The One Commandment

The legal systems of modern states are complex. It is virtually impossible to know, let alone apply or comprehend, all laws in effect that bind and privilege us. In fact, most people don’t even know key components of their own constitution, the limited set of rules that forges the foundation of beliefs and basic principles of life that governs a country; this goes even for the constitution of the United States, one of the shortest in the world.

Even a mere ten rules, such as the Ten Commandments, are a lot to remember and apply in everyday life, considering their numerous facets and manifestations. If you want to align your life to something you want to live up to, that gives you structure, stability, and direction, aim for a maximum of three rules.

In this article, I want to propose a single one.

Ten Commandments

Three months “after the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt” (19:1-25), out of slavery, and after crossing the Red Sea, the Ten Commandments were revealed to Moses (20:1-17) at Mount Sinai. They symbolize the absolutes of spiritual and moral living that God intended for his people together with further, more elaborate instructions on civil and ceremonial laws for managing their lives and their worship, as told in the book of Exodus of the Torah. Shortly after, Moses received two “tables of stone, written with the finger of God” that contained the Ten Commandments (31:18) which were supposed to be kept in the Ark of the Covenant (25:10-22).

The following citations are derived from the Tana"kh, the Hebrew Bible, in an attempt to stay as close as possible to the original Hebrew scripture; despite the obvious risk of inaccuracies that translations always entail. There are generally vast differences in wording—depending on the version of translation—and in the categorization of the seventeen verses of Exodus 20:1-17—depending on the specific religious tradition. Even the number of ten seems more a matter of memorization aid than theology.^[1] But see for yourself:

1. I am the LORD thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any manner of likeness, of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; thou shalt not bow down unto them, nor serve them; for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; and showing mercy unto the thousandth generation of them that love Me and keep My commandments. (20:1-5)
   The idea to direct the deep human need for worship towards the concept of God as the highest instance of existence. “Strange gods” refers to anything humans place on the pedestal of their highest aspirations that is not the ultimate source of everything that is; such can manifest as a person, belief, or material object. Examples are money, entertainment, satisfaction, or glory. All good things ultimately come from the one highest instance.
2. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain. (20:6)
   The idea that the concept of God should not be misused, for instance in an oath that one does not intend to keep.
3. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is a sabbath unto the LORD thy God, in it thou shalt not do any manner of work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested on the seventh day; wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. (20:7-10)
   The idea to reserve one regular day of absolute rest and worship of the beauty of creation after the work is done, both for oneself and for others, especially the ones we care and bear responsibility for.
4. Honour thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. (20:11)
   The idea to value and support the effort and demanding work of the upbringing of children, one’s creation through mother and father, to nurture strong family bonds of mutual support. One of the hardest lessons to learn is the realization that parents are human. This commandment anticipates the accompanying compassion and gratitude and extends to authority in general.
5. Thou shalt not murder. (20:12)
   The idea to value life in general and inflict no harm unless it is just. Many versions of the bible translate this verse with the term kill instead of murder. The Torah makes in fact sharp distinctions between the killing of an innocent versus killing as the due consequence of crime. Worthy of death were actions such as murder (Exod 21:12, Lev 24:17), incest (Lev 20:12), bearing false witness (perjury) in proceedings of a capital charge (Deut 19:8–21), adultery (Lev 20:10), idolatry (Exod 22:20), bestiality (Lev 20:15), child sacrifice to pagan gods (Lev 20:2), cursing a parent (Lev 20:9), fortune-telling (Lev 20:27), homosexuality (Lev 20:13) or intrusion in one’s home at night (Exod 22:2–3). Also, the killing of civilians in warfare was just within certain limitations (Deut 20:10–18).
6. Thou shalt not commit adultery. (20:12)
   The idea to protect sexuality for its natural main function by abstaining from any sexual activity that does not occur within the limitations of both purpose of procreation and consent between a man and a woman, but is merely intended to satisfy bodily desires. This commandment extends to other unhealthy sexual behaviors such as the consumption of pornography, masturbation, prostitution, or indulgence in fantasy.
7. Thou shalt not steal. (20:12)
   The idea to leave and give anyone what they are due, to not take anything that belongs to someone else without consent, and not to keep anything that was given to us without consent.
8. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. (20:12)
   The idea to protect the social status and health of others by abstaining from statements that are not accurate or whose accuracy is uncertain. This includes lying in general.
9. [...] thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife [...] (20:13)
   The idea to keep one’s mind pure, free, and therefore unburdened from material and bodily desires towards women who belong to another man. Detached part of verse 20:13 to create an emphasis on sensual or sexual desires as well as an extension to the sixth commandment. The original text names the wife as one of the goods, amongst others, which belong to a man that should not be coveted.
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house; [...] nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s. (20:13)
    The idea to keep one’s mind pure, free, and therefore unburdened from material and bodily desires towards things that belong to another man. This extends the seventh commandment about stealing to the mental and spiritual attitude.

These commandments are considered universal by many cultures beyond Judaism and Christianity for representing the basic principles of moral life because they’re discoverable by reason. Nearly all known cultures recognize these perceptions of murder, theft, and adultery or respect towards parents and authority as necessary for a successful society. When an individual violates these commandments, society as a whole suffers because it disrupts the hierarchical structure that ensures stability and efficiency in organization and control as well as key areas such as defense, reproduction, and basic supply through specialization and experience curve effects.

The first three commandments describe the relationship of humans to God, creation, and the divine, the latter six commandments describe the relationship of humans amongst each other. The fourth commandment takes on a hybrid stance, uniting elements of both divine and worldly affairs.

I agree that one should follow some guideline on how to subordinate human perception, logic, and activity to the next higher level of awareness that eludes our ability of comprehension—which most cultures embrace in shaping their individual concepts of God. The only question everyone must answer for themselves is whether one’s life can be of integrity without directing their worship to some divine instance that reaches beyond the material.

Regardless of how you answer this question and consequently whether the first three and a half commandments yield any significance for you, here’s my suggestion on how to concentrate the six and a half worldly commandments into one rule.

One Commandment

Regarding the commandments that regulate the relations among humans, every single one of them can be reduced to one essential principle:

Thou shalt not steal.

Stealing means the act of taking, keeping, or using another person’s property without consent and with the intent to deprive the rightful owner of it.^[2] From a spiritual perspective, since any manifestation of reality originates in the mind, this comprises

• coveting or desiring and
• claiming or demanding.

In terms of your own wellbeing as well as your spiritual journey there is no difference between the physical and the mental act of stealing, the doing and the coveting. Yes, it does indeed make a difference in the material world—if you take something from someone, inflict hardship on them, and are subsequently convicted and charged for it with a penalty by the secular legal system—but not for your mental health. Whether you actually steal or just indulge in the fantasy of stealing, you suffer from the impurities you have allowed to enter and defile your mind.

Who do you steal from? This depends on how you answered the question about divine and secular worship. If you believe that worship should be directed towards a divine entity, stealing means taking what belongs to God. If you believe it is proper to pick another secular object for your worship, stealing means taking what belongs to another person.

Matched to the taxonomy of the Ten Commandments, stealing means you shall not nonconsensually take, keep, use, claim, or covet any of the following if it does not belong to you:

4. authority
5. life/health
6. intimacy
7. anything (the general clause for stealing)
8. dignity and truth
9. partners
10. goods

Living up to this standard demands immediate action in the very moment the need for coveting, claiming, or taking arises: either to let go of the need or to determine the owner’s consent to meet the need. If the owner complies, your taking, claiming, or coveting becomes consensual. If the owner rejects, your taking, claiming, or coveting violates the One Commandment.

The higher levels of awareness, which are required to observe the minutiae of your own body to understand your needs and desires, can’t be reached merely through worship. This requires persistent and consistent mind-body practices. Check the following article if you want to learn more about understanding the language of your body.

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Now, what does belonging imply in this context?

The Meaning of Property

The part of the Ten Commandments that is to regulate the relation of humans amongst each other is in its essence all about property. Anything in this world belongs somewhere or to something or someone. Belonging entails the owner’s obligation to responsibility and care for the object of the ownership. This universal principle binds not just humans but animals, plants, and any animate and inanimate matter in this universe alike.

The fertile layer of soil that provides habitat to plants and animals belongs to the ground. An apple tree growing there belongs to the soil and the apple belongs to the apple tree, as long as it is attached to and nurtured by the tree; once it ripens and falls down the ownership changes—now the apple belongs to the soil.

Living beings also belong somewhere or to something or someone. A fish, for example, belongs to the sea until it becomes the property of the fisherman the moment he takes ownership. Few beings, depending on their level of consciousness, are able to choose their belonging. In many cultures, this is considered one of the ultimate traits of the masculine archetype, for it represents one of the ultimate expressions of consciousness. In Shaivism, for instance, one of the four major sects of Hinduism, this idea is represented by Shiva, the embodied primal self, pure consciousness, and absolute reality^[3]. Many men experience this aspect of the masculine archetype as a core desire and hustle towards freedom, to choose their own belonging.

For the purpose of managing property, man has created particularly complex rules. Under specific circumstances and in well-defined situations, which vary from culture to culture, humans assume their ability, and therefore grant each other the right, to choose their belonging. In other words, we mold each other’s behavioral choices through the application of reward and punishment—pretty much like God does. Disobedience is typically sanctioned with some form of material hardship or the infliction of fear or mental or physical pain. A child can’t choose to leave their parents and live somewhere else. If it does, the police or other instance of the state’s executive forces takes it into custody and brings it back. Likewise, a child can’t choose to stay with their parents if an official authorized agent decides otherwise. Once the child reaches a certain age, they may choose where and to whom to belong, for example through marriage or financial independence. Both fish and child cannot choose where or to whom they belong. As a child, you are someone else’s property. To learn more about human self-domestication, check out this article:

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When a woman picks an apple from the apple tree, it becomes her property. Except if the apple tree and the ground on which it grows belong to someone else, the woman’s husband. In this case, the apple is the husband’s property. The woman as well, from the moment she decided to belong to her husband, became his property. The couple has children, a son and a daughter, which both belong to the couple, are their property (or the mother’s or father’s property, depending on the respective secular legal system). The husband belongs to the entity from which he acquired the land and to which he is obligated to pay some sort of tribute such as a royalty or tax and to utilize and maintain the land within the limited purposes granted to him.

Anything belongs until its belonging changes, revolving in an endless cycle of belonging. The knowing dominion and control over a controlled substance that belongs to someone or something else is commonly called possession. In this sense, if we dissolve and look beyond the bipolar expedient anthropocentric rules of property and possession societies have created, we discover the natural chain of belonging that governs all existence and in which any obligations and rights of property are merely exercised on behalf of the next higher instance of ownership. If you believe in the concept of God, any obligation or right inherent to property is exercised on behalf of God, relegating everything that we humans understand by property to mere possession. The fallen apple, the caught fish, and the born child never change property but have always—ultimately, through seed, soil, ground, world, and universe—belonged to God.

The concept of property bears at its core the obligation to responsibility and care. Therefore, it necessitates a certain capacity for love, unconditional affection, towards the object of ownership. If it does not spring from a position of love this obligation inherent to property can only lead to suffering. The act of taking, keeping, using, and claiming or coveting what belongs to another in order to possess without consent cannot arise from a position of love—for love is unconditional. If you steal, you disqualify yourself for property from the outset. Hence, stealing brings about a change in possession, but not a change in property.

The same is true for relationships. If you suffer in a relationship it simply means you don’t hold unconditional affection for the other person to the extent this specific connection requires, whatever the cause may be. This holds true for any relationship, within the family, with a sexual partner, or between employer and employee. Without unconditional affection towards the other person in that relationship no amount of material compensation, such as inheritance or salary, can resolve your suffering beyond superficial alleviation. If you constantly dwell in anger, grief, shame, or guilt in any of your relationships—lower levels of consciousness—it is very difficult to rise up to the level of love where suffering resolves. You either need to work on your capacity for love and compassion or let go of the relationship.

There is no salvation to be found in mere material gain, but only in purposeful contribution, of which material gains are a side effect. Therefore, thou shalt not steal.

Obeying and Violating The One Commandment

The more consequently you follow the One Commandment and learn to let go of all unconsensual taking, claiming, and coveting, you will notice that whatever is supposed to be yours will automatically become yours. Your surroundings recognize your abilities and qualities and then provide you with resources and entrust you with valuables that complement these traits for you to create further value through the very combination of your skills with these resources—which ultimately serves the collective whole. These resources flowing towards you come not because you desire or want to possess them for the sole reason of possession. They come because your responsibility creates value.

Only if you live in content with the quantity and quality in which resources naturally flow towards you, do you live aligned with the One Commandment. Animate and inanimate matter—money, time, women, children, support, status, and other goods—naturally flow towards you in just the right amount to match your capacities. If you currently find your life void of any such resources, this is a mere reflection of your capacity for productive responsibility and consequently, the value you provide to society. It is to be accepted.

Seek to expand your capabilities and qualities as well as your capacity for love and compassion. There is no need for stealing. Especially as your means increase as a result of the expansion of your qualities. Stealing is nothing but misery that comes disguised as a tempting shortcut to liberation.

Here are a couple of examples, matched to the syntax of the Ten Commandments, to get a feeling for when the One Commandment is violated:

4. If you keep insisting on assuming a position of leadership of a group of people, such as your family, a community, or a state, without being called to do so by the community (because you lack the qualities of a leader and would therefore cause harm to the group), you claim what belongs to the other: their authority;
   if you attain that position by force, you take their authority;
   if you fantasize about the position, you covet their authority.
5. If you harbor feelings of hate against another person, you covet to take what belongs to the other: their life or health;
   if you threaten the other, you claim their life or health;
   if you cause physical harm, you take their life or health.
6. If you fantasize about the image of a woman from work, from the streets or from the internet who has not chosen to be your woman, you covet what belongs to the other: their intimacy;
   if you force the connection, you take their intimacy;
   if you deceive her into pornography or prostitution, you use their intimacy.
7. If you withhold information from your significant other that is of relevance to the relationship, you keep what belongs to the other: their truth;
   if you lie to them, you take their truth.
8. If you hold your coworker accountable for a mistake that you are responsible for, you take what belongs to the other: their dignity;
   if you seek a promotion based on your coworker’s performance, you use their dignity;
   if you harbor feelings of jealousy against your coworker, you covet their dignity.
9. If you seduce a woman who is married to another man into having an affair with you, you use what belongs to the other: their partner;
   if you seduce her into abandoning her husband for you, you take their partner;
   if you fantasize about being with her, you covet their partner.
10. If you accidentally damage the car of another person and you leave without notice you keep what belongs to the other: their goods in the form of compensation;
    if you deliberately damage the car, you take their goods;
    if you drive the car, you use their goods.

Whenever you disregard the One Commandment you choose suffering, first for the pain you create within yourself and second for the pain you carry into the world. Following the commandment thou shalt not steal requires facing not just your deepest needs but also your darkest shadows—an immense source of wisdom and growth. The further and more consistently you follow this commandment as a path through life it will be revealed to you that it does not enslave you, but set you free.

Liberating yourself from the burden of property that exceeds your capacity for unconditional affection as well as from worldly desires for possession and urges for satisfaction will lead you to love and peace. As you might have noticed, the key is consent. So the next time any such need arises, just ask.

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