Why do we do bad or evil things to others when we want to do good?

Question from the Internet:

“Why do I do everything good to change positively only to become more evil?”

This is an extremely important and honest question which we should all be asking!

Our problem is that our perception and viewpoint of reality are 100% egocentric, subjective, and individualistic. We simply cannot see and feel reality “as it is.” Instead, we perceive reality through our inherently self-serving, self-justifying filters.

We are interested only in things that can support our introverted “pleasure/pain” calculations. Our measurements of “good or bad” are tuned to selfish pleasure and personal pain. There is nothing we can do since this is how we are programmed by default.

So when we reach the recognition you expressed in your question, that is already a very high achievement and a very important turning point. If this recognition — that even with my “best intentions,” I keep causing harm since with my 100% egocentric and subjective calculations, I inevitably harm others in this fully integrated and interdependent world — becomes truly painful and intolerable, then we start a unique self-changing and self-developing process.

And if we do this together with others who have also reached this recognition, and we use a special, purposeful, and practical method in the right environment, then we can gradually acquire a completely different viewpoint and relation to the world and other people.

And when we, together, develop this new, selfless, unconditionally serving and loving attitude and viewpoint towards others — above and against our inherent nature that does not disappear or fade — then we will be able to do truly good to others without any misunderstandings or mistakes.

In truth, all through this process, nothing else changes but our intentions, shifting our focus from ourselves to others. And by this, we enter a completely different sense of existence in a seemingly different reality.