There lived an emperor ruling a great kingdom in the past. One day he passed a rule saying all the citizens should lead an ethical life - life of honesty and truth. Anyone found breaking the rule was hanged to death. The people of the kingdom went crazy. The merchants and traders complained that we always tell people to buy our product saying it the best in the market knowing very well it is not the best. The farmers complained that we sell the crops saying this the best quality in the entire kingdom knowing very well it is not the best. Then the lawyers said, how can we do it? Our entire profession is based on lies!.:) The fathers said we always tell the groom to marry our daughter saying she is the most beautiful and cultured bride he will get. One wise minister said that he will solve this issue. He went to the people and said “Tomorrow I will be hanged to death” . Upon hearing this, the king asked the minister as to why is he lying that he would be hanged. The ministered said, “ Since I am lying, you can hang me in which case what I told will be true and therefore you cannot really hang me!” The king was confused and then realized his mistake and revoked the order. In the olden days, the merchants were allowed to tell little lies and the king a little more than that ( he had to increase the tax of the people).The lawyers were allowed to be a little more unethical as they had to use false evidences sometimes to bring out the truth. The knowledgeable class/ priestly class were not allowed to lie at all. ( Because) They had so much power in their words that whatever they said would come true. One can just assume that what we do would cause least amount of trouble to others and ourselves. - ( Just like your example of stepping on many tiny organisms when we walk). That doesn't mean we should stop walking. No action can be 100% perfect/ethical . But the intention by which we do things can be ethical. - 100% We all intent to live ethically, but mistakes happen. As along as we are not deliberately causing harm to others and ourselves, we are good. There is a saying “ A worldy person says not to do anything bad to him because it hurts him. A spiritual person not to do anything bad because it eventually hurts the doer himself” Nature takes its own course. From our side we can only intent to live a good life.
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