the good are seldom rewarded, the bad go largely unpunished

[danas]

the good are seldom rewarded, the bad go largely unpunished and the innocent are always abused.

I heard this quote recently and its stuck in my head.

What do you think? Do you agree with this?

lately Ive been experiencing the reality of it.
part of me doesnt want to fully adopt this belief while another part says:
This is the truth, wake up!

[Digit]

does it even need to be pointed out???


"good is it's own reward"!


like that film pass it forward (or whatever it's called), the ripples go out, the world is made lighter, we all enjoy the benefits, and the benefits accumulate and amplify when coliding with other benefits... it's damn near exponential!


folks don't do good for a quick short term return on their investment. if the focus is on what can be got out of it, then the point was missed.


similalry, those who try the machavelian route of self service often eventually feel really unfullfilled, and even have a big karma stick come back n give them a real good whack.


there was something else that put this in perspective for me....
when reading a book on nichiren buddhism,
it depicted the boddhisatva as the stage before becoming a true buddha,
someone who was all giving, but didnt allow to give to themselves, the one person who was always present in their life. there's no point thinking you are all altruistic, all giving, to everyone, if you exclude yourself from that.

think about it this way....

if everyone addopted that philosophy, what kind of world would it create?


^ thats long been the singular check to be done on any and all new philosophy for me.

"....a brilliant cascade of cause and effect. Isn't the universe an amazing place? I wouldn't live anywhere else" - G'Kar

[Ryan24]

the "bad" are usually mentally tougher than the "good". Its no secret that alot of weaker people try to play off being the angel, and then dont have the guts to confront the bad.

The goal is to be stronger and kinder than the people harming others so you can actually do something about that statement.

[Dan.Linehan]

Spot on Ryan, great way to look at it.

[Akashic_Librarian]

Ryan, your description reminds me of the protaganist in The Sword of Truth series, by Terry Goodkind - Richard Rahl. Plus I also agree very strongly with you.

The weak are never the criminals - oh they'd like you to believe that, "Good people are strong, we must stand tall against evil" etc...etc... but really bad people all have strength, courage and determination. And thats the truth.

[Gene]

Originally Posted by Akashic_Librarian

The weak are never the criminals - oh they'd like you to believe that, "Good people are strong, we must stand tall against evil" etc...etc... but really bad people all have strength, courage and determination. And thats the truth.

I have seen evil and many times it comes as a surprise to those who do evil that they are the "bad" guys. A preponderance of the time evil follows the path of least resistance. I know my statement is not universally true but believe it to be accurate enough to put forth as a counter statement to, "the weak are never the criminals." <Grin>

I smile with wry chagrin when I remember some of my past behaviors of which I am less than proud and realize I also was usually following the path of least resistance. The path of least resistance does not require strength, courage and determination.

Your Mileage May Vary!

[Trezker]

The path of least resistance changes a lot as you look further into the future.
Look one day ahead and crime is very profitable. Look 10 years ahead then law enforcement, enemies and untrustworthy friends provide a ton of resistance.

If you really want to be lazy, look far ahead and realize that being good is far better than being bad.

[CroMagna]

Originally Posted by danas

the good are seldom rewarded, the bad go largely unpunished and the innocent are always abused.

I heard this quote recently and its stuck in my head.

What do you think? Do you agree with this?

lately Ive been experiencing the reality of it.
part of me doesnt want to fully adopt this belief while another part says:
This is the truth, wake up!

It's very true. In my religion, we believe "Might Is Right". Whoever has the might, makes all the rules, regardless of the fairness of that or not. Fairness is an illusion. We also believe that "the strong rule the weak and the clever rule the strong." I see that as very true, just look at bullies. The only people who can conquer them are evil geniuses. As a darkworker, I strive to be counted among the clever.

[ilovetoday]

Define the good?

If they are good to only others... then yes seldom rewarded.
If they are good to just themselves, again seldom rewarded.

You have to value yourself and others to keep a balance then you are rewarded. I only read a chapter on this yesterday in the book How to Make One Hell of a Profit and Still get to Heaven.

I would never like to have grown up beleiving that wronging others is ok. Being a bad person with values of only themselves isnt that punishment enough?

[Maguru]

Originally Posted by Gene

I have seen evil and many times it comes as a surprise to those who do evil that they are the "bad" guys. A preponderance of the time evil follows the path of least resistance. I know my statement is not universally true but believe it to be accurate enough to put forth as a counter statement to, "the weak are never the criminals." <Grin>

I smile with wry chagrin when I remember some of my past behaviors of which I am less than proud and realize I also was usually following the path of least resistance. The path of least resistance does not require strength, courage and determination.

Your Mileage May Vary!

Does anyone think they themselves are evil? Is it only good people who see evil in others?

[Digit]

i don't normaly go for these terms, particularly "evil", seeing it instead with greater complexity, often any simplified assessment of what folks call "evil" I'd call "stupid". but i'll play along for convenience. though i must say again, this overly dualistic take on motivations is DUMB-DUMB! what motivates and drives any of us, really, for the sake of your understanding of the universe around you should, in my opinion and experience, never be reduced to this much of an oversimplified judgement.

Originally Posted by Maguru

Does anyone think they themselves are evil? Is it only good people who see evil in others?

that's one massive can of worms opened there. ok... maybe there's a definitive short answer, but my thoughts on that are like a river delta in hurricane.

i know many folks would be indoctrinated with that cultural perception that actions they commit, or by way of either actions they commit or through inherent nature, that they their self are "evil". I've questioned the usefulness of that approach often.

maybe you can take the route of, if you see evil in others, it is by order of the construct in which our spiritual evolution takes place that to see such is part of your own journey to learn from, perhaps even that you are seeing it because in some way or form, such is present within you, and needs to be dealt with, learned, overcome.

maybe you can (also?) take the route of, it's evil to judge others as evil. as paradoxical as that may sound. ... or perhaps thats why the old line is more often phrased as "judge not lest ye be judged yourself."

because really... these are just perceptions, right?

who knows if there truly is an inherent underlying actuality to something being "good" or "evil" (seems utterly farcical to me, on most levels) beyond our best guesses.

anyways... are those good people who can see evil in others really good, if all they are doing is seeing evil in others? isn't there some gentle-touch wise practicality they are capable of enacting?

[Brutha]

If you do good with the intent to get rewarded are you really good? If you only don't do something bad because you fear punishment, are you bad?

Be conscious and life your own life and archieve your own goals.

[Maguru]

Originally Posted by Digit

i don't normaly go for these terms, particularly "evil", seeing it instead with greater complexity, often any simplified assessment of what folks call "evil" I'd call "stupid". but i'll play along for convenience. though i must say again, this overly dualistic take on motivations is DUMB-DUMB! what motivates and drives any of us, really, for the sake of your understanding of the universe around you should, in my opinion and experience, never be reduced to this much of an oversimplified judgement.



that's one massive can of worms opened there. ok... maybe there's a definitive short answer, but my thoughts on that are like a river delta in hurricane.

i know many folks would be indoctrinated with that cultural perception that actions they commit, or by way of either actions they commit or through inherent nature, that they their self are "evil". I've questioned the usefulness of that approach often.

maybe you can take the route of, if you see evil in others, it is by order of the construct in which our spiritual evolution takes place that to see such is part of your own journey to learn from, perhaps even that you are seeing it because in some way or form, such is present within you, and needs to be dealt with, learned, overcome.

maybe you can (also?) take the route of, it's evil to judge others as evil. as paradoxical as that may sound. ... or perhaps thats why the old line is more often phrased as "judge not lest ye be judged yourself."

because really... these are just perceptions, right?

who knows if there truly is an inherent underlying actuality to something being "good" or "evil" (seems utterly farcical to me, on most levels) beyond our best guesses.

anyways... are those good people who can see evil in others really good, if all they are doing is seeing evil in others? isn't there some gentle-touch wise practicality they are capable of enacting?

I'm really looking at how people see themselves. As Gene suggested no-one truly thinks of themselves as being/doing 'evil' (harming others) because of their perception of themselves. I do believe in 'people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones' but they do, not realising they live in a glass house.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by danas

the good are seldom rewarded, the bad go largely unpunished and the innocent are always abused.
...
part of me doesnt want to fully adopt this belief while another part says:
This is the truth, wake up!

Danas, if you were to wake up to the truth of "The good are seldom rewarded, the bad go largely unpunished and the innocent are always abused," what would be present for you? Would you change the way you do things? Would you deliberately "do bad" to avoid punishment, or deliberately become guilty to avoid being abused?

Would you be willing to live a life utterly run by resignation and resentment?

My question is: What would be your payoff for believing that thought?

[danas]

Originally Posted by Angela

Danas, if you were to wake up to the truth of "The good are seldom rewarded, the bad go largely unpunished and the innocent are always abused," what would be present for you? Would you change the way you do things? Would you deliberately "do bad" to avoid punishment, or deliberately become guilty to avoid being abused?

Would you be willing to live a life utterly run by resignation and resentment?

My question is: What would be your payoff for believing that thought?

well, lets put it this way. For me the definition of "bad" is not "evil". It simply means thinking only of yourself and not taking others into consideration.
It means being a "taker". but not to intentionally hurt someone, but just to get what you want. Its not quite stealing, but its not far from that.

For instance there have been issues around money in my family recently.
I just see that other family members (siblings) can simply take and take a big part of someone elses cake (without telling me), while I have always been considerate, and tactful, happy with my small lot, never asking for help. but now that its all been revealed, I discover that my part of the cake is signifigantly smaller. I could have "taken" too (asked for it) , but it never occured to me to take so much unless Im offered it as a gift. but thats my problem.

Same goes with the guy I was with, who didnt tell he was married only until I was emotionally attached to him.
This guy is a "taker". he didnt mean to hurt me, or his wife, but he just had a lot of desires so he just wanted to "take" what he could, he knew if he told me from the start I wouldnt have gotten so close to him
(plus I found many more lies that he didnt tell me)

But life is not fair (although I believe in the longrun we all get what we need.), and I do not see myself as a victim.

I tried being "bad", and simply taking, but I cant. it tortured me.
When I see people I either really like them and care for them or I dont want anything to do with them.
I can not just think how to take from them for my sole benefit.

I have decided to let go of "the cake" for now, and let go of the guy without telling him how he hurt me- no point.

Its true that the benefit of being good is just the feeling it gives you.
The punishment of being "bad" is the feeling too.
Different people feel bad about different things. Some people can murder without feeling bad. But I believe they are on a lower level of consciousness .

[ellie]

Originally Posted by Ryan24

the "bad" are usually mentally tougher than the "good". Its no secret that alot of weaker people try to play off being the angel, and then dont have the guts to confront the bad.

The goal is to be stronger and kinder than the people harming others so you can actually do something about that statement.

I agree with this too and I am the weaker people It's true I don't have the guts to confront the bad and I hate myself for it.