Do good and evil exist?

I often hear terms such as "dark side" and "light-worker." Do you believe there is a dark side? Or a light side, for that matter? We already know one cannot exist without the other (at least the physical properties of light and dark). But how would you classify "the dark side"? Does it exist as a "thing" or is it only one more manmade assignation? Where would one sign up for "The Dark Side?" And who decides if one is a light-worker or just a new age bliss ninny?

My reason for these questions on a large group I moderate on Facebook (Carlos Castaneda) was to find out where other seekers' thinking lies with regard to "the dark and the light." Personally, I think it's all a matter of *seeing*. From a seer's perspective, it can usually be determined that the thing we BELIEVE are "dark" may not be at all (and vice versa re the "light"). It's all a position of the assemblage point - a matter of perspective and belief systems.

As long as a warrior believes it is his/her duty or obligation to engage in a battle against "the dark side", what that warrior is really doing is engaging in a battle against his or her own beliefs and fears. Nothing wrong with that - it can be beneficial - but ONLY if the warrior KNOWS that is what s/he is doing. As long as the warrior BELIEVES there is a "dark side" the warrior CREATES the dark side as a juxtaposition to her own beliefs that she herself is of the "light."

As I have come to see it, the whole so-called battle between good and evil is basically a distraction going on in the center ring of the 3-ring circus of life. In the other two rings... the consensual reality churns along in one, while the infinite unknown sits back and laughs in the other. Overhead, the eagle swings on the trapeze, waiting for the performers to slaughter one another and send him his dinner.

The only thing in the cave of darkness is what we take with us.
True or false?

Buddha said, "We are what we think." My mentor said (and so did Voldemort), "There is no good or evil, only power." In the big picture, I have found that seemingly grim statement to be true. Good and evil are concepts, just like light and dark. When Luke Skywalker was required to go into the cave, he asked Yoda, "What's in there?" To which the little green guy replied, "Only what you take with you."

Isn't that the case with just about everything if you REALLY stop to think about it? There is no item in the world that one can hold in their hand and say, "This is good" or "This is evil." Humans assign those attributes according to what they already BELIEVE, and then act out their part in the center ring accordingly.

Why does this matter? Maybe it doesn't. Or maybe having the awareness that what we BELIEVE creates the reality we then inhabit can give us the awareness to STOP believing things MUST be light or dark, good or evil, god or devil. Without such beliefs, most conflicts would be resolved before they ever start, most wars would never be fought, and maybe the eagle would have to tighten his belt just a little.

Evil is a choice. Good is a decision. The devil is in the details.
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