Harmlessness

2006-5-17 06:01:00

Spiritual Principle Forty:  Harmlessness

In the East the Principle of Harmlessness is stressed -- sometimes to an almost fanatical degree. Some will avoid stepping on a bug at all costs. Even so, the idea is good and also stressed in the Christian Bible, but in different words.

Jesus preached forgiveness even unto seventy times seven, which guides disciples in a harmless direction. He set an example by not letting Peter harm the soldiers who came to arrest him.

When James and John wanted to destroy a city that rejected them they suggested to the Master that they call down fire out of heaven. Jesus said: "You know not what manner of spirit you are. The son of man came not to destroy, but to save."

So what exactly is the Principle of Harmlessness? If we truly follow it does it mean we not even injure a blade of grass or an insect?

As with all principles the second key of judgment must be used to apply them in life. To follow the principle of harmlessness does not mean that one will never cause pain or discomfort to another. One must recall that there are many forks in the road in life where neither decision or path is an easy one. Often it seems as if we are damned if we do and damned if we don't. In other words, there are times that people are going to get hurt no matter what we decide.

Example: Jim has a fatal attraction toward Julie. Julie senses the danger and tells Jim she is not interested in a romantic relationship. Jim is hurt, but the overall hurt suffered is much less than would have been the case if Julie had gone contrary to her will and become romantic with Jim.

Many examples like this could be given, but the point is that harmlessness is misunderstood by many. Harmlessness does not mean that you will never hurt anyone. Instead, it means that when you are faced with a decision that you will choose the more harmless of the two choices. For instance, in the example above Julie chose the path of harmlessness because she made the more harmless decision.

The Principle of Harmlessness could therefore be distilled as follows:

"He who follows the harmless path seeks to do harm to no living thing, but realizes that indecision can often bring more harm than a wrong decision. He will therefore, not shy away from decision, but will use all his wisdom to make choices that will produce the most harmless direction."

  

"Remember that there is nothing stable in human affairs; therefore avoid undue elation in prosperity, or undue depression in adversity."
  -- Socrates (469 BC - 399 BC)