>>10951038it's just a short story. it resonates with some people because it's effectively the "golden rule". i'm not going to get too into normative ethics and religion, but "The Egg" by Andy Weir is a western retelling of the concept of dharma in hinduism.
how in christianity, it's a bit fucked up that an all powerful and all loving god allows babies to die of AIDS, and for people to brutalize and torture others; the hindu mentality is that it is of course fine that it happens, because you are the only one that suffers. YOU in the collective sense, because you are everyone. it's like masturbating or self harm, and it's no more unethical to kill yourself than to kill another human. you ought to treat others nicely, but even if you don't you're just fucking yourself over because you'll have to experience that suffering that you've dealt out, the next time around.
the concept of "enlightenment" is when you (as your current incarnation, the you that is reading these words and sitting in front of the screen) realize that this is the case, and then the illusion (Maya) that you're different from your neighbor is broken. your neighbor and you are not "both human", you're both exactly the same "thing". as they look out of their eyes, that's you looking out of your eyes. you're "it". the great whatever-it-is.
i'm not trying to sell you on the idea as in converting you to it, just putting it forward as an idea to play with.
