Those who want to know the truth of the
universe should practice the four cardinal virtues.
The first is reverence for all life; this
manifests as unconditional love and respect for
oneself and all other beings.
The second is natural sincerity; this manifests
as honesty, simplicity and faithfulness.
The third is gentleness; this manifests as
kindness, consideration for others, and sensitivity
to spiritual truth.
The fourth is supportiveness; this manifests as
service to others without expectation of reward.
The four virtues are not an external dogma
but a part of your original nature.
When practiced, they give birth to wisdom
and evoke the five blessings: health, wealth,
happiness, longevity and peace.
Comments: Every religion has ethics or virtue
as a basis. Certainly one could never venture
into the inner circle without being firmly
grounded in virtue.
First: St. Francis of Assisi showed great
respect for life, to the point that he feared
treading on worms while walking on a path.
Second: We need to be sincere with ourselves
This starts with self-observation.
Third: Gentleness and kindness are looked on as weaknesses in this day and age.
Fourth: This humanity is more concerned with
taking than giving. Consumerism and materialism
are primary drivers in our daily lives.
Mother Nature is viewed as a natural resource
and we take and we take without any regard for
the consequences. Supportiveness, then, would
be acting as a steward for the Earth, protecting
the environment and conserving our natural
resources.