Man, and the realization of his purpose

A guide to the doing of good and to a full and happy life

by Abraham Adar

Man's  purpose
The  actualization of  true Good- to do Good to others

The philosophical proof

If the universe God created, is founded on Good, it is logical to suppose the cause behind  any phenomenon's appearance is to actualize Good. Hence, it can confidently be said that man, as a creation born in God's own image, is certainly capable of actualizing the Good and is therefore, capable of actualizing his  purpose by means of the Good. If so, it may be said that man was created in order to actualize Good. Since this Good may be found at any place, it is only natural that this Good can be expressed in every domain.

Man's awareness regarding the existence of Good and its actualization.

The difficulty in actualizing Good is that few recognize it and even fewer consciously express it. In this sub-chapter we will attempt to lay foundations for solving this problem.
The Greek philosophers come to our aid, with their marvelous logic and talent for prophesizing. One of the greatest philosophers of all time, Plato, said the following in this context:

Man is "good by nature"; that is to say, was created as a good being, and can therefore actualize Good.

He commits Evil because he is not "cognizant" of Good.

It is impossible that a man, who recognizes Good would not act in accordance with it, nor would he not inform the other regarding it.

In the Bible too, we encounter expressions relating to Good and to what it represents. I will mention a few of these:

"See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil… therefore choose life" (Deuteronomy 30: 15-19).

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever." (Psalms 23: 6)

Note: I believe Plato, Moses and King David, were all referring to the true Good.

The great question is, whether Moses, King David and Plato were familiar with the essence of Good. Had true Good been discovered by man, in accordance with Plato's statement, it would surely have been brought to human society's attention, who would have then adopted it as their way of life.
I wish to add my personal opinion: had man consciously expressed the true Good, he would have extricated himself long ago from the dire situation in which he is mired, or alternatively – would have departed Socrates' cave of shadows into the true world.
These facts indicate that man has not yet discovered Good, and due to his weakness, it appears there is little chance that man will ever discover it without assistance from a higher source. Yet some people unconsciously express this Good, at one level or another
It is clear to us that the Creator Himself is familiar with true Good and that he undoubtedly conveyed this information to the creation born in His own image. Therefore, God's words must contain this Good. We agree, surely, that God's ways are indeed the expression of absolute Good. When God asks man to follow in His ways, he expresses his wish that man will recognize Good and will consciously actualize it. 

What happens 'on the ground'

Man was created in order to actualize Good

This philosophical statement is confirmed by facts in everyday life. Man actualizes Good, by carrying out something "which he longs for, which appeals to him" and refuses to actualize evil by refraining from carrying out an activity "which is hostile, which does not appeal"; and if he does it anyway, he acts due to coercion.
Due to this unique quality, it can be confirmed that man was created to actualize Good.
Since man has been created this way, all his creative forces will operate when he carries out a yearned for activity. These creative tools will not operate when he carries out an action under coercion. I suppose every person has personal experience of this matter.
Man has an urge to actualize Good.
People actualize Good through an urge or a need. This urge is the cause, which actualizes the reason for man's having been created the way he was; hence it is man's most basic urge. This is the drive, which may activate man's other factors to contribute their part to the realization of Good.
This urge appears in man more powerfully than in any lower being. It arises not only to bring Good into expression but also to bring man to explore, discover, notify the other regarding it and persuade him to actualize this Good.

 We identify its expression in everyday life and occasionally also its level of intensity. For example, in man's tendency to help the other, in his desire to publicize and carry out Good, just as a reporter publishes his articles and a scientist publishes his findings, we are familiar with the phenomenon of a man willing to endanger himself in order to publicize and do Good. Man's high self-worth, by its very nature, develops this urge, which is then realized by Love.

The problematic expression of true Good
A person, who decides of his own free will to carry out a particular activity, will only do it if he believes that in doing so, he actualizes Good. The question is whether this good is the true Good.

If we agree that man is an imperfect creation and therefore, by his very nature, does both Good and evil, then the good he does will be a subjective good, i.e. a "private Good", which isn't necessarily the true Good. In so doing, he may actually do evil. We shall term this evil "the false Good". Since man carries out this false Good on the basis of free will, he does it creatively, namely, by enlisting all his capacities; something that usually occurs at the highest level.

The doing of false Good is counted among man's basic and unique approaches and is among his greatest weaknesses.  Various bodies in human society exploit this weakness to their own ends, be they positive or negative ones. It is this weakness, which enabled man's worst atrocities against the other to be committed and is a significant factor in turning the wondrous creation born in God's own image into the most terrible beast.
The main spiritual tool that leads man to accept the false Good is the power of belief, since it leads man to accept an unknown thing as the truth without proof.

How will we bring about man's conscious expression of the true Good? How could we recognize false Good and prevent it from being performed? High self-worth will bring us to identify the false Good and the state of love will bring us to consciously express the true Good.

Life's most urgent question is: what are you doing for others
Martin Luther King, Jr.

The high destiny of the individual is to serve
Albert Einstein

In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart. I simply can't build up my hopes on a foundation consisting of confusion, misery and death.
Anne Frank

The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own.
Benjamin Disraeli

I have known many good people who did not believe in God. But I have never known a human being who was good who did not believe in people.
John Lovejoy Elliott

To enjoy life is to do  good to others
  ABRAHAM ADAR

It is not doing the thing we like to do, but liking the thing we have to do, that makes life blessed.
 Wolfgang von Goethe

 Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others, cannot keep it from themselves.
James M. Barrie:

There is nothing so terrible as activity without insight.
 Wolfgang von Goethe