Title: Foundation Seeker

Gender: Male

Age: 22

Location: Reed City, MI

The idea is that there is an ultimate good.

Maybe we don't know what it is. Maybe we do. Maybe some people have different ideas of what it could be. But the idea is that there is an ultimate good.

The idea is that there is an ultimate good. Anyone can discover this good. It just takes some time and effort. This good is essential to all endeavors.

The idea is that if you start with any particular goal, you'll be practically forced towards this ultimate good, because any endeavor that holds on to evil will fail. If you desire success, you'll have to be good; and the more good you do, the more success you'll have.

The idea is that there is an ultimate good. Every endeavor requires some essential elements of this good: every endeavor requires some intelligence, some creativity, some knowledge of truth. The more long-term the endeavor, the more it can benefit from these things. Immediate goals, restricted by “I want it now,” won't benefit as much from these things and therefore have a tendency to be destructive. But long-term goals must take on more good, and benefit from good more; so even if the end goal is destructive, if it's long-term, it must become somewhat creative to succeed.

The idea is that there is an ultimate good. No matter where we start, we head towards this ultimate good. Some starting points are farther, and some are nearer. It is better to start nearer, because we can get closer. But no matter where we start, we head towards this ultimate good. Evil ways will be led away from evil. Good ways will be led into further good. Villains that go into villainy as a career will find themselves forced to be kind in order to get close to people. If they are not, they will fail as a villain (and most do fail, for that reason). They will find themselves forced to develop the knowledge of an expert villain, and the skills of an expert villain. If not, they will fail (and most do fail, for that reason). They will be forced to develop aspects of good in themselves, and as they do so, they will be more and more turned away from evil.

The idea is that there is an ultimate good. Maybe we don't know what this good is. Maybe we do. Different people have different names for this good. I have a few myself. One is “creation”. Creation is a starting point that is very close to the ultimate good. All long-term endeavors require the ability to create.

The idea is that there is an ultimate good. The ultimate good may be called creation. It's opposite, then, is destruction. This does not mean that all destruction is bad; some destruction prevents further destruction, or allows for creation, later. Destruction is an essential part of long-term creation, and creation is an essential part of any long-term destruction. But destruction is far from the ultimate good. Those who start with goals of destruction have a long path to follow.

The idea is that there is an ultimate good. But there is not an ultimate evil. Evil destroys more than it creates; so eventually, evil destroys itself. Evil is not ultimate, so there is no ultimate evil.

The idea is that there is an ultimate good. Most people are headed towards it, and many people are not too far from it. There are many aspects to this ultimate good. Knowledge is an aspect. Love is an aspect. Mathematics is an aspect. Science is an aspect. Even fear and shame may be aspects of the ultimate good; I cannot say.

The idea is that there is an ultimate good. Once we realize this, we can consciously seek it.


    Some practical advice (no need to keep reading, the main of it's done):

       People are very important things. Be around them as often as possible. This doesn't mean go to lots of parties. This means stick with individuals. If you are, at some moment, a part of a two or three person group, go out of your way to stay that way– walk with them to where they're going, do what they're doing, et cetera. Humans have a powerful herding instinct. Follow it more often– it will bring you closer to people. (Herding is sometimes associated with mindlessness. Don't be that way. Be mindful!)

       Moreover, try to have a good number of social connections. Think of it this way: each new connection doubles the power of all the old ones. (This isn't exactly the right number of course, but the idea is that you don't only link to single others, you link between combinations of others; the more links you have, the more they interact.)

       For all of this to work, a few things should happen. First, you will probably fall in love. That's a side effect of sticking with people. Above all, don't associate this immediately with sex. Friends can be in love. In fact, they probably should be. But if you try to throw sex into the mix, attachements get too complicated. Essentially, you're being presumptuous.

       Second, remember that forgiveness thing. Strong emotional ties can lead to trouble. So always remember that you're not looking for trouble. The purpose of the emotional ties you're forming isn't control. If someone does something you don't like, it's OK. Well, mostly OK. Tolerable. Don't hold grudges.

       Third (and this goes with #2), master the old ways before trying new ones. Forgive the establishment for being wrong. (It can never be perfect.) Do what it says until you definitely have something better. Build a foundation before making a new thing. Always remember where your source is: that which has gone before. This means: do as they say, when you can, but build a foundation in what you consider right. If you master what they see as good, they'll listen.

    And, finally, remember to take all of this advice as a suggestion, not an imperative. What do I know? Everything I'm saying could be horrible advice in your case. Following people around? What kind of a life philosophy is that? It's not like I've even tried it much myself. More of a thought experiment.

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