“There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so” (Hamlet. Act II Scene 2).

This line has been popping into my head a lot the past few months. Many cultures separate everything into good or evil. It is a concept that is sewn into the seams of society-examples include- Religion, Daoism (ying/yang), Christianity (saved or perishing), Islam (believer or infidel), Buddism (enlightened or striver). More examples-societal labels: intelligent or stupid, creative or logical, rich or poor, criminal or abiding citizen. This is accepted as truth. But how the world has been perceived for thousands of years is the biggest falsehood all humans, for which all have been deceived. I believe there is some truth in the garden of Eden, whether or not it is a parable or a historical event is not important; but, the important part is showing us all how we have believed in a lie of good verses evil, light verses dark. I believe all people are born pure, divine, holy, and connected. In eating the fruit, it created a sense of separation and knowledge of something other. Adam and Eve had no concept of denying Adonai and what he told them as reality. Another being introduced a new concept into the human psyche and it infected us like a deadly virus. I will never understand why the mind chose to believe fear and separation instead of life and acceptance.

After years of this lie being a part of all our stories, it is near impossible to set ourselves apart from it. It seems too simple to think humans have believed it and can un-believe it. But the most simple ideas are the most difficult to grasp. Perceiving things as having evil from the start and needing to “punish” it out is damaging. Again, my mind still has a concept of good and evil, but it is some cosmic force no one can reason out or prove with concrete fact.

“Nothing is either good or bad, but thinking make it so.(Hamlet Act II. Scene 2)”