The Goodness of All

Sloka 46

Are Souls and World Essentially Good?

Deep down, the real nature of all people is their soul, which is goodness. The world, too, is God's perfect creation. Everything is in balance. Everything has a purpose. There are things that appear to be evil, but they are not, and, deep down, nobody is truly evil.

Sloka 47

Why Do Some Souls Act in Evil Ways?

People who forget that they are souls act in evil ways. They are living completely in their outer, animal nature. The ignorant see this as evil, but the wise see it as the low-minded actions of spiritually immature individuals.

Sloka 48

What Is the Source of Good and Evil?

Rather than seeing good and evil in the world, we understand that the nature of people is threefold: the lower animal nature of emotions and instincts, the middle nature of the intellect and the higher nature of divine consciousness.

Sloka 49

How Can a Kindly God Permit Evil?

In the deepest sense, there is no good or bad. God did not create evil as a force separate from good. He gave the ideals of dharma. He lets us make our own choices in life, so we can learn and grow from our successes and mistakes.

Sloka 50

Should We Avoid the World?

The world is a wonderful creation of a loving God, never to be avoided. Siva wants us to live positively in the world. He wants us to face karma and live according to dharma. We must not hate or fear the world. Life is meant to be lived joyously.