Showing posts with label selfishness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label selfishness. Show all posts
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Justice
The development of the sense of justice lies in unselfishness; one cannot be just and selfish at the same time. The selfish person can be just, but only for himself. He has his own law most suited to himself, and he can change it, and his reason will help him to do so, in order to suit his own requirements in life. A spark of justice is to be found in every heart, in every person, whatever be his stage of evolution in life; but the one who loves fairness, so to speak blows on that spark, thus raising it to a flame, in the light of which life becomes more clear to him.
We cannot be a judge of the action of another until we ourselves are selfless. Only then will justice come to us; only then will we understand the nature of justice. Self is the wall between us and justice. There is only one thing that is truly just, and that is to say, 'I must not do this.'
Real justice cannot be perceived until the veil of selfishness has been removed from his eyes. The least spark of selfishness will prevent man from being just. He will continue to have a partial interest, because he will be looking after his own interest. Whatever furthers his own interests, he will call his right and his justice.
We cannot be a judge of the action of another until we ourselves are selfless. Only then will justice come to us; only then will we understand the nature of justice. Self is the wall between us and justice. There is only one thing that is truly just, and that is to say, 'I must not do this.'
Real justice cannot be perceived until the veil of selfishness has been removed from his eyes. The least spark of selfishness will prevent man from being just. He will continue to have a partial interest, because he will be looking after his own interest. Whatever furthers his own interests, he will call his right and his justice.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Guarantee
I realize that all I'm guaranteed in life is today.
The poorest person has no less and the wealthiest has no more-- each of us has but one day.
What we do with it is our own business, how we use it is up to us individually.
I feel that I have been restored to health and sanity these past yearsnot through my own efforts nor as a result of anything I may have done,but because I've come to believe -- to really believe --that I alone can do nothing.
That my own innate selfishness and stubbornness are the evils which,if left unguarded, can drive me to alcohol.
The poorest person has no less and the wealthiest has no more-- each of us has but one day.
What we do with it is our own business, how we use it is up to us individually.
I feel that I have been restored to health and sanity these past yearsnot through my own efforts nor as a result of anything I may have done,but because I've come to believe -- to really believe --that I alone can do nothing.
That my own innate selfishness and stubbornness are the evils which,if left unguarded, can drive me to alcohol.
c. 1976 AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous [3rd Edition], p. 471
What are you coming to believe?
Belief is a continuing action.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)