What if the devil is already living among us?
And we know him very well.
And embrace him daily.
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Look not upon the devil as something only biblical
For to do so would be to relegate him to the fringes of our conscience
Instead of recognizing him for what he is
Real, and living among us
For he takes many avatars.
****** Copyright @ Eric Alagan, 2017 ******
That is a good answer. I am not very clear about it, so I will think and answer you in a day or two hopefully.
Eric Alagan, What is your definition or meaning of evil?
Good question. How about you start the ball rolling by sharing your opinion – what is the definition or meaning of evil?
Devil or angel/Devil and angel. We are both, that’s why we must struggle to be good. Of course the devil is in the details.
Chicken hanging in the slaughter house: “Here comes the man with the blade, he is the devil incarnate.”
Man with the blade: “I need to finish early and take the wifey out to celebrate her birthday.”
Man, now holding a bouquet of flowers: “Honey, I’m home.”
Woman, now holding the bouquet of flowers: “Oh, dear, you are such an adorable man.’
Devil scratches his head: “Where did I go wrong?”
That’s a good one. Ever see The movie Bewitched, which has already been done twice? The devil is a comic genius in coming up with woes and embarrassments.
Thank you, Stephen,
No, have not caught that one but now that you mentioned it, will check it out.
Cheers!
My first thought echoed Ian’s comment. Scary times, indeed. This was thought-provoking, yet ominous, Eric. 🙂
Present since days old
Roots deepen, spreading wider
Gardens turn marshlands
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Hello Lauren,
Yes, it is scary, for evil is fast becoming the new normal.
Peace,
Eric
The devil is adept at adopting many avatars of convenience. Yours is a lyrical and almost siren call to be on our guard.
Players on the stage
Avatars of convenience 🙂
Busy with handhelds
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Hello Sarah,
Very true, your observation. The collective evil of all individuals, perhaps that is the devil as is the collective good, the opposite.
Peace,
Eric
What if the devil we are looking for is not without but instead within us? Shams of Tabriz said: “The whole universe is contained within a single human being-you. Everything that you see around, including the things that you might not be fond of and even the people you despise or abhor, is present within you in varying degrees. Therefore, do not look for Sheitan outside yourself either. The devil is not an extraordinary force that attacks from without. It is an ordinary voice within. If you set to know yourself fully facing with honesty and hardness.”
World of duality
Everything black and white
Neat little boxes
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Hello and welcome,
You ask a good question: ‘What if the devil we are looking for is not without but instead within us?’
Do you have an opinion on your question and the quote you shared? Would love to hear it.
Peace.
I am not a believer of the common concept of heaven and hell. Therefore, I also do not believe in angel and the devil. Generally, I think, that how we perceive another human is a reflection of how we perceive ourselves. If I see bad in a person that is because I see worse in mine. And that is the reason why we should maintain pure perception unless proven otherwise. I love that Shams’ quote that I used it few times in my own writings.
I’m afraid he’s alive and well. Just look at the turmoil in our world and see him at work.
He grows in power
Human words, deeds nourish him
Eden filled with weeds
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Hello Ian,
Unfortunately, you are right. His works abound.
I’ve yet to read a headline that screams:
Another Act of Love.
City: 26 Nov 2017
People in (insert city name) upon noticing a queue on the pavement, came out of their air conditioned offices. A group of vagabonds had gathered in the patch of green and a long line of office workers, each holding drinks and meals, had formed. They waited patiently under the hot sun and slowly moved to the front and deposited their meals and drinks for the less fortunate among the city to refresh themselves.
When the police arrived, the mayor who had followed in their wake, instructed the cops to help. The police officers skipped their lunch breaks and handled crowd control and traffic.
It quickly turned into a carnival of sorts. People brought out music and generally had a great time.
“Trading hours are slipping away, will you not lose money?” asked a reporter.
“It’s only money, this is more important,” replied the stock broker.
…
Yes money is the god of this world.:)
Sinister thought – and a teaser. yes, so many personifications – I try to dismiss but at times find that I am he.
Not one entity
Evil pervasive in all
To ‘Live’ spelled backwards
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Hello Jane,
It lives among us, perhaps not as one entity but is us. We are the host. Scary!
Peace,
Eric