Benevolence and Malevolence have nothing to do with outward circumstances. Unconditional benevolent intent is the intent to serve or benefit the other without any regard to self-interest. Malevolent intent is to use, abuse, manipulate or consume the other in order to serve the self’s interest.
Malevolent intent is not based on outward circumstances but on arrogance and a victim identity, on resentment and a sense of entitlement. The victim feels done in and bears no accountability for his life or actions. He blames the other and holds the other accountable. He is here to get from the world because he feels he hasn’t gotten his due. So, he engages in malevolence without a second thought. He claims he cannot give because he has not received anything from the other. He is focused on his illness, pain, misfortune, loss, goal or ambition; on what he wants to get. He does not focus on what makes his life work – all that is given to and done for him by other than him. Instead of gratitude, he looks at his life and the world with judgment and resentment.
Similarly, benevolent intent does not depend on outward circumstances. You do not need money, a PhD degree or even perfect health to serve the other unconditionally. Listening and accepting, affirming and encouraging with sincerity – just allowing someone to be fully who they are without judging them or trying to fix them – are acts of great generosity that don’t require money, literacy or good health. Telling the truth, being fair and being honest when it is beneficial to the other but is not in our interest, are acts of great courage that don’t require money, literacy or good health. Unconditional benevolence springs from gratitude, from a realization that the self has received in excess of its due. Anyone of us can be unconditionally benevolent if we are grateful for what we have.
photo with thanks via Iraj Jahanshahi
Malevolent intent is not based on outward circumstances but on arrogance and a victim identity, on resentment and a sense of entitlement. The victim feels done in and bears no accountability for his life or actions. He blames the other and holds the other accountable. He is here to get from the world because he feels he hasn’t gotten his due. So, he engages in malevolence without a second thought. He claims he cannot give because he has not received anything from the other. He is focused on his illness, pain, misfortune, loss, goal or ambition; on what he wants to get. He does not focus on what makes his life work – all that is given to and done for him by other than him. Instead of gratitude, he looks at his life and the world with judgment and resentment.
Similarly, benevolent intent does not depend on outward circumstances. You do not need money, a PhD degree or even perfect health to serve the other unconditionally. Listening and accepting, affirming and encouraging with sincerity – just allowing someone to be fully who they are without judging them or trying to fix them – are acts of great generosity that don’t require money, literacy or good health. Telling the truth, being fair and being honest when it is beneficial to the other but is not in our interest, are acts of great courage that don’t require money, literacy or good health. Unconditional benevolence springs from gratitude, from a realization that the self has received in excess of its due. Anyone of us can be unconditionally benevolent if we are grateful for what we have.
photo with thanks via Iraj Jahanshahi
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