Section 6
“You shall not be desirous of the possessions of another, nor greedy, nor a hypocrite, nor disposed to act in an evil manner, nor conceited. You shall not take evil counsel against your neighbour.”
Breaking this out, we are directed not to:
*Desirous of others possessions
*Be Greedy
*Be a Hypocrite
*Act in an Evil Manner
*Be Conceited
*Take Counsel against your neighbour.
Several instructions on this list have been touched upon in the Didache, but what I would suggest, with any instruction in the Didache that is repeated, is not to ignore the repetition but on the contrary, think of this guidance as culmative. That if a given point is made several times, it is not because the author is forgetting he has made that point, but that it is so critical to the reader, than the point needs to be visited and revisited to drive the point home to the individual.
The first instruction is against wanting what others have, this never ends well. The direction against greed is the greater problem. That our inability to be content with what we have, makes us seek out things we do not really need, in quantities we do not require, and almost assuredly end in others having to do without.
We revisit to subject of hypocrisy. Because hypocritical behaviour is deceit and falsehood the opposite of meekness.
Acting in an evil manner is anything that dishonors God and is a disservice to others or ourselves.
When we are conceited, we harbor feelings of pride. The delusion that we are better than others. All manner of evil seems justified to the person who views others as being beneath them in some way.
Lastly, taking counsel against your neighbor. This in our era, would be listening to others criticism or verbally attack or ridicule another person.
What to take away from this: I don’t need what I think I need. I should only convey one face to the world, my true face, who I really am at all times. I need to be more aware of my thoughts, feelings, words and actions in the world to make sure I always honor God, show compassion for others and not to hurt myself. I must find equal value for others and not allow my opinions and agendas drown out the concerns of others. I won’t listen to others tear down people. I would not like others to encourage such behaviour at my expense, so I have no right to indulge in such negative behaviour.
Practice: Take no interest in the material possessions of others. Be polite but not overly interested and do not borrow these items unless there is a real need. In any instance where you find yourself wanting the possessions of others, realize that all possessions carry a burden and that in you not having this, is not a loss but liberating for you. What you do not have, you do not have to give up (this can be very difficult).
Compare what you have to what you use. How disproportionate is this list? The choices you make today, will affect what happens tomorrow. Make sure that you do not succumb to materialism today, so you are stuck with more useless possessions tomorrow.
Commit to being one person to all people. Not one person to one and another person to another but the real person you are to everyone. Live honestly without deceit.
Be thoughtful about how your thoughts, words and deeds affect others, are they helpful? Or hurtful? Maximize those actions that bring about compassion in the lives of others, and minimize those actions that bring about distress in the lives of others. Difficulty may arise in the lives of others but resolve to not be the source of this sorrow.
Give credence to the thoughts and feelings of others, and less time blowing your own horn. Do not automatically assume that because you had an idea or wish, that this idea or wish supersedes the ideas or wishes of others.
Avoid conversations where the whole subject is about criticizing others. If there are serious issues regarding another person that must be discussed, make sure, for your part that you are being constructive not destructive and if the conduct of others is destructive, lead the conversation back to constructive dialogue or simply change the subject to something else.
Rabban Mar Andreos