Tuirr Couan

Ethics

A World Conscious Perspective
"Earth based learning"

Holistic approach to taking Refuge within our beliefs

Presented By the Wisdom of the Elders

Nature and the natural world is a doorway to healing ourselves. Learning to listen with respect in our sacred relationship to all beings creates healing. Our legacy is what we create around us, what the world will be and what future generations will inherit.

Theories of Ethics:

“Knowledge is important, but much more important is the use towards which it is put. This depends on the heart and mind of the one who uses it.”

Socrates used to wonder whether virtue could be taught. But his concerns would have seemed hair-splitting to most people today -- Of course virtue and ethics can be taught the average ethics classes and workshops starts at $350 a shot… Just ask any Academic!

Common view of Ethics

When you ask most people what Ethics is you will get a host of answers that range from the moral, legal, and personal values traits often describe as interplay of such beliefs that dictate what is ethical or correct.

Ethic vs. Moral:

The root word for Ethical is the Greek "ethos," meaning "character." The root word for Moral is Latin "mos," meaning "custom." People have character. Societies have custom. To violate either can be said to be wrong, within its appropriate frame of reference. Morals may be seen as an accepted from an authority (cultural, religious) while ethics are accepted because they follow from personally-accepted principles. For example, if one accepts the authority of a religion, and that religion forbids stealing, then stealing would be immoral. An ethical view might be based on an idea of personal property that should not be taken without social consent (like a court order). Because a modern usage has made such words interchangeable they are often confused like wise Values: Important and enduring convictions, beliefs, and opinions that shape attitudes and motivate action has been interchange and associated with ethical conduct in the form of principles.

From Values to Principles:

We translate values into principles so they can guide and motivate ethical conduct. Ethical principles are the rules of conduct that derive from ethical values. Honesty is a value that guilds behaviour in the form of principles such as: tell the truth, don’t deceive, be candid, don’t cheat. In this way, values give rise to principles in the form of specific "dos" and "don’ts." These behaviours and thoughts occur all the time and reflect our action and attitudes and choices.

Core principles of Ethical Being

We all have the power to decide what we do and what we say, and what we think Gesture of Thought, Speech and Action

Four component model for moral behaviour:

1) Moral sensitivity

2) Moral judgment

3) Moral motivation

4) Moral character.

Ethical Conflicts:

In the ideal world we would operate on the basic principles of moral behaviour however this is not the case despite the fact that there is very good evidence that such ethical practices is healthy for body mind and spirit we are often conflicted with other influences.

These influences eventual form additional values and eventual principles that operate on both conscious and subconscious and direct our views of how the world operates allowing for a ruined actions speech and eventual thoughts Kohlberg Stages explains this transformation from Truthful Ethical behaviour to that of EGO driven responses.

Kohlberg: Stages of Moral Development

Ø       Responsive self interest

Ø      Conformity to group Standards

Ø       Conscious choice

Where we go wrong some more…:

Festinger taught that when we hold conflicting beliefs, we are motivated to change them in predictable directions. For example you believe that you are compassionate and should help the poor. At the same time, you think lower taxes are important; you are easily convinced that the welfare system is overly taxing on society and your wallet. Festinger predicts, that you will convince yourself that the welfare system has to be cut, not because you want lower taxes, but because having fewer welfare benefits will motivate people to find jobs. Cutting benefits would be for their own good a deflection from the true sources of the reasoning.

The Pit fall of Right and Wrong

“More people would listen to their conscience if they liked what it had to say.”

Soul is awareness of ethical aspect to one’s conduct; it urges us to prefer right over wrong. Not everyone has good character, not everyone has a reliable conscience a bad person with no conscience at all feels just as good as a person with a clear conscience. Having a bad conscience is not necessarily a bad thing — it’s a sign that one at least knows right from wrong. This leaves us in a constant state of Shame Blame and Guilt.

Core teaching of Essence

We are all part and whole of the universe and as such connected to all things

Essence: Non-ego, Mindfulness, Spirit, Soul

Problems of the Current Resolution of Ethical Dilemmas:

Conventional view of how moral reasoning and resolution is based on four general constructs. 1> Perception of a moral problem 2> Assumption of universality and impartiality 3> Application of action-guiding rules and principles 4> Obligation to Right action

The difficulty of perceiving moral dilemmas can be quite difficult, and often our perceptions are quite different from those of another and separate from a world view tied up in personally perspectives and causalities.

The application of universally impartiality is unrealistic as such a concept is a reified construct that does not actually exist. Or the universe is seen as distinct and consisting of unique properties from the judgemental viewer making it needless complicated and isolated from the viewer. All THINGS BEING EQUALL statement does not lend to holistic thinking rather reductionism. Universality must therefore be conceived differently to realistically incorporate universalism without being reductionalistic or, over complexity, or as isolated.

Rules and principles are used to guide our actions however ethical dilemmas are often have no clear solution. Rules are often finite and subject to interpretation leaving ambiguity or too concrete leaving no space for interpretation or deviation.

As a result Right action is not clear particularly if an action is considered within a narrow frame of reference. Broadening such views over time often lead to changing of our choices of apparent right action leaving the larger void of choosing the Correct One!

Further difficulties of Ethical Dilemmas:

Ø The situations are often quite uncommon

Ø Partiality is often not discussed

Ø Examples are usually adversarial - there are winners and losers

Conclusion: Fussy logic is formed and challenges us to decide. Decisions are often based on Ego Emotion generated by our direct conditioning and subjected to Nature/Nurture of our experiences.

The Equalizer… The Acid Test?

Many Ethical teachings use the acid test to decide if our actions are correct; Ethical review boards, Self reflection, and questions like what would my Grandmother think if …: all presumed to lead to a larger understanding of what might be… but not providing a daily frame work of self reference for ethical action.

Core teaching of Presence We are responsible for the consequences of our choices. Presence of what was, what is, what will be

A Call for Clarity:

“Time passes unhindered. When we make mistakes, we cannot turn the clock back and try again. All we can do is use the present well.”

Expanding our ethical perspective and position requires two forces Shedding our outdated bad thinking and Introducing Clarity by understanding our values and perspective as it relates to ourselves and outer world in context of creation (universe). While traditional teach would require this transformation to come about only with death of Ego (Materialism of selfish drives) Clarity can begin to occur by striving to be congruent; that is to match our thought speech and action with those values beliefs morals and principles we hold to be true. We must take Refuge in those beliefs as a starting point to understanding Creation; not as an endpoint but rather as a starting point of “Known Self”. Accepting that in this refuge this Self is an every flowing and changing part of the whole (All that is).

Holistic Integrative Approach

To incorporate Holistic and Integrative Ethics we must take a journey from the “Now Known Self” one step further and add in the important element of Universe, Integration and the ability to put aside Ego and Self-interest.

Universe can be perceived in many ways and forms including, Others, Community, Time, Space and Creation.

Integration as acceptance, clarity and incorporation.

Removal Self Interest, to perceive and experience existence from different perspectives, non-judgemental, open receptive.

Finally Action:

Action in Growing and expanding sense of Self in balance with Creation. Acting and taking refuge in Core Beliefs and remaining Congruent.

Many Paths One destination:

This material comes from many teachings and traditions each in their own valid and distinct and unique. Incorporating them in to a belief system or way of being the work of the individual in there own way and in accordance. It is recommended that you practice the mental visualizations and mediations demonstrating in class before changing it to your own. The best advice is to have no expectation and to not question what you experience but rather let it work itself out over time. The exercises are meant to trigger a slow process of contemplation and consideration which will be different for each person. You can enhances this process by doing additional activates such as journal writing, paint, sculpting, art extra. In accepting and experiencing the unique and different qualities we are practicing one of the most important aspect of Universe that of all things are connected and share universe and existence.

The intent of the home work assignments is to compile a group experience of the exercises so please take the time to submit the return sheet the rest are for your personal interest and growth. A final debrief of the exercise and mean with occur on the last day of class.

I would Like to acknowledge the creator

The Elders for their wisdom and collaborative contribution for this assignment in answering “How may we learn to be More Ethical” Elder Lha-khu, Elder Star, Elder Doreen, Elder Snow, Elder Hank and their student apprentices.

And you for having participate in the Journey Together

Teachings that Lead towards Ethical Balance

Core principles of Ethical Being
We all have the power to decide what we do and what we say, and what we think
Gesture: of Thought, Speech and Action

Core teaching of Essence
We are all part and whole of the universe and as such connected to all things
Essence: Non-Ego (Self), Mindfulness, Spirit, Soul

Core teaching of Presence
We are responsible for the consequences of our choices.
Presence: of what was, what is, what will be

Symbols as a representation of the core teachings

	Medicine Wheel: Shown in may forms represent the four directional teachings of most indigenous cultures. Including cardinal directions, elements, colors and peoples. Medicine wheel teaching comes form the sources of nature and natural wisdom.
	Lotus flower: has many meanings including divinity, knowledge, enlightenment, fertility and wealth. Particular in matters of spiritual and ethical aspirations in India and Asia
	Mandela of clarity used in Tibetan traditions, release and moves energy focuses intent and gives birth to Clear thought.
	Bon Dur Symbol for universal energy clarity and balance.
	Spiral moving Earth wise and counter earth wise in the process of moving energy both of Body Mind and spirit
	The Interlinked Knot or never Unending Knot represents the unity of male and female energy or the connectives of all things