Every once in a while I come across someone claiming that nobody is truly altruistic, and that people only ever appear to do good with selfish motives. Also, I sometimes come across people (often who are occultists) who claim that there is no good or bad, right or wrong, and that people who seek to follow light are just fooling themselves. Hence, I have wanted to write a few words in response to these claims, as well as make some other points related to them.
The Tao Te Ching and natural morality:
I have read a number of spiritual classics over the years, and one of my favourites is the Tao Te Ching, which has as much to say about politics as it does about religion, and as much about society at large as it does about the individual. I will here quote a passage (Verse 381) which I find quite relevant to conversations about morality:
You can readily recognise,
The highest virtuousness
Because it never places itself on display. You can readily recognise
The lowest virtuousness
Because it is always announcing itself.
The highest virtue
Quietly serves universal needs.
The lowest virtue
Actively strives for personal success.
The highest morality serves common needs. The lowest morality is self-serving.
True benevolence
Acts without intention.
But when rituals go unheeded,
They are enforced with rolled-up sleeves.
Failing the Tao (interpreted here as “the Great Integrity”), We resort to virtuousness.
Failing virtuousness,
We resort to moralising,
Failing moralising, we resort to dogma, The most superficial form
Of faith and loyalty,
And the nourishment for confusion.
Natural persons are attracted,
To substance rather than form,
To the nutritious fruit
Rather than the enticing flower,
To that which dwells deeply within, Rather than to that which clings Superficially to the surface
This passage tells us of four levels of morality, though I will add in a fifth which is below the four (that being the complete denial of all morality).
The lowest level of morality is where people do what they believe to be good out of fear of punishment. We are all well familiar with this level, as they are commonly used in curbing the bad behaviour of children, and it is also common in many religions. Many of us have been threatened
by parents or teachers of what will happen if we continue with bad behaviour, and therefore adjust our behaviour simply out of the desire to avoid an unpleasant outcome.
As we all know, many religions and cultures teach of some form of Divine justice, in which we must answer for our sins. Particularly in Christianity and Islam this is known to have taken quite an extreme form, with the threat of eternal damnation for all the unsaved. Hence, fear is and has always been a fundamental aspect of the orthodox/conservative forms of both of these faiths (though they are not necessarily alone in this regard).
Likewise, many religions and philosophical schools have taught the belief that all our actions have inescapable consequences: Karma. Hence, fear of karmic implications to ones actions is a central part of the worldview of many people in India, China, Tibet and south-east Asia, as well as some ancient Greek philosophical worldviews (and more).
The next level of morality is where people try and do the right thing out of desire for reward. One might say this is the mirror image of the fear of punishment in the first level. This seeking of rewards for good behaviour is again something many of us learn in childhood, and we often see our childish worldview mirrored in our approach to God. Hence, many people pray, offer worship, good deeds, attend a church or temple simply out of the desire for rewards, both in this life and the afterlife.
Hence, one can legitimately point out that in both the first and second level of morality there is selfish motivation for ones good deeds. One cannot claim to be truly altruistic if one is merely seeking to avoid punishment or gain rewards. Hence, some people have seized upon this and claimed that nobody is truly altruistic. However, as is often the case, this claim takes a legitimate point and then takes it too far.
Certainly at these lower levels we find much hypocrisy in the behaviour of those that outwardly espouse moral and ethical ideals. That is, it is amongst those that only do good to avoid punishment or seek reward that we find judgmental and derogative views of other people. The moraliser seeks to make him (or her) self superior to others, seemingly unaware that their true motives are on display for those who are sensitive to see2.
Above this level we find that repeated moral habits make a human being virtuous. That is, it begins to become natural and normal for someone to do good, to consider others, to be kind and to stand up for what their heart tells them is right. A virtuous person notes that there is an inherent logic in striving towards an altruistic live. It is only natural that hurting others hurts oneself, and helping others feels good. And yet, the virtuous person seeks to do good for its own sake. A virtuous person loves goodness.
This is something that can be hard for many people to accept, given the great suffering, injustices and hypocrisy that we see in the human kingdom. There are many people that have unfortunately become either extremely skeptical of this idea, or even openly hostile towards it (in the belief that all claims to natural morality are malicious fraud). However, I for one have come to believe that natural morality is not only possible, but inevitable in the evolution of life.
There comes a point at which someone has accepted the inevitability of the consequences of ones actions, accepting that one cannot hurt another without hurting oneself, and accepting that it is only through caring about others that one can truly succeed. There also come a point in all of our journeys in which we have an authentic taste of spiritual peace and long to live our whole life in harmony with that peace. Thus begins the desire to tear down the imaginary walls we construct in our minds between the sacred and the mundane. Once we have been stung by real divine peace, it is inevitable that we seek to offer our entire life and being to that peace.
There are many such experiences that can bring about this change in ones character. Sometimes it is something extreme such as a Near Death Experience, or extreme suffering from illness, addiction or loss. At other times it simply begins with a profound experience in some form of spiritual community. Whatever the cause, such events can bring about irreversible changes in the psyche that lead one to conclude that nothing else makes sense other than to live a moral life.
There can come a time in which it no longer requires effort or a choice to attempt to live a moral life. Whilst it may sound like a spiritual fantasy to some who have yet to encounter such things in their current earthly life, there comes a time in which the Divine light within us comes to dominate and direct our thinking, feeling and behaviour. At this point and beyond it is only natural that we consider others and offer kindness to others, regardless of the outcome.
From here one simply becomes one with Goodness. Free of ego, one allows the Divinity that they are to express through their body, mind and soul. Hence in the language of the text I quoted before, we live the Tao.
Perhaps an appropriate analogy would be that of romantic love. In a transactional relationship where a man and woman are only together for what they can get out of each other, each will seek to please the other only for what they hope to get back in return. By contrast, if someone is truly in love with someone then they will naturally seek to please them, simply because it is the nature of love. If you are truly in love with someone you just want to be with them, to see them happy, healthy and successful. If you are truly in love it is natural to want to serve another, without seeking a reward from it.
Another expression of love that many humans can relate to is that of a parent to a child (particularly young children). If you truly love your children it is only natural that you wish to help them in whatever way you can, regardless of whether you are acknowledged for it.
Of course, we all know that the lower aspect of the human being (the ego) wrecks havoc in all manner of relationships, from romantic partners to family, from work to society at large. In the ideal of true altruism we find the desire to be permanently free of unnecessary self-(ego)-created suffering, and be one with goodness.
There simply comes a time when one falls in love with goodness. One falls in love with Love.
Of course, it should be mentioned that these levels are not strictly separate, but rather they are essentially regions of a continuum of psychological and spiritual evolution. That is, the attempt to avoid punishment blends into the desire for rewards. There is no clear defining line between them. Likewise, from the desire for reward one progressively grows towards a natural morality.
It should also be mentioned that whilst I have so far discussed morality as a series of choices that one makes as one progresses (or regresses) in life, different people do seem to have natural predispositions towards different stages of this development. That is, there are many people who seem to be born with a deeply ingrown morality and sensitivity to the welfare of others. Likewise, there seem to be some people who don’t seem to care at all about others, and for whom discipline becomes essential to curb the ego’s capacity to create suffering for all.
Materialism and Western Civilisation’s current trajectory:
We may speculate about why some seem to be so naturally moral from birth. However, for the case of those who seem to lack these qualities, it is very helpful for ones family and wider community at large to have strong common values in place.
Prior to the last 50 years or so, Western civilisation was dominated by orthodox Christianity for the better part of 1500 years, and was thus saturated with the common belief of Divine punishment and reward (with the the odd saintly figure thrown in). Whilst there were many problems that came with this (which I have been trying to bring attention to), there were also some advantages. Common religious beliefs in a society provide a means of keeping people lower tendencies in check, and encouraging higher tendencies. Whilst there are many alternatives to orthodox Christianity which can fulfil this role, Western civilisation has now thrown the baby out with the bathwater and seems to be largely favouring materialism.
I have been quite clear that I have never been one to idolise the past (though I have had conversations where I have not been heard on this matter). However, I don’t believe we are necessarily heading in a positive trajectory currently. You might say that in some ways we have moved forward, in other ways backwards, and then also sideways.
What I believe humanity needs is common spiritual values. Obviously I don’t seek to reinstate the authority of the Christian Church, nor any other exclusive ideology. Rather, we need a truly universal spirituality which balances compassion to all with the need for personal responsibility and accountability. I believe this can be achieved by finding the highest common ground in a study of comparative religion, spirituality and philosophy, along with studying modern data from Near Death Experiences amongst other sources.
Before closing I must point out that there is also a level below the first: That being the complete rejection of morality. There are many people today that do not believe in any form of natural or divine justice, and believe they can seek their own gain at the expense of others without consequence.
In many cases this is simply the natural consequence of metaphysical naturalism (materialism); the complete rejection of spirituality, and the belief that reality is completely and absolutely physical. In some other cases there are those who do believe in spirituality, but somehow manage to find a way to convince themselves that they are on God’s side, or that a supernatural Universe is somehow morally neutral (see philosophical Satanism).
It is often those that have no morals that try the hardest to argue that nobody really has morals, or that those who think they do are just fooling themselves. In other cases, there are many people who are deeply hurt (for whatever reason) and now don’t trust anyone who appears (or claims) to be striving to live a good life.
I would respond that there is overwhelming evidence of the consequences of such a view. Our society (and history) is overflowing with examples of people who have sought to satiate the ego through relentless pursuit of pleasure, wealth and power. Every single time it results in tragedy, in avoidable suffering and often early death. Ego can never be satisfied, it is never enough. The nature of craving is that it comes from a feeling of lack and separateness. The more one craves the more desperate one becomes. Substance abuse is the perfect example of this. The more one consumes of a drug in the attempt to get high, the lower ones habitual state becomes, and the less the drug is able to generate an artificial high.
Obviously there are also a myriad of examples of people who outwardly profess a holy life but end up as hypocrites, desperately seeking to satisfy their base urges3. There is a tendency amongst some to attempt to use such examples as justification to give up all ideals, as if everyone who strives to better themselves is a hypocrite. In truth, such examples are reasons why we need ideals, why we need to try harder, and why we should pursue these ideals without judgment of others or showboating.
Reality is not morally neutral. Certainly the consequences for our actions aren’t always immediately apparent, and some people are blinded by their bias to the suffering they unnecessarily create (and also experience). Reality is spiritual in nature, and consequences naturally follow all of our actions. Life is designed to eventually teach us to choose what is good for its own sake, through the inherent logic and coherence of righteousness.
A personal note:
I would like to re-state something here that I have tried to make clear throughout my writings. Obviously in my writings I like to aspire towards high spiritual ideals. I would like to make it explicitly clear that I do not claim to have fully realised such ideals myself. Rather, it is only that I am aware of my desire towards such ideals, and I at least try to grow towards them.
Certainly I do not claim to be better than other people in such ways. Rather, I am painfully aware of my many shortcomings and the great number of significant mistakes I have made in my life. Hence, I am at least trying to evolve, to be more responsible, to attempt to be unbiased and objective, and to offer forgiveness and compassion to all.
The source of true happiness has never changed:
As human beings we cannot be satisfied by simply and only seeking sensory gratification, wealth and power. We are (and always have been) spiritual beings, and it is only in living in alignment with our Soul that we can find real, lasting happiness. There is no happiness without love, no success without kindness, no true wellbeing without compassion.
Everybody seeks happiness, whether they seek it inwardly or outwardly. Whilst there have been many examples of people seeking to live a holy life and failing, the evidence is abundantly clear that shallow materialism and hedonism cannot lead to anything other than failure, suffering and tragedy.
The way to find individual success and happiness is the same as the way to be responsible and is the same way to contribute to a better world. These are not competing desires, but rather different sides of the same light that calls us all.
Peace
1 The Tao Te Ching, Watkins, Translation and commentary by Ralph Alan Dale
2 That is, a tremendous amount of information is communicated via basic body language. The most significant of these is facial expressions, which openly displays much about what someone is thinking and feeling. Beyond this, many of us are sensitive to the higher dimensions of life, and “pick up” on things that we have no physical way of knowing. Of course great discretion and self- analysis is required to use such intuitions wisely, as the ego would love to simply believe everything it thinks is true. Hence, I recommend a balance of intuitive knowing and critical thinking.
3 I have written about Ravi Zacharias, who is an obvious example of this: https:// jameshiscoxblogs.wordpress.com/2020/12/28/my-thoughts-regarding-the-scandalous- revelations-about-ravi-zacharias/
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