Is it possible both to live a life without regret and to be a moral person?

Question

Doesn't morality force you to deny yourself certain desirable outcomes?

Answer 1

No one can live life without regrets. It has nothing to do with morality. You could have let the love of your life slip through your fingers. You could have failed to go as far in your education as you had wished. You could have made bad financial choices. You could have eaten a bad diet and ended up with some health problems. You could have not said you loved a person often enough and never realized it until they died and it was too late. You don't have to be immoral to have regrets.

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Answer 2

No, it depends on what moral system you are using as your morality. It would also depend on what the "desirable outcomes" are as well. So if you desire to rape and murder, there are not many moral systems that would "allow" that.

Morality is not restricted to a single religion's moral system nor is it restricted to a single society's norms. Often as you study various moral systems you will find basic similarities but also variances in other parts. For example murder is almost universal but some systems may allow or encourage killing for honor or revenage.

Answer 3

If you understand that those things that you desire that are immoral are not in your soul's best interest, then denying yourself them will cause you to be happy, not to regret not choosing them. Your lower self may have momentary regrets but your higher self will not. It's not even a question of which self you are going to listen to at a certain point.

Answer 4

Morality cannot be ascertained by logic, nor even in every case by a study of the scripture. One must seek the guidance of experienced and wise saintly person to learn its subtleties.
If one understands what sin is, he should give it up with sincerity and regret and surrender unto the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This the highest morality.
God says in Bhagavad gita:
"Among all means of suppressing lawlessness I am punishment, and of those who seek victory I am morality. Of secret things I am silence, and of the wise I am the wisdom."

Answer 5

If you're truly moral than these desires you speak of wouldn't be thought of as regrets but as doing the right thing.

Answer 6

I don't think so. How can you learn from your mistakes if you don't feel regret or remorse? You would fall in to the same pits that led to the downfall in the first place.

Feeling regret will help you when the situation comes around again, giving you the opportunity to do things right this time.

Answer 7

If you live your life with minimal amounts of self restraint and discipline why would you have regrets? I can obtain any desirable outcome and still be a moral person. ( 'and it harm none do what thou will')

Answer 8

I believe it's possible to be a moral person, but I don't believe I've ever met anyone, moral or not who had no regrets @ all.


(((Murazor)))

Answer 9

If you are being 'moral' because it's the right thing to do, then yes, it's not hard at all.

if you sre being 'moral' out of fear of punishment, then it's much harder, because you are denying what you actually believe.

Answer 10

Actually, the people I meet with the most regret are those that led a permissible lifestyle.