Evaluating Actions: Good or Bad?

How do we determine if the actions we take are good or bad? This is a question that many people grapple with, often seeking clear-cut answers. However, the truth is that what may be right for one person might not be right for another. Thus, we must rely on our inner voices and the sensations we feel within ourselves to guide us.

Listening to Your Inner Voice

One effective way to evaluate the goodness or badness of an action is through introspection. Write down your thoughts and consider them deeply. Your inner voice will often provide the answer. It is vital to reflect on the actions you have taken and the feelings they bring.

The Feel of an Action

Consider the actions you have taken, and evaluate them based on your feelings. If the action results in a sense of peace and calm, it can be deemed good. Conversely, if it leaves you with a feeling of uneasiness, discomfort, sadness, or anxiety, it can be considered bad. Utilize a simple scale: How does an action feel from the inside?

Understanding Consequences

Every action has a consequence, and these consequences can deeply affect our inner feelings. When an action feels good, peaceful, relaxed, or exciting, it can be considered good. However, if it feels bad, sad, negative, or anxious, it can be considered bad. It's essential to remember that there is no action that can go entirely wrong. Everything happens for a reason, and overthinking will not change that fact.

Responsibility and Good Intentions

When we do actions that we believe are good, sometimes the outcomes might not be positive. For example, giving 10 Rs to a beggar might seem like a kind act, but the recipient might use that money for something detrimental to their health, such as smoking. In such situations, we cannot be held fully responsible unless we knew beforehand that the person was likely to misuse the money.

The best course of action is to make the most informed decisions possible and leave the rest to chance. We should never act out of passion but rather from a place of love and selflessness. If we feel great about doing good, we should remember that ego will eventually bring us down. Do good things for the sake of it, and leave the results to the universe. Once we start controlling the outcome, we introduce passion, and karma takes over.

The Role of Ethics and Experience

Ethical guidelines and rules play a significant role in how we conduct ourselves. For instance, if you are working in an organization and are only allowed to use the internet for official purposes, it is your ethical obligation to follow these guidelines. By doing so, you ensure that your work is good and honest.

While experience can guide us in knowing what is right or wrong, there are situations where we need to follow established ethical standards, regardless of our personal knowledge. Acting against ethical standards, even if we think it aligns with our best judgment, is still considered wrong.