Six Paramitas: Ethics
OK, now I remember: generosity must be the basis for ethics -- without a foundation of generosity and caring, ethics turns into a dry, crusty set of rules. And actually, ethics grows very naturally out of generosity. Reality isn't asking very much of us, just simple acknowledgement, recognition -- that's why we tell the truth. Truth as the most basic form of celebration, and the most basic form of non-harming.
It's been interesting to notice how often my unethical behavior is triggered by the ego's grasping and aversion -- a desire to gain some imagined advantage for myself, or to fend off some unwanted possible consequence. But that's basically a form of insanity, isn't it? How could it be that an instance of harm will be "easier to deal with"?