Sins are selfish acts—things we do or say that place our interests above those of others. These are sins of commission: actions we knowingly take.
But there is another side to this: sins of omission. These are the things we refuse to do, even when duty calls, because they would require us to put others before ourselves.
Some sins of omission are simply the things we avoid because they inconvenience us. We recognize the duty, yet we neglect it.
This does not mean we should be at everyone’s beck and call. It means we must discern our duty—what we are truly obligated to do—and act accordingly. It is often harder to recognize sins of omission than sins of commission.
It is easy to see when we cross a line; it is harder to see when we fail to do what we should have done. One helpful question to ask is: What would Gotama do? What would Plotinus do? What would Socrates do? What would Yeshua do?