Hi everyone. I think I have much to add here.
> 1)Is evil a separate or distinct force?
No.
Evil is not a force of "anti-quality". (Human) evil comes from insensitivity to
quality. Although quality is universal, we lose our connection to it when we
cling to distracting thoughts. Being late for work is an example. While
thinking about what my boss is going to do, I lose sensitivity to what is around
me. I cut-off a car on the freeway and the other driver thinks "what an ass".
That is a minute form of evil in me.
In my personal experiences I have never met an evil person. They all have
fear. They are afraid of being seen as stupid. They are afraid of not
winning. They are afraid of questioning their beliefs. They are afraid of
being alone. All these things cause evil when they interfere with our
sensitivity to reality.
> 2)Does evil exist?
Yes, evil exists in the form of insecurity and fear. This is not contained
within Pirsig's metaphysics because Pirsig relates to reality as only quality.
That is part of my problem with Pirsig. There are *two* aspects of reality. 1.
Quality 2. Sensitivity to quality (aka conciousness, awareness). Perception of
the "levels" is apart from the levels themselves.
> 3)What is evil?
Evil comes from insensitivity to reality. (Need to comment on static/dynamic)
Sometimes reality is relatively static and our thoughts make it seem dynamic.
An example is a person who loves you one day, and hates you after a disagreement
when you are more or less the same person.
Othertimes reality is dynamic and our thoughts cling to the static. I might
have had a bad experience with an alcoholic parent. I get mad at my girlfriend
for having one drink because I cling to my past experience. I become
insensitive to the fact there is no bad quality from having one drink -- it is
healthy!.
> 4) Is evil necessary?
> No.
>
Insensitity is not an "on" "off" thing but a continuum. I saw (on the
Simpsons!) that nirvana is a state of bliss arising from negation of the self.
This is as close to non-evil I can think of. At times we are so in tune with
what is going on around us, there is no notion of self. At this time there is
no evil. Think about your most peaceful, happy, loving moment. I bet you were
not aware of yourself, only quality -- the notes of a symphony, your lovers
body, your child's laughter, the humour in a joke, a smile from a stranger, etc.
> 5) How can we explain Hitler and Dahmer?
They are more insensitive that the rest of us. I can only conjecture, but I bet
Hitler was treated badly or was very jealous of a group of Jewish person as a
child. Perhaps his parents made him cling to the ideal of being the smartest
kid in his class. He worked and worked but was always beat by a Jewish kid.
Instead of asking the value of his ideals, he gradually fixated on the negative
aspects and blocked out any positive aspects of Jewish people.
Hitler was not fundamentally different than us.
6) New Question -- How do we rid ourselves of evil?
Nonjudegementally listen and observe. Pay attention. Not like in school where
we focus on the teacher and attempt to block out mental distractions. Pay
attention to everything. Quality will flow into you and love -- not evil --
will be in your heart.
I passed a sign at work today and it said "the quest to quality is never
ending". What a quote! As soon as we think we have quality, it is gone.
Relevant quotes from my favorite philsopher.
"To be free of fear is to be free of time"
"Where there is love, there is also clarity"
"Why do you create ideals for yourself ... because you are afraid of being who
you are."
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