They Love You and They Hate You Scott Shaw

They Love You and They Hate You

Scott Shaw

Ever since I first began writing articles, books, and making films I have found that there are all kinds of people out there who draw conclusion about my life -- who I am and what I am. Some even make up lies or half-truths about their relationship to me. Some of these people love me. Some of them hate me. But, the reality is, I have never met most these people and they do not know me or understand who I truly am; at all.

From their beliefs, some people find reasons to criticize me and what I create, while others find reason to praise all that I do. And, I have seen fanatics on both sides of this issue.

Some people do all kinds of things that they think I will like, while others do all they can to destroy me. And, all of these actions are based upon some abstract rationale that they have made up in their own mind.

But, they do not actually know what I like or what I need. Nor do they know what will or will not hurt me.

Now, I am not just writing this for myself, because everybody's life is like this. The reason I reference myself is because I can access my own experiences. But, your life is no different. There are people around you who want to help you and will do anything that they can for you. Then, there are also people around you are busy talking behind your back and doing things that can make your life uncomfortable.

The question has to be asked, "Why do people behave in this manner?" There are a million psychological reasons… But, I think what is perhaps the most obvious is that people are not content in their own life. As they are not content and fulfilled, then they move away from their SELF and try to step into the world of other people to provide meaning to their own existence.

Why do they behave in this fashion? They may hold unfulfilled desires. They may have jealousies towards the accomplishments of others. Or, maybe they just want to hurt somebody to attempt to bring that individual down to their level of misery and unconscious existence - because this gives them some abstract sense of empowerment.

Obviously, this previous critique is geared mostly towards those who wish other people ill-will and who are attempting to bring them down by whatever method is at hand. But, those who are obsessed with HELPING a person are equally embracing a lack of SELF. Their motivations are obviously quite different, as helping is seen to lead to the betterment of the world. But, when does helping become hurting?

In my life there have been people who have gone far out of their way to do things for me. Things, that I never asked them to do. And, though they saw these actions as positive, they, in fact, ultimately damaged my life. So, the pathway to helping in never clear unless it is asked for. And, this is one of the main things that you must question of yourself before you set on a path of doing something for another person, "Will what you do actually be seen as a gift or will it become a curse?"

The Greater Good
I find that perhaps the most telling factor of this style of DO-ing behavior lies in the misguided logic of people who believe that what they are doing, be it positive or negative, they are doing for the Greater Good.

The concept of the Greater Good is as abstract as life, Zen and spiritually itself - because there is no clear definition of the Greater Good. What is good to one person is not good for another. So, saying, "I am doing good," should never be used as a personal justification for this style of action. Because what you are doing may ultimately lead to a negative outcome - even if you did not mean for this to be the response.

And, if you knowingly are doing something that you understand will negatively affect another person, and claiming it is for the Greater Good, your logic is misplaced because negative is always negative -- there can be only one outcome and overall culmination of that action. In fact, if you consciously unleash this type of activity on another person or persons all your actions will do is to set a course of events into motion that will come back to haunt you as all negative actions do. And, karma is never bound by time. So, though you may not feel the reaction to the action right away, sooner or later, you will experience the repercussions.

The Simple Reality
What people choose to DO is based on a simply reality - people like what they like and they do not like what they do not like. From this is born a mindset of individual definition. I like what I like!

I like you. Because I like you, I love everything that you do.

I don't like you. Because I don't like, I hate everything that you do.

We have each met people that we like and we have met those that we do not like. That is human nature. But, this mind-stuff is not a justification for doing anything for or to another person. It is just mind-stuff. This is not a conscious basis for DO-ing.

Flip the Coin
The other side of this issue is that people commonly turn down a request to help somebody, because they feel that they do not want to do that THING the person requested. Or, they believe that doing it would not be to that person's benefit.

This leads us to the ultimate reality about giving and doing, whether asked for or not. "How do you know what another person truly wants or needs? How do you know what you give, or won't give, will ultimately effect someone else's life?" The reality is, you don't know.

So, before you DO; ask. And, if you are going to DO bad things to another person, even if your actions are based upon your belief that you are doing it for the Greater Good, you are lost. And, the lost are not righteous in any manner. All that they do is to bring more negativity into their own life and the world around them by choosing not to change. Don't DO bad things to people, no matter what your rationale.

Finally, ask yourself, "Is what you are doing bringing you pride or joy?" If it is, that makes it an ego-filled action. Ego-filled actions are not pure. Ego-filled actions only lead to negative karma because they do not come from a pure source. As they are not pure, they cause karma. And, as discussed, negative karma is not bound by time.

Think before you DO.

Scott Shaw.com