&h year! The se&on #i%&iary %g %p the money an bro%ght it to ret%rn to the master! :e ha store the money %ner the gro%n in a 'ooen &hest! :e 'as please 'ith himsel#, that he ha s%##ere no loss 26
T:D TR+PD PAT: o# the money! :e e9pe&te to re&eive ten per&ent o# it ba&$ again #or himsel#, an 'as e9&ite at the prospe&t o# re&eiving this re'ar #or hav* ing e9pene virt%ally no e##ort! 8hen he opene the &hest to sho' the money to the master, tho%gh, there 'as nothing le#t b%t a rotting, stin$* ing mess! 8ater ha seepe into the &hest an estroye all that ha been 'ithin! Lloth#%l an laBy #oolXM &rie o%t the master! LFo% &o%l at least have earne interest by epositing my money at the ban$! "o' there is nothing le#t, an yo% are responsible #or this great loss!M An 'ith that, he &ast o%t the #i%&iary an seiBe all o# the #i%&iary@s prop* erty to repay 'hat he ha lost! :o' &an yo% re&ogniBe 'isom, virt%e, or hopeG y their #r%its! Fo% 'ill never harvest grapes #rom thorn b%shes! %t a thorn b%sh &an never &hange the #r%it it pro%&es! Fo% &an &hange yo%r li#e to #ill it 'ith goo #r%it! oo #r%its &ome #rom see$ing 'isom, oing goo, an laboring 'ith hope! .o not be a #ool 'ho either loves the tree an hates the #r%it, or 'ho loves the #r%it an hates the tree! %&h in&onsisten&y only leas to sorro', #or yo% &annot have the #r%it 'itho%t its tree, nor the tree 'itho%t its #r%it! ome ba #r%it may appear to be s'eet at #irst, b%t it al'ays sho's its tr%e nat%re, sooner or later! Fo% o not p%t #resh brea into a sa&$ 'ith ol moly brea, other'ise the ne' brea 'ill go moly an be %seless! Rather, yo% p%t #resh brea into ne', &lean brea sa&$s so that the ne' brea may be preserve! "or o yo% leave ol brea in its sa&$ to go moly! +nstea, yo% &ons%me it to parta$e o# its s%stenan&e be#ore it goes ba, an to ma$e room in yo%r pantry #or the ne' brea! .o not be li$e a 'hite'ashe tomb, bea%ti#%l, 'hite, an &lean on the o%tsie, b%t #%ll o# #ilth, ea bones, an rotting #lesh on the insie! .o not be a hypo&rite 'ho o%t'arly ma$es himsel# appear to have 'isom, virt%e, an hope, b%t insie is #%ll o# #oolishness an evil! .o not embar$ on a ne' eneavor 'itho%t #irst &onsiering its 2
PARAD &osts an its bene#its! >nly a #ool 'o%l plan on b%iling a ne' ho%se 'itho%t #irst sitting o'n an estimating its &ost to see i# he has eno%gh money to #inish b%iling it! >ther'ise, he might lay the #o%na* tion an then be %nable to #inish the b%iling! 8hat %se is a bare #o%n* ation 'ith no b%iling to rest %pon itG A shop o'ner ha t'o sons! :e 'ent to his #irst son an sai, Lson, go 'or$ in my shop toay!M The son ans'ere, Lno, + 'ill not!M ater, tho%gh, he &hange his min an 'ent to 'or$ in the shop! The shop o'ner 'ent to his se&on son an sai the same thing! :e sai, L+ 'ill go, #ather,M b%t then he i not go! 8hi&h son 'as more #aith#%l to his #atherG +t is better to spea$ o# oing evil, an then o 'hat is right, than it is to spea$ o# oing right an then o evil! >ne ay a harene an greey man 'as 'al$ing thro%gh the #orest 'hen a poisono%s spier bit him! :e #ell to the gro%n, %n&on* s&io%s an reaming! :e #elt as i# transporte to hell! :e sa' a ban%et room, 'ith an enlessly long table pile high 'ith eli&io%s #oos! The people sitting at the table, ho'ever, groane in misery! Their arms 'ere tie 'ith splints so that they &o%l not ben their elbo's, an they th%s &o%l not li#t #oo to their mo%ths! 8orse still, they 'ere tie to their &hairs an the #oo 'as pile in the mile o# the table, so they &o%l not ben #or'ar to eat 'ith their mo%ths! They 'o%l try over an over to #ee themselves by pi&$ing %p #oo, thro'ing it into the air, an &at&hing 'hatever they &o%l in their mo%ths! 8itho%t being able to ben their arms, tho%gh, their thro's 'ere &l%msy, an most o# the #oo lane else'here! The ban%et hall 'as a &haoti& mess, 'ith #oo #lying in the air an #oo spille an rotting all over the gro%n an the iners! The hall 'as #ille 'ith the iners@ moans o# h%nger an angry sho%ts at one another! The man 'as s%enly &arrie a'ay into heaven! :e 'as p%B* Ble, tho%gh, #or heaven 'as set %p ienti&ally to hell! >n&e again, there 'as an enlessly long ban%et table, 'ith g%ests tie to their &hairs, their arms tie to splints! %t here, the ban%et room 'as &lean! The 260
T:D TR+PD PAT: only so%ns 'ere the so%ns o# happy &onversation bet'een the g%ests! >ne thing &a%se this mar$e i##eren&e3 in heaven, sin&e it 'as not possible to #ee onesel#, ea&h person 'o%l pi&$ %p #oo an #ee it to that person@s neighbors! +nvariably, the person re&eiving #oo 'o%l than$ the one #eeing, an then o##er #oo ba&$ to that person in re* t%rn! The man #o%n himsel# again ba&$ in hell! P%BBle that those in hell ha not #ig%re o%t ho' to #ee ea&h other, the man approa&he the nearest s%##ering iner, leane o'n an 'hispere, LFo% #oolX There is no nee #or yo% to go h%ngry! Hee one o# yo%r neighbors, an &ertainly he 'ill ret%rn yo%r $inness an #ee yo%! LFo% e9pe&t me to #ee him GM the iner sai, loo$ing 'ith is* approval at his neighbor! L+@ rather starve than give him the satis#a&tion o# eatingXM The man ret%rne to himsel#, laying on the gro%n in the #or* est, b%t soon everything #ae again an he #o%n himsel# in a hell nearly ienti&al to that o# his #irst ream, e9&ept that no' there 'as no &eiling to the room! Har o## in the istan&e, he &o%l see heaven %p above him! :e no' believe he 'as tr%ly ea, in hell! omeho' a threa #rom a spier 'eb h%ng o'n #rom heaven, e9tening all the 'ay to him in hell! :e #ig%re that the threa m%st be &ompensation to him #or his %ntimely eath #rom the spier@s bite! The man ha not yet been strappe to a &hair! "ot 'anting to spen eternity in h%nger 'ith s%&h sel#ish &ompanions, he began &limb* ing the threa, eager to rea&h the ban%ets o# heaven! The &limb o%t o# hell is a long one, an the man event%ally gre' tire! :e stoppe hal#'ay %p the threa to rest! :e sa' ho' #ar he ha &ome, an la%ghe lightheartely as he realiBe that he might es* &ape! To his ismay, ho'ever, he sa' others &limbing %p a#ter him! They 'ere also ne' arrivals to hell 'ho ha not yet been tie o'n an ha seen him es&aping! They ha beg%n &limbing to es&ape as 'ell! Hearing that the threa may brea$ #rom the 'eight o# so many other &limbers, he sho%te o'n to the others, emaning that they get o## the threa, that it 'as his an his alone! At that moment, the threa bro$e! The man #ell o'n into hell, an 'as strappe into a &hair #or all eternity! 261
PARAD :is table &ompanions 'ere those 'ho ha also been &limbing the threa! :e 'as so angry 'ith them #or brea$ing the threa that he re* #%se to #ee them! 8ith regret he &alle o%t to heaven, Lplease 'arn those 'ho are still living+ i not learn, b%t i# + ha seen 'hat + see no', + 'o%l have learne!M A voi&e replie, Lyo% i see 'hen yo% 'ere still living, %n&on* s&io%s on the #orest #loor, an many times be#ore that, yet yo% never learne! Dven no', yo% still re#%se to learn! The living have tea&hers eno%gh! Those 'ith ears to hear an hearts that #eel have 'hat they nee to learn an o to be&ome 'orthy o# heaven! Those 'itho%t ears to hear an hearts that #eel 'ill never learn, no matter ho' many times they are ta%ght, %nless they &hoose to open their ears an hearts!M 8ith that, the man@s ream ene an he ie #rom the e##e&ts o# the spier bite! "o', to yo% reaing this story, this man li$ely seems #oolish an sel#ish! %t, it is easy to see the #oolishness an sel#ishness o# oth* ers, to &orre&t them an o##er avi&e! +t is m%&h harer to see yo%r o'n #oolishness an sel#ishness! Ho&%s on sheing yo%r o'n #oolishness an sel#ishness, an yo% 'ill b%il heaven aro%n yo%! A poor tr%&$ river starte ha%ling loas o# hay a&ross an in* ternational borer every ay! The &%stoms o##i&ials s%spe&te that the man 'as sm%ggling something a&ross the borer, so ea&h ay they 'o%l &are#%lly sear&h him an his tr%&$, b%t they never #o%n anything! A#ter some time ha passe, the man starte 'earing ni&er &lothes! :e move to a large, ni&e ho%se an bo%ght e9pensive &ars an other l%9%ry goos! The &%stoms o##i&ials 'ere s%re that there 'as no 'ay the man &o%l have gaine his 'ealth by ha%ling hay, so they reo%* ble their e##orts to inspe&t his &argo to &at&h him sm%ggling! Dvery ay they sear&he &are#%lly, b%t every ay they &ame %p empty! A#ter e&aes o# this same ro%tine, the tr%&$ river retire, &om#ortable an 'ealthy! ome o# the &%stoms o##i&ials ha also retire! >ne o# them passe the tr%&$ river on the street in their borer to'n an approa&he, saying L+ have retire as a &%stoms o##i&ial, an yo% 262
T:D TR+PD PAT: have retire as 'ell! There is nothing + &an o to yo% no'! Please, + m%st $no'yo% really 'ere sm%ggling a&ross the borer, 'eren@t yo%G 8hat 'ere yo% sm%gglingGM LFes, + 'as sm%ggling,M ans'ere the tr%&$ river! L+ 'as sm%g* gling tr%&$s!M :igh ta9es a&ross the borer mae tr%&$s t'i&e as e9pensive there! Da&h ay, the tr%&$ river 'o%l rive a ne' tr%&$ ;s%itably irt* ie*%p to isg%ise its ne'ness= a&ross the borer #or sale, an then rive an ol tr%&$ ba&$ home to be s&rappe! ometimes the most important things are so obvio%s that they be&ome almost invisible! Al'ays be on g%ar, lest yo% #ail to #o&%s on that 'hi&h is most important! T'o ?ormon missionaries in a eveloping &o%ntry &ame %pon a river that they ha to &ross on #oot! There 'as a bea%ti#%l yo%ng 'oman at the river@s ban$ 'ho 'as not strong eno%gh to &ross thro%gh the river@s shallo', yet strong, &%rrent! he ha %rgent b%siness on the other sie, an 'as &learly istresse! he as$e the missionaries #or help! The #irst missionary re#%se, e9plaining that their r%les #orbae &lose &onta&t 'ith #emales! The se&on missionary, tho%gh, pi&$e %p the yo%ng 'oman 'itho%t hesitation an &arrie her sa#ely a&ross the river! 8hen they rea&he the other sie, the se&on missionary p%t the 'oman o'n! he than$e him, an 'ent on her 'ay! The missionaries &ontin%e on in silen&e #or some time! The #irst missionary 'as brooing, an gre' more an more ist%rbe as they 'al$e! ensing that something 'as 'rong, the se&on missionary as$e the #irst 'hat 'as the matter! The #irst missionary t%rne to his &ompanion an sai 'ith a reproving tone, LDler, yo% $no' that &arry* ing that 'oman a&ross the river 'as against o%r r%les! + &annot believe yo% i s%&h a thingXM The se&on missionary@s tho%ghts ha move on to other things, an he ha #orgotten abo%t the girl! :e t%rne to the #irst mis* sionary an sai, Loh, herG he neee o%r help, an so + #reely gave it! + le#t that 'oman miles ba&$, at the river@s ban$! 8hy are yo% still &arry* ing herGM 26
PARAD
A spirit%al tea&her 'o%l meet 'ith others #or prayers at his home on&e a 'ee$! :is og, tho%gh, 'o%l al'ays &a%se a &ommotion an istra&t them #rom their prayers! The tea&her th%s began tying %p his og o%tsie ea&h 'ee$ at the start o# their meeting, an 'o%l then release the og a#ter they ha #inishe their prayers! The tea&her event%* ally ie, b%t a spirit%al &omm%nity ha gro'n aro%n his tea&hings, an they &ontin%e to meet an pray together 'ee$ly at his ho%se! Dv* ery 'ee$, they 'o%l tie %p the og be#ore prayers an then release him a#ter'ar! Dvent%ally the og also ie! As a 'ay o# remembering the %ir$s o# their belove tea&her, the &omm%nity aopte a ne' og to tie %p be#ore their prayers an release at their &ompletion! A#ter many years ha passe, the original reason #or this pra&ti&eto remove is* tra&tions #rom their prayers'as event%ally #orgotten, an also it 'as #orgotten that the se&on og ha been aopte in remembran&e o# their tea&her! The pra&ti&e be&ame a traition, tho%gh, an &ontin%e thro%gh the years as a part o# the &omm%nity@s 'ee$ly prayer rit%al! ?any e&aes later, a#ter all 'ho ha $no'n the tea&her ha ie, some members o# the &omm%nity began to %estion the nee #or tying %p the og, an 'hether it serve any real p%rpose! The &omm%n* ity@s leaers 'ere horri#ie to hear s%&h tal$, an &onsiere this %es* tioning to be blasphemy! The learne members o# the &omm%nity too$ #or grante the ne&essity o# their rit%al o# tying %p the og! +n response to the %estioning, they o##ere long is&o%rses an 'rote &ompli&ate treatises, %sti#ying the importan&e o# their og*tying rit%al an its spir* it%al symbolism! The %estioners event%ally le#t the &omm%nity an starte a ne' one 'ith no ogs! They 'o%l meet in a b%iling 'ith a noisy street to the east! Dvent%ally, they #ille in the 'ino's an oors on the east o# their b%iling to blo&$ o%t the so%n an &reate greater pea&e an serenity %ring their meetings! 8hen that b%iling gre' too ol an #ell into isrepair, they tore it o'n an b%ilt a ne' one 'ith no 'ino's or oors on the east! ?any e&aes later, they move to a ne' lo&ation s%rro%ne by %iet pea&e#%l streets! o m%&h time ha passe that the original members o# the &omm%nity ha ie! The re* 264
T:D TR+PD PAT: maining members i not $no' the p%rpose o# having no 'ino's an oors on the east! +t #elt improper an ir reverent to most o# them, tho%gh, to &onstr%&t a ne' b%iling that 'as not #aith#%l to their previ* o%s one, so they b%ilt it 'ith no 'ino's an oors to the east! ome members o# the &omm%nity began to %estion this e&i* sion! The leaers sa' this %estioning as blasphemy, an their learne members o##ere long is&o%rses an 'rote &ompli&ate treatises e9* plaining the spirit%al symbolism o# this pra&ti&e ! ! ! ! A poor #isherman 'o%l go o%t to sea ea&h ay to &at&h 'hat he &o%l to s%pport his #amily! A laBy peli&an that live nearby hate the e##ort o# #lying over the 'ater, sear&hing #or #ish, an iving to &at&h them! >ne ay, it 'as #lying over the poor #isherman@s boat, an sa' his &at&h o# #ish #or the aya small pilesta&$e %p in his boat! ensing an opport%nity #or an easy meal, the peli&an ive o'n an stole a #ish o%t o# the pile! The #isherman shooe the peli&an a'ay! The peli&an #le' %p into the air, 'aite %ntil the #isherman 'as not loo$ing, an then ive o'n again to steal another #ish! >ver an over again, the peli&an stole more an more o# the #ish! The #isherman@s &at&h ha been meager to begin 'ith, an the peli&an@s the#ts eplete so m%&h o# it that the #isherman i not have eno%gh to both #ee his #amily an sell #ish at the mar$et #or money to b%y other ne&essities! The #isherman $ept a li#eli$e 'oo &arving o# a #ish in his boat as a sort o# goo l%&$ &harm! :e $ne' that the 'ooen #ish i not re* ally bring l%&$that his s%&&ess really epene mostly on his o'n har 'or$b%t his #ather an gran#ather ha &arrie the 'ooen #ish 'ith them every ay 'hen o%t to sea, an so he bro%ght it 'ith him to &ontin%e the traition ;espe&ially be&a%se his age #ather live at the #isherman@s ho%se 'ith his #amily, an seeing his son &arry on the trai* tion bro%ght him &om#ort=! ee$ing sola&e, the #isherman pi&$e %p his 'ooen #ish an espaire the meager remnants o# his &at&h #ollo'ing the peli&an@s the#ts! The #isherman then set o'n the 'ooen #ish an starte to ro' to shore! The peli&an, still &ir&ling overhea, sa' the 'ooen #ish! The #ish loo$e real to the peli&an, an it 'as larger than the rest! reeily, 265
PARAD he s'oope o'n, pl%&$e it %p, an s'allo'e it! As he trie to #ly ba&$ %p into the air, the #ish &a%ght in his throat, an the peli&an #ell ba&$ o'n to the 'ater@s s%r#a&e, str%ggling to get the #ish o%t! :e e9* pene m%&h e##ort trying#ar more than he 'o%l have spent %st 'or$ing to #in an &at&h his o'n #ish! :e ha s'allo'e the 'ooen #ish so enth%siasti&ally, tho%gh, that it 'as #irmly loge in his throat! "o matter 'hat he i, he &o%l not get it o%t! The peli&an #laile aro%n on the s%r#a&e o# the o&ean, an soon &ho$e to eath! The #ish* erman %se his net to &at&h the peli&an, an ro'e in to shore'ith his 'ooen #ish ;retrieve #rom the peli&an@s throat=, a small pile o# #ish to sell, an a peli&an #or his #amily to eat #or inner! 8hen he entere his home 'ith the ea peli&an, the man@s #a* ther smile $no'ingly an as$e one %estion, Lthe 'ooen #ishGM The #isherman noe! The peli&an ie be&a%se it #aile to learn the simple lesson that ea&h m%st 'or$ #or his o'n s%stenan&e, rather than living o## the labors o# others! The #isherman an his #amily i not go h%ngry that night be&a%se the #isherman ha learne to val%e traition, even tho%gh he &o%l not initially re&ogniBe its p%rpose! ong ago, t'o men in a #ar*o## esert lan 'ere traveling on #oot o'n an empty roa thro%gh esolate &o%ntry! They ha r%n$ the last o# their 'ater! Heeling thirsty an nearing one o# the in#re%ent 'ells along the ro%te, they stoppe to re#ill their 'aters$ins an to re* #resh themselves! 8hen they ippe the b%&$et into the 'ell, tho%gh, it &ame %p ry! They trie again, an again it &ame %p ry! The #irst traveler, a 'ise, pra&ti&al man, e&ie to set o## again on his o%rney to sear&h #or a 'ell #%rther along the roa 'ith 'ater in it! The se&on traveler, a #ool, isagree! :e sai to the 'ise traveler, Lyo% #oolyo% o not $no' ho' long it 'ill be %ntil yo% rea&h the ne9t 'ell! Fo% o not $no' i# that 'ell 'ill be ry too! + 'ill stay here instea an $eep trying to ra' 'ater #rom this 'ell!M The 'ise traveler replie, Lyo% are right, + o not $no' ho' #ar it is to the ne9t 'ell, an + o not $no' 'hether it 'ill have 'ater! %t + o $no' that this 'ell is empty, an it 'o%l be #oolish to &on* 26/
T:D TR+PD PAT: tin%e see$ing 'ater #rom a ry 'ell! +# + 'ish to &omplete my o%rney, + m%st see$ 'ater 'here it &an be #o%n, not 'here it is &onvenient #or me to loo$ #or it!M ?ove 'ith &ompassion #or his #oolish #rien, tho%gh, he ae, L+# + o #in 'ater, + 'ill try to bring some ba&$ to yo%!M An 'ith that, he got %p an le#t! The #oolish traveler remaine, ipping the b%&$et again an again into the ry 'ell! +t al'ays &ame %p empty! y the time the 'ise traveler ret%rne 'ith 'ater, it 'as too late! The #oolish traveler ha al* reay ie, 'ea$ an thirsty, #%ll o# regret #or his #oolish &hoi&e! A long time ago, a yo%ng man 'ho ha hear legens o# a magi& &rypt that &ontaine the se&ret o# immortality e&ie to sear&h #or it! A#ter a long sear&h, he #o%n it in the :oly an, hien %ner* gro%n among some ol Roman r%ins! :e entere the &rypt, b%t it 'as empty! :e sa' no se&rets 'ritten insie abo%t immortality, an no magi& eli9ir or #o%ntain o# yo%th! There 'as not even a &o##in or a sar* &ophag%s! The %nergro%n &rypt %st ha an empty re&esse area &%t into the stone 'all 'here a &orpse or a &o##in 'o%l have been pla&e! :e lay o'n in the bare al&ove, &on#%se! %enly, he #elt li$e he 'as o%tsie o# himsel#, loo$ing at 'here he sat! Time seeme to pass s'i#tly! 8at&hing helplessly, he sa' himsel# %i&$ly age an ie! :e 'itnesse his &orpse an &lothes rot a'ay %ntil there 'as nothing le#t! The &rypt 'as empty again! Time &ontin%e to ra&e by #or himyears seeme to pass in min%tes! Dvent%ally, he sa' a h%sban an 'i#e approa&h the &rypt! They b%il an en&los%re over the &rypt@s entran&e, then entere an &arve on the 'all their names an a short a&&o%nt o# their is&overy o# the &rypt! They lay o'n in the same al&ove! +n nearly an instant their boies age an rotte a'ay, %st as his ha! A#ter a #e' years, their &hil* ren &ame to the &rypt loo$ing #or their parents! They #o%n the en&lo* s%re b%ilt by their parents an their 'ritings &arve on the 'all! Dvery #e' years, the &hilren ret%rne to visit the &rypt! Their n%mbers gre' over time as they bro%ght their spo%ses an &hilren, then gran&hilren an great*gran&hilren! Da&h time they &ame, they 'o%l b%il onto the prote&tive en&los%re at the &rypt@s entran&e, gra%ally t%rning it into 26
PARAD a gran b%iling! They 'o%l also a to their an&estors@ 'ritings on the stone 'all, t%rning them into a gran epi&! The man a'o$e #rom his vision, yo%ng again, lying on the bare al&ove o# the &rypt! :e %rgently mae the long o%rney ba&$ home! :e marrieE ha &hilrenE live 'ellE b%iltE an 'rote! Hor, in the &rypt that ay, he learne the se&ret o# immortality!
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T:D TR+PD PAT:
* :ans Christian Anersen, LThe Dmperor@s "e' ClothesME ionel Tiger an Robin Ho9, The +m* perial Animal , 11! * Ch%ang TB%, e&tion 1 ;The >l Hisherman=, 8atson translation * C%la ?al%n$yovaa %tta, The horter +nstr%&tions to ?al%n$ya, translate #rom the Pali by Thanissaro hi$$* h%, http3))b%has%tra!&om)#iles)&%laSmal%n$yovaaSs%tta!htm! * ospel o# Thomas ! * John 12324*2/! * ?ar$ 43*E ospel o# Thomas ! * ospel o# Thomas /E %$e 1231/* 21! * ospel o# Thomas 2E ?atthe' 5314! ?atthe' 5314*15E ?ar$ 4321*25E %$e 631/* 16E ospel o# Thomas ! * .hammapaa 252! * ?atthe' /324*2! * .hammapaa 56*5! * ?atthe' 131I2E ?ar$ 430I2E %$e 1316*1! * ?atthe' 13E %$e 1320I21E ospel o# Thomas /! * .hammapaa 121*122! * Tao Te Ching 632, 153, 22 ;?it&hell Transla* tion=E Ch%ang TB%, e&tion 5 ;The ign o# (irt%e Complete=, 8atson translation, p! /5! * %$e 1032* * Aesop@s Hables, 12, The Harmer an (iper! * ?atthe' 1632*5E %$e 340*4 an 1311*1! %$e 163*14E o?, Alma 1315*16! 26
PARAD * %$e 1235*40E ?atthe' 24342*44E ?ar$ 134*! * ?atthe' 25314*0E %$e 1311*2E the ospel o# the :ebre's ;as re&o%nte by D%sebi%s=! * ospel o# Thomas 4 an 45! * ospel o# Thomas 4E ?atthe' 31/*1E ?ar$ 2321*22E %$e 53/* * ?atthe' 232*26 * %$e 14326*0 * ?atthe' 21326*2 * >l story, $no'n as LThe Allegory o# the ong poons,M LThe Parable o# the ong Chopsti&$s,M or LThe Parable o# the an%et,M attrib%te as an ol %hist, Chi* nese, Christian, :in%, or Je'ish parable, also attrib%te to Rabbi :aim o# Romshisho$E Ry%nos%$e A$%taga'a, LThe pierYs Threa,M 116E %$e 1/31*1! * Lm%ggling .on$eys,M #ol$ tale attrib* %te to "asrein! * %hist story, origin %n$no'n! * %hist story, origin %n$no'n! * ospel o# Thomas 4!
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The #ollo'ing is a list o# non*#i&tion boo$s that have ha a signi#i&ant impa&t on ho' + thin$, on ho' + loo$ at the 'orl, an on ho' + treat my &hilren! Tho%gh + o not ne&essarily enorse everything sai in these boo$s, + highly re&ommen them ;as 'ell as the boo$s liste at the beginning o# the ?eitations se&tion o# this boo$= #or reaing an re#le&tion! The 10,000 Fear D9plosion by regory Co&hran an :enry :arp* ening Anti#ragile by "assim "i&holas Taleb The aby oo$ by 8illiam ears, et! al!! e#ore the .a'n by "i&holas 8ae The la&$ 'an by "assim "i&holas Taleb The lan$ late by teven Pin$er Coming Apart by Charles ?%rray The D9plosive Chil by Ross 8! reene The Haith +nstin&t by "i&holas 8ae A Hare'ell to Alms by regory Clar$ Hoole by Ranomness by "assim "i&holas Taleb The :appiness :ypothesis by Jonathan :ait :o' to Tal$ o Kis 8ill isten isten o Kis 8ill Tal$ by Aele Haber an Dlaine ?aBlish Jes%s, +nterr%pte by art Dhrman The "%rt%re Ass%mption by J%ith Ri&h :arris The Righteo%s ?in by Jonathan :ait The Rise o# Christianity by Roney tar$ Thin$ing, Hast an lo' by .aniel Kahneman
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James Kenneth Rogers re&eive a !A! in +nternational Relations, 'ith honors, #rom righam Fo%ng 7niversity, a J%ris .o&tor #rom :arvar a' &hool, an a ?asters o# a' in +nternational a' #rom the 7ni* versity o# Cambrige! :e is #rom AriBona, b%t has also live in 7tah, ?assa&h%setts, raBil, Dnglan, an "amibia! :e loves 'riting, r%n* ning, an traveling, b%t most o# all, spening time 'ith his 'i#e an #o%r &hilren!
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