Ethics: why we bother
An ethical intention forces one to take the perspective of another and in doing so grow our own awareness. Anytime one takes another’s perspective one not only servers that person better but also facilitate one’s own evolution.
Transformation of our consciousness is one of the benefits of ethical living
So one may wish to ask this question: How does this work and is this a true statement?
At a certain developmental level, ethics takes the form of transcending chaotic selfish impulses and behaving according to moral law. (yes and)
At this conventional stage, morality means following strict that differentiae good from bad. (this makes everything we call civilization possible)
BUT
At higher levels of awareness or developmental stages, we kind of out grow these perspectives.
At this point one can easily become lost in a post modernist moral relavatisim ( whatever is right for you kind of thinking)
And lose out on the growth that is waiting to be found.
The way out is observation of the effect our actions and words, what it sets in motion so to speak. (Kama)
This then leads to a broader more inclusive perspectives that take in to account paradoxes, shaded of grey, competing values and contradictions.
Our consciousness is razed one level higher and we glimpse the freedom that awaits us we have a comicalogical conciseness
But still there is more
As one awakes from the dream it is quite easy to become arrogant and this is a huge mistake as the one has become aware of the interconnected nature of reality.
As conventional self – protective or fear based motives disappear ethical practice becomes even more important as one may easily fall into the trap of becoming god.
Ethics simplifies the ones relationship to the apparent others so one is not distracted by petty conflicts and this allows one to open up to the ever present moment.
Where am I at
Do you inwardly wince, actually experience mental, emotional pain when feeling one’s own unethical behaviour?
Our ethical lapses are closely associated with negative, unhappy, unskilful states of mind and emotion.
We behave the worst when we feel the worst inside.
All so note ethical lapses set in motion a whole stream of effects and causes that tend to keep us at our worst, they kind of reinforce themselves and one is TRAPPED, freedom is lost.
On the other hand ethical behavior reinforces positive, happy, skillful states of mind and emotion.
What are the costs
The short term cost of unethical behavior are
· Unhappy
· Contracted
· Unskillful states of mind
Long term cost of unethical behaviour are worse
· Vicious cycle of lies
· Self contempt
· Denial that erodes the foundation of our integrity and virtue.
When we do things we can’t openly confess we automatically generate defences to cope and in doing so build a prison for eternity .
Deception has extremely high costs.
It divides psyche, undermines self-esteem, compromises our core commitments and saps us of energy.
Self deception has the highest cost.
It’s the result of physiological repression, driving experience into unconsciousness and build inaccessible layers to complex behaviours that build huge levels of conflict.
We can no longer show up with any integrity
