The Root of All Evil

Is not money.  I don't think so at least. I think that it is fear. Fear is at the heart of all seven deadly sins. (Are there more than seven though?) Think about it -- what's really behind greed but fear of poverty? What's behind lust but fear of loneliness? Gluttony -- fear of hunger, deprivation, of secretly wondering on some level if you'll be able to eat again as well. Sloth is a tough one, but I would think it's something like fear of failure or fear of others. Fear of the consequences of your own actions and/or fear of your own power to manifest change in the world.

What about violence? Or racism? Fear again. We lash out hardest when we feel cornered, threatened and afraid. Why not strike first and avoid being struck again? Is this not sadly the rationale behind our invasion of Iraq -- "we must fight them there so we don't have to fight them here." Hmmm...except the Iraqis weren't actually coming here, were they?

So that's where I am on my current investigation of the nature of evil. In case you were wondering.  I'm open to considering other root causes. Fear so far seems to be the lowest common denominator of evil though so far.

Comments

"We often hate that which we fear."
Shakespeare

"There is nothing to fear but fear itself."

The ego is nothing else but a bundle of fears.

According to the Buddhists, the three poisons of this world are (and hence the root of all evil): anger, ignorance, and fear. According to Gandhi, what we should be most concerned about are the demons, fed by fear, running around in our own hearts. We act either out of fear, or love, or a confused mixture. Which one do you seek to nourish-- your fears or your love? The first is much easier, much more seductive, much more deceptively comforting-- initially, anyway. The cure: clarity. How to achieve clarity, and dissipate demons (fears)?: Love. Faith. Hope. Perseverance. And Compassion. Om mani padme hum. The truth will be found only with love, not fear.

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