An open and inclusive investigation into Buddhism and spiritual cultivation
by Ervin » Wed Oct 17, 2012 10:51 pm
The truth as I see it is that the Infinite Good doesn't judge. However I do believe that there is good and evil.
What I mean is who is to say that evil is wrong to the infinite Good that you might believe somewhere somehow exists?
So who is the judge in deciding what's what according to your knowledge and or beliefs?
Thanks
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Ervin
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by equilibrium » Wed Oct 17, 2012 11:23 pm
Do you mean the truth doesn't judge?
What is "infinite good"?.....this is subjective....no?
Good and evil / good and bad.....yes, these are your "believe".....again subjective.....imagination.
knowledge and beliefs are nothing but information.....again subjective.
according to your knowledge and or beliefs?
You really don't want to do that.
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equilibrium
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by LonesomeYogurt » Thu Oct 18, 2012 1:26 am
Ambalatthika-rahulovada Sutta wrote:"Whenever you want to do a bodily action, you should reflect on it: 'This bodily action I want to do — would it lead to self-affliction, to the affliction of others, or to both? Would it be an unskillful bodily action, with painful consequences, painful results?' If, on reflection, you know that it would lead to self-affliction, to the affliction of others, or to both; it would be an unskillful bodily action with painful consequences, painful results, then any bodily action of that sort is absolutely unfit for you to do. But if on reflection you know that it would not cause affliction... it would be a skillful bodily action with pleasant consequences, pleasant results, then any bodily action of that sort is fit for you to do.
...
"Whenever you want to do a verbal action, you should reflect on it: 'This verbal action I want to do — would it lead to self-affliction, to the affliction of others, or to both? Would it be an unskillful verbal action, with painful consequences, painful results?' If, on reflection, you know that it would lead to self-affliction, to the affliction of others, or to both; it would be an unskillful verbal action with painful consequences, painful results, then any verbal action of that sort is absolutely unfit for you to do. But if on reflection you know that it would not cause affliction... it would be a skillful verbal action with pleasant consequences, pleasant results, then any verbal action of that sort is fit for you to do.
...
"Whenever you want to do a mental action, you should reflect on it: 'This mental action I want to do — would it lead to self-affliction, to the affliction of others, or to both? Would it be an unskillful mental action, with painful consequences, painful results?' If, on reflection, you know that it would lead to self-affliction, to the affliction of others, or to both; it would be an unskillful mental action with painful consequences, painful results, then any mental action of that sort is absolutely unfit for you to do. But if on reflection you know that it would not cause affliction... it would be a skillful mental action with pleasant consequences, pleasant results, then any mental action of that sort is fit for you to do."
Gain and loss, status and disgrace,
censure and praise, pleasure and pain:
these conditions among human beings are inconstant,
impermanent, subject to change.
Knowing this, the wise person, mindful,
ponders these changing conditions.
Desirable things don’t charm the mind,
undesirable ones bring no resistance.
His welcoming and rebelling are scattered,
gone to their end,
do not exist.
- Lokavipatti Sutta
Stuff I write about things.
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LonesomeYogurt
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by retrofuturist » Thu Oct 18, 2012 2:23 am
Greetings,
LonesomeYogurt's quote covers it nicely.
In short.... Affliction = wrong,
and non-affliction = right.
Metta,
Retro.

If you have asked me of the origination of unease, then I shall explain it to you in accordance with my understanding:
Whatever various forms of unease there are in the world, They originate founded in encumbering accumulation. (Pārāyanavagga)'We should not congratulate someone on the success of their misdeeds, but on the contrary should endeavour to advise him or her to lead a more skilful and wholesome life. If such advice is ignored then we can only give up and let go' - Phra PanyapatipoDharma Wheel (Mahayana / Vajrayana forum)
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retrofuturist
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by ground » Thu Oct 18, 2012 2:53 am
Wrong and right are relative, dependig on context and empirical. If X is desired and A is conducive to get X but B is hindering then A is right and B is wrong in this context of desiring X.

Ervin wrote:The truth as I see it is that the Infinite Good doesn't judge.
The truth may be that "Infinite Good" is just an idea but possibily cannot be found anywhere else but in mind as an idea.
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ground
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by Ervin » Mon Oct 22, 2012 11:04 am
What I am asking is if you believe there is infinite good wich would be infinitely gentle and fair wich I believe is the Source of everything that exists , wich is in your case according to your beliefs Budha. Now if Buddha is infinitely good wich wich means hem ( I imagine according to your beliefs Buddha wouldnt be him or her, so I say hem instead) would be infinitely good wich means infinitely gentle and fair, the how could hem say that there is such thing as wrong. I can imagine that there is good and evil, but to someone like what I believe is the Source or what you believe is Buddha can anything be wrong?
Thanks
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Ervin
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by daverupa » Mon Oct 22, 2012 11:13 am
Ervin wrote:What I am asking is if you believe there is infinite good wich would be infinitely gentle and fair wich I believe is the Source of everything that exists , wich is in your case according to your beliefs Budha.
But that's not quite accurate. This word 'infinite' carries a lot of weight for you, but it's going in non-Buddhist directions.
"There is, headman, dhammasamādhi. If you were to obtain cittasamādhi in that, you might abandon this state of perplexity. And what, headman, is dhammasamādhi?
[kammapatha & brahmavihara, & a method of arousing gladness]"
- SN 42.13 - Pāṭaliya"Others will misapprehend according to their individual views, hold on to them tenaciously and not easily discard them; we shall not misapprehend according to individual views nor hold on to them tenaciously, but shall discard them with ease — thus effacement can be done."
- MN 8 - Sallekha Sutta
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daverupa
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by James the Giant » Mon Oct 22, 2012 12:24 pm
Ervin wrote:What I am asking is if you believe there is infinite good wich would be infinitely gentle and fair wich I believe is the Source of everything that exists , wich is in your case according to your beliefs Budha.
Ervin, I don't mean to be discouraging, but I really
really think you need to go back to the start and have a read of some basic books which may help clarify to you what Buddhists believe.
Then,
saturated with joy,
you will put an end to suffering and stress.
SN 9.11
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James the Giant
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by dude » Mon Oct 22, 2012 2:43 pm
Ervin wrote:What I am asking is if you believe there is infinite good wich would be infinitely gentle and fair wich I believe is the Source of everything that exists , wich is in your case according to your beliefs Budha. Now if Buddha is infinitely good wich wich means hem ( I imagine according to your beliefs Buddha wouldnt be him or her, so I say hem instead) would be infinitely good wich means infinitely gentle and fair, the how could hem say that there is such thing as wrong. I can imagine that there is good and evil, but to someone like what I believe is the Source or what you believe is Buddha can anything be wrong?
Thanks
What I am asking is if you believe there is infinite good wich would be infinitely gentle and fair wich I believe is the Source of everything that exists , wich is in your case according to your beliefs Budha
The Source is the Law, to which a Buddha is awakened. A Buddha is a living being awakened to the Law, not separate or in essential nature different from living beings in the other realms, such as the hell, human and animal realms. The Law is manifest and inherent in all things, but only a Buddha perceives it clearly without illusion.
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dude
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by BubbaBuddhist » Mon Oct 22, 2012 5:31 pm
Philosophers and scientists have been forever asking "Why are things the way they are and not some other way?"
My son when he was five years old would have answered, "Because!"
It's as good an answer as any.
BB
♫♫ "I was eatin' some chop suey,
With a lady in St. Louie,
When there sudden comes a knockin' at the door.
And that knocker, he says, "Honey,
Roll this rocker out some money,
Or your daddy shoots a baddie to the floor." ♫♫ --The Venerable Mr. Miggle
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BubbaBuddhist
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by m0rl0ck » Tue Oct 23, 2012 3:19 am
its not about right and wrong, its about suffering.
We must respect the other fellow's religion, but only in the sense and to
the extent that we respect his theory that his wife is beautiful and his
children smart.
-- H.L. Mencken, "Minority Report"
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m0rl0ck
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by dude » Wed Oct 24, 2012 1:55 am
m0rl0ck wrote:its not about right and wrong, its about suffering.
Gassho. That is precisely correct.
"Good" is called good because it leads to reduction of suffering The greatest good leads to the end of all suffering.
Bad is bad because it leads to suffering.
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dude
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