Sundays With Buddha

It is better to do nothing than to do what is wrong. For whatever you do, you do to yourself.
                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                    --Buddha

Week 51

This is a tricky scenario, as we don't all think of "wrong" in the same way. And when to "do nothing" would depend upon what you would perceive as wrong, and in which situation.

There are things that are definitely morally and ethically wrong per society. Then there are things that are wrong per each individuals interpretation. Either way, if you feel that something you are doing or are about to do is "wrong", you are doing yourself a disservice by way of cause and effect. Some call it karma, some call it sin. Whatever we call it, we expect the outcome to mostly be leading to the same thing: Punishment.

Whether you feel this punishment is going to come from an outside source, e.g. God, the Universe, Karmic intervention, or an inside source like headaches, stomachaches, anxiety...your belief in it still makes it true...to you, anyway. Your belief in something, or your faith in it, is the trigger of that cause and effect. This is the backbone of the importance of knowing what is right and wrong in accordance to your life, and taking care to heed your instincts so that you do not fall victim to the burden of those "punishments" that you fear. Whether anyone else believes as you do or not, the fact that you believe sets the moral standards for your life and actions.

It is up to you to decipher what is 'wrong'--by society's standards, by your family's standards, your friends, your own...
Once you decide what is right and wrong for yourself, you have to decide if it is appropriate for you to get involved in whatever scenario you are contemplating. Do you get into the fray between co-workers? The argument on social media? That grudge amongst family members that's pitting one against the other? Or even pushing that issue at work to prove your own point while standing up for yourself.

We owe it to ourselves (and all involved) to at least pause and think about the repercussions. We often busy ourselves with other people's business so much  that we forget to maintain the garden of our own lives. Even if we are trying to decide what to do for ourselves, that may not involve another, we must decide upon the risk to our own morality. It is a choice only we can make for ourselves; what actions are worth the "punishments", and don't we always leave room for punishments? We are human, afterall.

So, perhaps it is deemed better to do nothing at all: no action, no reaction, no retaliation, than to go forth with regrettable conduct. It is better to stop, think and choose to do nothing than to do what will cause you guilt; whether it is 'wrong' for anyone else or not. Your actions not only affect those around you--but yourself, as well. We always have the choice to "choose our battles". We do it when we weigh our desire for involvement vs outcome and realize one is more tolerable than the other. We don't often think about this being an important choice in the maintenance of our well being, but anything that can enhance peaceful living is worth the extra time.

It has taken me much practice to get where I am in my own decision making, and I still get forgetful of what is best when making those decisions. But the foundation is there, and you can always build upon a foundation.


Thanks for reading. Have a blessed week.


Namaste

Nanette