On Morality

I say, what exactly is the whole idea behind good or bad? One can rephrase this question as follows: when we do something, do we have a choice? Could we possibly withdraw if we wanted to?
Now, if we take the scientific approach and all, then the question has little meaning, for science, or at least physics does not exactly distinguish between the living and the inanimate. Therefore, within the realm of science, such a discussion is, by default, futile. But casting aside this approach for the moment, let us stop to analyze ourselves a bit. We all have regrets, almost all the time about petty things to things of mammoth proportions that weigh down on us like a road roller, and possibly much more frequently than we care to admit even to our selves. But the fact is that we never really learn, and at most learn to live with our mistakes.
My firm belief is that Man is never really responsible for his actions, and to consider yourself to be in command is possibly the greatest delusion of all. Obviously, this may be interpreted as a license to unlimited wickedness, but then we cannot be wicked beyond a certain measure wisely proportioned unto each. Likewise, there is a strict upper limit on our capacity to do good.In this manner, Man is no better than animals, as everything he does is solely to satisfy some immediate need.
Such a comparison is by no means degrading. On the other hand, it is rather beautiful. Consider this world running solely on the principle of immediate gain. Every breath you take, every move you make, gives you greater peace than before. In this way, everything that you do adds up to your peace of mind. Thus doing good or bad is for us purely a primal need, just like hunger, sleep etc. And can you really punish anyone for going out of the way to satisfy such needs as those? And this applies not to you alone, but to every living creature on the planet. And for this very reason we are all one and the same - the daffodils in a lonely garden, the flock of geese at the break of dawn, the cattle in the field, every one of them!
So the question that automatically rears up is whether all forms of punishment be abolished? Well, I guess we couldn't if we tried, desirable as it might be. For there is in us this desire for vengeance and retribution, along with the omnipotent fear that will forever compel us to inflict punishments upon wrongdoers,just as another part of us will plead for mercy and emancipation. Nothing wrong with either I assure you, merely a trait, or a way of the world. Hence, blasphemous though it may sound, I couldn't logically respect Mother Teresa any more than the greedy capitalist that sucks the lifeblood out the poor. For it was in Mother Teresa an all encompassing need to do good. She couldn't have lived in any other way even if she tried, nor could the aforementioned capitalist, for not unto him was rendered this wonderful gift. I guess, she new it, too, and therein lay that sea of universal love.
Therefore, it is a remarkably stupid thing to hate people. It is not uncommon for the just, benevolent men-of-the-world to show great compassion for beggars and the downtrodden. But just think about the unlucky ones that are repelled by the mere sight of them! One should feel sorry rather than angry when one sees them kick away a beggar as though he were a curse,
for the curse is upon them that they are so greatly perturbed by so trivial a thing. Hence, the best way to go about it is to love one and all irrespective of their deeds and ways. It is by no means an easy matter, and may be acquired only through long and rigorous self-training. But then, sometimes when you are all alone and have nothing much to do, you might give this mode of thought a thought, and then feel the surge of love welling out from within. Do it right and you will be blown away by the current, and therein shall lie your true salvation.
Now, bear in mind that I do not practise all that I preach. In fact I am nowhere near, merely one of the multitude, absorbed in my own petty regrets and foolish hate. Regardless, I firmly believe that this is the best path of all, and for the effort that I have put into this article, may somebody, somewhere be a tiny bit happier than he was.
Yours sincerely

Jude