Digging Two Graves

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 Topic: Digging Two Graves

This sermon is about two quotes from two different sources. One comes to us from Hesiod, who you may recognize as the source of the Mantra for the Virtue of Balance. He says: “He harms himself who does harm to another, and the evil plan is most harmful to the planner.” There is another, simpler quote from our old friend Confucius: “Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.”

Hesiod reminds us that lowness and meanness of all kinds actually warps the wheel of our Ka. Plans to do harm to others contain the seeds of the planner’s downfall by their very nature. When you choose to do harm, you are putting negative energy out into the Universe, and you can only expect negative energy to come back to you. People who constantly do harm to others, on a personal or even social scale, are miserable wretches. There are billionaires in this country who are so deeply unhappy from all that negative energy that they cannot even smile properly. Seriously, look at them; they cannot even smile properly. They may be wealthy in worldly goods, but that wealth brings them no real joy, because they had to hurt people to get it.  

The saying from Confucius means that you may get your vengeance, but it will kill you, and he is not wrong. When you focus on getting revenge for some slight or other, you are allowing yourself the same lowness and meanness that we see when doing harm for any other reason. Even if you feel completely justified in hurting somebody back, you are still warping the wheel of your Ka and inviting negative energy to come back into your life.

One of the reasons for this phenomenon is that the Universe is not a closed system, a machine to manipulate. Like our bodies, it is alive and reactive. Other people are part of that Universe, and how you treat them ultimately determines how they treat you in return. There is a lot of negative sentiment toward certain titans of industry and politicians in American society because of the way they have treated people and what they have done to get where they are.

In contrast, those who gain and maintain a reputation for Compassion and Patience often see doors of all kinds being opened for them. While it might not make you a billionaire, it will make you a much happier person. Invite positive energy into your life by sending positive energy out into the Universe. Commit random acts of beauty and kindness when you are out in the world. Do you think you can do this?

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