10 Apr '05 19:17>
Originally posted by eagles54Ok, I see where you're coming from now.
Yeah, I'll be the first to admit I'm a real piece of work. 😉
However, I have never seen evidence that my very nature is evil.
To the contrary, through the practice of meditation, I can begin to understand the reasons behind my own so-called evil behavior directly and without fail. We all act so d@mn badly because we believe the self to be an exist ...[text shortened]... led to believe, but rather confused from beginningless time because of the love of 'self.'
Now what exactly is the difference between having an 'evil nature' and exercising 'evil behavior'. It seems like a semantic juggling act to me.
If our minds are so unblemished, how do we come to the point of 'ego-clinging'? I love that phrase by the way. It seems like the perfect modern description of what God calls rebellion. Each man doing only and exactly what he himself wants to do, as long as it's not what God would want, that is.
So, you're saying that if only we could just fully know that our mind's nature was good, then we could stop acting so badly? That we are caused to do wrong merely by some unreal, dreamlike misunderstanding? I'm afraid to admit it, but I don't have the capacity to take that leap of faith. There is no evidence for this theory, no sense to it, no revelation to that effect, and neither is there any hope in it for that matter. Furthermore Eags, it seems that if I were led to believe in this idea and focused my efforts on learning to trust that my nature is not evil, that then I would be following the path of deceit.
It seems the harder thing to admit is that my nature is evil. (This is also the first step in becoming a Christian: the recognizing of the need for forgiveness.) Why would I have a hard time liking to believe that I am only fooled into thinking I'm bad? The truth hurts, but when it is coupled with God's gift of redemption, it sets the spirit free!
I do hate to see a good chess player like yourself lead down the wrong path, and wasting his time with blunderous openings, only to find out in the end that he is being pinned, forked and scewered in some dark squared corner!
2 Corinthians 6:2
I tell you, now (in the middlegame) is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.
Ok, so I added a little bit here....