Connections Through Time, Issue 11:
April - June 2001
As remote viewing and other psychic skills become more and more common, our society is likely to resist the fact that information can be obtained from almost any place, or almost any time or from almost any other human being's mind using the trained capabilities of consciousness.
Ultimately, we believe a time will come when most human beings will voluntarily leave their minds open for some people (maybe for most people) to explore since there will be no fear of this information being misused. Currently, large amounts of data are collected and stored on each of us in various places. While this is an appropriate concern among advocates of personal privacy, we believe a more fundamental issue is: Why do we really care if people know us? Isn't the issue basically one of fear - fear that "private" information will somehow be used "against us". This is why ethics and making some difficult ethical choices is a critical part of the transition to a time where there will be no need for secrets, and where privacy will be respected based on the desires of the individual.
A key issue for humanity, in our opinion, is how to transition to a place where ethical behavior will become the norm for both individuals and groups (e.g., nations, religions, and organizations of all types). The ethical use of remote viewing people's thoughts will be part of that challenge. In a world where terrorist groups consciously and intentionally kill innocent people, it does seem ethical to use remote viewing to obtain information from terrorist organizations.
Most religions and spiritual paths
include a form of what we in the Western world call the Golden Rule. The
almost universal recognition of this ethical principle is another indicator of how we
humans are indeed all connected. One key issue, however, is how to get
from here to a place where the Golden Rule is taken for granted as the basis of
ethical behavior. Here is a collection of statements describing this fundamental ethical concept.
One going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird should first try it
on himself to feel how it hurts.
Yoruba Proverb (Nigeria)
Do not do unto others what angers you if done to you by
others.
Isocrates 436-338 BCE
It is Our wish and desire that every one of you may become a
source of all goodness unto men, and an example of
uprightness to mankind. Beware lest you prefer yourself above
your neighbours.
Baha'u'llah, Gleanings, 315
Comparing oneself to others in such terms as Just as I am so are they,
just as they are so am I, he should neither kill nor cause others to kill.
Buddhism. Sutta Nipata 705
Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said to him,
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your
soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.
And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Christianity. Bible, Matthew 22.36-40
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do
ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Book of Matthew, Chapter 7 verse 12
Tsekung asked, Is there one word that can serve as a principle of conduct
for life? Confucius replied, It is the word shu--reciprocity: Do not do
to others what you do not want them to do to you.
Confucianism. Analects 15.23
One should not behave towards others in a way which is disagreeable to
oneself. This is the essence of morality. All other activities are due to
selfish desire.
Hinduism. Mahabharata, Anusasana Parva
113.8
Not one of you is a believer until he loves for his brother what he loves
for himself.
Islam. Forty Hadith of an-Nawawi 13
One who you think should be hit is none else but you. One who you think
should be governed is none else but you. One who you think should be
tortured is none else but you. One who you think should be enslaved is
none else but you. One who you think should be killed is none else but
you. A sage is ingenuous and leads his life after comprehending the parity
of the killed and the killer. Therefore, neither does he cause violence to
others nor does he make others do so.
Acarangasutra 5.101-2
A man should wander about treating all creatures as he himself would be
treated.
Jainism. Sutrakritanga 1.11.33
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Judaism and Christianity. Bible, Leviticus
19.18
Don't create enmity with anyone as God is within everyone."
...Guru Arjan Devji 259, Guru Granth Sahib...
Regard your neighbour's gain as your own gain, and your
neighbour's loss as your own loss.
References
http://www.jcu.edu/philosophy/gensler/goldrule.htm
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/1256/goldenrule.html
http://www.fragrant.demon.co.uk/golden.html
http://www.mindanao.com/kalinaw/thoughts/goldenrule.htm
http://www.sfheart.com/golden_rule.html
http://www.unification.net/ws/theme015.htm
http://www.religioustolerance.org/reciproc.htm
Go to another section of this issue:
Physics:
Transactional Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics Applications:
Protocol 5