Buzz
'Human nature is simple, but the character is inherently evil.'
Is it true that we encounter kind-hearted people very rarely in life?
If I were to explain away my misfortunes, it's probably just my luck, always catching grenades, or maybe because my social circle hasn't expanded much yet, so I only attract people from that level or below.
Speaking objectively, to tell the truth, there are very few righteous and knowledgeable people in this game of life. It means that out of 10 people you meet on the street, the likelihood of encountering someone unkind is very high.
Why is it so few?
You may have heard the phrase “Human nature is simple, but the character is inherently good,” meaning our nature is inherently good.
That's correct but incomplete; we must also add Confucius' saying, which is “Human nature is simple, but the character is inherently evil,” meaning our nature is inherently evil.
Only when both of these ideologies are combined does it become complete.
Because when present in this game of life, all of us possess varying degrees of good and evil... some with a higher percentage of goodness, some with a higher percentage of malevolence, depending on their previous experiences.
To put it simply, within each of us, there are always two wolves, one good, one evil, so which one will prevail?
The one we feed more will be the stronger one, easy to understand, right?
So have you ever wondered, as each day passes, in every thought and action of yours, which wolf are you feeding more?
Try to observe, what do you consume, listen to, see, like, dislike? What do you think about, prioritize, lean towards? Who do you talk to, what do you read, touch, learn from, play with? etc...
So every interaction, no matter how small, between you and the world around you, will feed one of the two wolves. And food here should be broadly understood, it could be food, sounds, images, emotions, and even ideas.
To nurture these two wolves, read the article: The Art of Training Wolves - The Art of Training the Mind.
Those who understand this will explain why there needs to be concentration, continuous self-observation, and tranquility to recognize which wolf you're feeding... and what you're feeding it!
The essence of this game of life is that the energy of desire predominates, and possessive greed makes the current of desire run very strong in all of us. So being present here, in this realm, the level of malevolence has always been much higher than the level of goodness, or fundamentally, the malevolent wolf has a stronger foundation.
I lean towards Confucius more because there is more malevolence, so without observation, without knowing how to adjust oneself, one can never reduce the malevolent part.
As you read this far, don't think I see life too negatively, this is something you must experience in your daily life and work and reflect on it yourself.
First, you must recognize within yourself which wolf is stronger, and be honest about it.
Second, observe from yourself how many people around you have a stronger good wolf.
Gradually you will understand why there are not many knowledgeable and upright people in the game of life.
So how should one treat others to live a beautiful life and follow a righteous path?
The first thing is for you to reflect on yourself, to see if you're feeding which wolf, what's the balance of good and evil within you. Or if your thoughts and actions are leaning towards one wolf more than the other.
As for the second matter, knowing that everyone is like me, with the malevolent wolf being too strong, one must always be cautious, observe thoroughly before speaking or acting. And remember, if you can't make them better, then don't make both (yourself and others) worse.
Some people are like three-eyed crows, 50-50, then the good and evil part-time shows up, this group may get lucky when they're a bit sober.
But if you notice malevolence taking over too much, it's better to stay away completely. Trying to transform it won't work, why touch the fire and get burnt.
By understanding oneself, one will perceive the collective energy, the malevolent wolf is overwhelmingly present even if they themselves don't realize it.
So who you socialize with, do business with, play with, all directly or indirectly feed those two wolves... and which one is growing stronger, you must observe for yourself.
Be cautious, my friends!
Posted by: Võ Lê Thiên Anh
Keywords: Why are people 'in the know' in life very few?
