Who knows what is right and what is wrong?

In ancient times when men were men and women were
women there lived a man who had a horse and a son.> >
> > . One day his horse ran away.When his neigbours
> > heard of this they came to offer the old man their
> > sympathy for he was known to them for his humility
> > and
> > this event was in their eyes a great misfortune.
> >
> > . But the old man seemed unaffected and
> > all he would say was:"Who knows what is right and
> > what
> > is wrong,what is good and what is bad?"
> >
> > . Shortly thereafter the horse
> > returned and brought with it five other horses.
> >
> > . The neighbours were quick
> > to
> > offer the old man their sincere congratulations on
> > his
> > good fortune. .
Again he would only
> > say:"Who knows what is good and what is bad,what is
> > right and what is wrong?" . It then
> > happened that his son in the course of training the
> > wild horses fell off one and broke his leg.
> >
> > . Again
> > all
> > the old man's neighbours came to
> > commiserate,assuming
> > that he would be grief-stricken by this
> > occurence.They
> > were again surprised to find him unperturbed:"Who
> > knows what is right and what is wrong?"
> >
> > . Well the son's
> > leg did mend but he was left with a permanent limp.
> >
> > . And then
> > one
> > day the king's army passed through the village and
> > conscripted every able-bodied young man into the
> > army,except the old man's son who was spared because
> > of his conspicuous limp.
> > .
> >
> > It' all good!

> > . Good and evil,pleasure and pain--all come from
> > the same source.Behind the duality of right and
> > wrong,good and evil ...is unity/oneness.If we do not
> > rise
> > above duality and embrace oneness we can not attain
> > perfection and peace.
> >
> > . This understanding affords one contentment
> > whatever life's condition.Often what we see from
> > our
> > limited personal perspective (observational frame of reference)
as good fortune turns
> > out
> > badly ,and what seems to be misfortune turns out to
> > be
> > a blessing in disguise.
> >
> > . Most of what we learn is partial
> > knowledge.When we can see from another point of
> > view--e.g. to see goodness in someone in whom we
> > previously were only able to see wickedness--then
> > only
> > do we have complete knowledge.
> >
> > . All sensation whether
> > pleasure or pain is caused by energy impinging upon
> > sense organs.Why do we presume to be the best judges
> > of what is right and what is wrong? Have we no faith
> > that the Judge knows what he is doing,that He knows
> > his work and does what is best? . If a
> > person
> > were to drop a heavy weight ,and in so doing hurt
> > his
> > own foot,he would not blame his hand for having
> > dropped it,realizing himself in both the hand and
> > the
> > foot. In like manner the wise man is tolerant when
> > harmed by another,thinking that the harm has come
> > from
> > himself alone.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


There is nothing good or bad, but
> > > thinking
> > > makes
> > > it
> > > so.
> > > I don,t think anyone can live a
> > > "personal
> > > life"
> > > that
> > > is completely blameless,faultless,or sinless.
> > > If sin is in the eye of the beholder
> > > there
> > > will
> > > always be someone who sees what you "do"
> > > or
> > > "don't do"
> > (damned if you do and damned if you don't)
> > > as hurtful and injurious to
> > > themselves.Even
> > > though
> > > the
> > > intention is helpful rather than harmful
> > > there
> > > will
> > > always be someone who sees your action
> > > (or
> > > inaction)as
> > > the cause of their own hurt,as an
> > > impediment
> > > to
> > > the
> > attainment of their own desire(s).
> > Even saints (like Christ who was believed
> > by
> > his
> > followers to have lived a sinless life)have
> > been
> > criticized to death.(Christ was crucified for uttering
the blasphemy of having attained perfection:"I am the
Truth" and "I and my Father are One")

> > Saints are immune to abuses and harsh words.
> > > None
> > are
> > so tolerant as the
> > saints. Therefore the saints and the
> > > > great
> > > > > souls advise seekers of wisdom to be tolerant like
> > > > > earth. They wish them to be so
> > humble
> > > as the earth.
> > > > > neither to speak any harsh word nor entertain
> > > > > any evil thought towards anybody.
> > The
> > > > > earth
> > > > > imparts this teaching.
The most one can
> > expect
> > > > of
> > > > > > > > oneself
> > > > > > > > > is
> > > > > > > > > > to be sensitive to the feelings and needs of
> > > > > others
> > > > > > > and
> > > > > > > > > to
> > > > > > > > > > try not to say or do anything that
> > > will
> > > > be
> > > > > > > > > > experienced
> > > > > > > > > > by them as hurtful--to behave toward
> > > > them
> > > > > as
> > > > > > > you
> > > > > > > > > > would
> > > > > > > > > > like them to behave toward you.
Often what
> > we
> > > > > first
> > > > > > > see
> > > > > > > > > due
> > > > > > > > > > to our limited vision and
> > > understanding
> > > > as
> > > > > > > > harmful
> > > > > > > > > > turns out to be a blessing in
> > > disguise.
So
perhaps
> > > > > we
> > > > > > > > should
> > > > > > > > > > not
> > > > > > > > > > judge what happens to us as being
> > good
> > > > or
> > > > > > > > bad,but
> > > > > > > > > > accept with gratitude everything
> > that
> > > > > comes
> > > > > > > our
> > > > > > > > > > way,everything that life brings us
> > > .Even
> > > > > the
> > > > > > > > grief
> > > > > > > > > > and
> > > > > > > > > > the pain we should count as joy.
> > It's all good!
> > > The creator has created his creation with both
> virtue and sin,truth and falsehood,summer and winter,
> youth and old age.

> > > > > > > > There is no right and no wrong from the
> > > > > > > > absolute viewpoint--from the viewpoint
> > of
> > > > the
> > > > > > pure
> > > > > > > > and
> > > > > > > > perfect essence wch is beyond body and
> > > > form..
> > > > > > > There
> > > > > > > > are only events and experiences and the
> > > > > > > > meanings that we make of(give to) them.
> > > > > > > > It is in the fall from oneness into duality
and multiplicity that all the strife and conflict
apparent in this world originate.
> > > > > > > > > This
> > > > > > > > > > does not mean that we should not do
> > > > > > everything
> > > > > > > > in
> > > > > > > > > > our
> > > > > > > > > > power to avoid causing harm/distress to
> > > > others
> > > > > or
> > > > > > > > > > oneself.But if it happens despite
> > > one's
> > > > > best
> > > > > > > > > > efforts....we must acknowledge that
> > > > > > somethings
> > > > > > > > are
> > > > > > > > > > beyond our power to control.
>We should have the courage to apologize for the injury we have caused
>and to request /receive
>forgiveness.
> > > > > > > > > > Change is the fundamental principle
> > of
> > > > > life.
> > > > > > > > > Pleasure and pain, loss and
> > > > > > > > > gain, , victory and defeat
> > and
> > > > > > > > > righteousness
> > > > > > > > > and unrighteousness are the
> > > > > > > > > two opposite aspects of
> > > Nature.
> > > > > > > > Sometimes
> > > > > > > > > one aspect gets stronger and sometimes
> > > the
> > > > > > > > > other.
> > > > > > > > > He who is granted happiness at one
> > time
> > > > will
> > > > > > > receive sorrow at another.It is not to be
> > > > > avoided.
> > > > > > But must be patiently endured like the
> > > > > weather and the changing of the seasons over
> > > > > wch we also have no power to control.

When there is no hope of help from any
> > > outward
> > > > source (whenwe have reached the limits of our own resources)then only do we turn inward toward
> > God(as a last resort).And
> > > > when
> > > > one sees this one realizes that all the
> > > > troubles,conflicts,and temptations which we
> > > encounter
> > > > in our life are for our good;they are blessings
> > in
> > > > disguise ...for they turn us inward toward God.
> > > >
> > > >

The greatest challenge in life is the cultivation of
thankfulness--to learn to accept/receive all the gifts that
come with being alive.A thankful heart is the greatest virtue!
And the greatest sin is the sin of ingratitude--to be blind to all the beauty and blessings wch surround us simply by virtue of having been given life and awareness.