The Ten Commandments have a great influence on our imagination, despite many of the Commandments
the context of our own time, sound pretty weird. Like the prohibitions
to steal the cattle from the neighbors or to ensure that no one images of god-like creatures in rocks.
The Commandments were answers to specific needs of a small nomadic one
community, walking around on Sinai peninsula with goats and sheep
around 1200 BC. Since that time, our needs have changed a bit.
But there is still room for rules, because we are still
prone to violence, cruelty and complacency. And we need to be reminded regularly
how we can live peacefully and well with ourselves and our neighbors.
How would it be to update the Commandments for our own time?
This is an attempt ..
A good person is always aware of it
are mistakes and is committed to becoming a better version of themselves.
They are not offended when people point out that they have to change, even if they do this awkwardly.
A good person believes that moral and psychological education is always needed and must continue.
A good person knows that everyone is damaged and a bit crazy, (of course) they too.
They are not afraid of their own weirdness and find it important to the people in their environment on time
let them know that they have weird habits and apologize if they did not.
They understand that it is part of their duty to have an answer ready for the good question:
“And how are you disturbed?”
The good person is faithful in relationships, not because they are
think that their loved one is perfect, but because they know that everyone is imperfect
and difficult to live with. They accept that the only people we ever have
as normal or easy to consider are the people we do not know so well.
A good person knows that it is impossible to be fully understood by someone and accept that
go well if someone is lonely in only half of the areas in his life.
A good person does his best to never assume that other people need to know what
they think or want, without being told them explicitly and kindly. They do not try to pout or sulk (behavior that comes about
from the belief that others should know what’s wrong without us telling them)
and they try to teach others what they think.
A good person looks at people who behave badly as if they were little children,
in other words with patience, love and actively searching for mitigating circumstances.
Although our society considers it an insult if you are treated as younger than you are, a good person knows that
it is a great privilege if someone looks beyond the seemingly strong but nasty adult
and see the anxious and probably the best child inside.
If he sees something stupid or mean that he himself would never do, a good person is not
self-indulged. He remembers the many stupid and mean things that he himself
on other points, in other situations. They do not forget that they do
yourself also count on the forgiveness and understanding of others.
A good person looks for the funny jug of people who only seem annoying.
They look at others as if they were characters in a comedy rather than a tragedy. They know that
it is a great achievement to no longer see someone as ‘a loser’
but something special: ‘that sweet fool’.
A good person strongly believes in self-control and does not immediately say what you think.
He believes that completely yourself are accompanied by a certain degree
of drama and anger that people you care about must be spared.
A good person knows that the best protection against impatience and paranoia is a little bit of careful pessimism.
He is well prepared for disappointment in advance. He is not constantly crying because
he has understood that the whole existence is in many ways to whine.
Their constant awareness of the possibility of death and misery makes them have extra appreciation
for the little things that are going well. They enjoy blooming, blue skies and so-called
‘boring days’ when everyone goes to bed reasonably satisfied.
the context of our own time, sound pretty weird. Like the prohibitions
to steal the cattle from the neighbors or to ensure that no one images of god-like creatures in rocks.
The Commandments were answers to specific needs of a small nomadic one
community, walking around on Sinai peninsula with goats and sheep
around 1200 BC. Since that time, our needs have changed a bit.
But there is still room for rules, because we are still
prone to violence, cruelty and complacency. And we need to be reminded regularly
how we can live peacefully and well with ourselves and our neighbors.
How would it be to update the Commandments for our own time?
This is an attempt ..
A good person is always aware of it
are mistakes and is committed to becoming a better version of themselves.
They are not offended when people point out that they have to change, even if they do this awkwardly.
A good person believes that moral and psychological education is always needed and must continue.
A good person knows that everyone is damaged and a bit crazy, (of course) they too.
They are not afraid of their own weirdness and find it important to the people in their environment on time
let them know that they have weird habits and apologize if they did not.
They understand that it is part of their duty to have an answer ready for the good question:
“And how are you disturbed?”
The good person is faithful in relationships, not because they are
think that their loved one is perfect, but because they know that everyone is imperfect
and difficult to live with. They accept that the only people we ever have
as normal or easy to consider are the people we do not know so well.
A good person knows that it is impossible to be fully understood by someone and accept that
go well if someone is lonely in only half of the areas in his life.
A good person does his best to never assume that other people need to know what
they think or want, without being told them explicitly and kindly. They do not try to pout or sulk (behavior that comes about
from the belief that others should know what’s wrong without us telling them)
and they try to teach others what they think.
A good person looks at people who behave badly as if they were little children,
in other words with patience, love and actively searching for mitigating circumstances.
Although our society considers it an insult if you are treated as younger than you are, a good person knows that
it is a great privilege if someone looks beyond the seemingly strong but nasty adult
and see the anxious and probably the best child inside.
If he sees something stupid or mean that he himself would never do, a good person is not
self-indulged. He remembers the many stupid and mean things that he himself
on other points, in other situations. They do not forget that they do
yourself also count on the forgiveness and understanding of others.
A good person looks for the funny jug of people who only seem annoying.
They look at others as if they were characters in a comedy rather than a tragedy. They know that
it is a great achievement to no longer see someone as ‘a loser’
but something special: ‘that sweet fool’.
A good person strongly believes in self-control and does not immediately say what you think.
He believes that completely yourself are accompanied by a certain degree
of drama and anger that people you care about must be spared.
A good person knows that the best protection against impatience and paranoia is a little bit of careful pessimism.
He is well prepared for disappointment in advance. He is not constantly crying because
he has understood that the whole existence is in many ways to whine.
Their constant awareness of the possibility of death and misery makes them have extra appreciation
for the little things that are going well. They enjoy blooming, blue skies and so-called
‘boring days’ when everyone goes to bed reasonably satisfied.
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