The Evil angel and woodcutter

Dear Varush 

One of the stories they teach as a child is- the wood cutter and the angel. Well, if you don't remember it- here is the gist of it is the wood cutter loses his axe. A angel comes and brings in different axe made out of gold, silver and he does not accept it saying it is not his and in the end accepts his iron axe. As a reward for his honesty the angel rewards him with all the axes.

Well, when I grew up, I understood the story teaches not only wrong morals and it is a evil story. The story teaches, you will be rewarded if you are honest, not greedy, don't covet for what is not yours. What a awful thing to say. The story should end with the wood cutter getting his axe and going home. There is no reward for being "good" or honest or not wanting what is not yours etc.

    In real word you need to be honest or ethical because it is the right thing to do. There is no punishment or reward for being dishonest. The universe does not keep score or the God, if he/she is keeping score should be a horrendous God. 

Look around ethical people do things which are ethical because it is the right thing to do. Not for the 72 virgins or the entry into a heaven or collecting good karma. Even this world does not worry weather you are ethical or not. You can be a complete ass hole and be the darling of the world- just look at the people we elect. history is also full of ethical people who are in the edge of history rather in the main stream.  Just read people like Bhaghat  Singh, the intelligent humanist is in the edge of history and the guy he thought were idiots in congress like Tilak (who was worried about his version of Hinduism where you and I will be still shudra) or  Lala rajabat rai (who thought Muslims were somehow lesser) are heroes. I think Bhaghat had the right idea -do the right thing because it is the right thing (even though i don't like the idea of dying or sacrificing for a idea)

Being ethical should be like the fundamental particles of morality not because it is good or bad- but because that's what a human should be. I know being ethical is tough so is crossing the road or driving in OMR road in Chennai or any road in Bangalore, but we do it. No one can be absolutely ethical every time but we can always try. We can stop when the stick hits the frontal brain. 

Remember not because it will lead to a better society or you will get in the good side of some infantile god or it is the law- but because that is our fundamental property.

As you can see from the arguments none of the evil religions can take you there other than using the brain. Have fun being ethical

Love

 Hariohm