Moral Containers

Recently, I was involved in a conversation that explored Integrity.  I walked away feeling a little disappointed after hearing the sense of pride that some had shown in their ability to cheat the system.  Following a little thought on the subject, I realized I was quick to condemn.

Over the past while in order to log 1000 acts of kindness I have held more doors and let more people into traffic than I ever have before.  Why is it that I walked past a piece of garbage 100 times before, but now seeing it as an opportunity to tally an act of kindness, I pick it up?  What is this separation between moral obligation and personal gain? 

This bothered me and led me into a process of self reflection.  I am actually committing some brain power into every act I do, and reflecting on the real reason I am doing it.  I am finally realizing the importance of becoming more aware of where I am, what I am doing, and now Why.  

I am beginning to realize every person holds a ‘moral container’.  Some people carry a larger container than others.  Mother Theresa had the burden of hauling around an Olympic sized swimming pool, while others skip along with a thimble.  More to this though, is how the container is filled.  If we fill the container with acts of kindness to strictly fill the obligation of the I Ho Chuan we eventually reach capacity and it spills over.  If we reflect on what we are doing, become aware of why we are doing it, and see the change it causes; the container grows with every filling.  We re-weave our moral fabric and increase our integrity.

I am just starting to realize why the I Ho Chuan requirements are the requirements.  I am realizing that they have been set very deliberately, and for more than just inflicting physical pain and inconvenience.  They have been carefully chosen because they force us as martial artists into self reflection and awareness.