evil person or just evil actions?
evil person or just evil actions?
I have to disagree with the statment that there is no such thing as an evil person just an evil deed. I believe once a person has developed evil behavioral patterns then I consider that person to be evil. Whether a being is born inherently evil or not, or good or not, or both good and evil is a different disucssion. But once a person has developed evil behavioral pattererns I believe that person is evil.
Re: evil person or just evil actions?
A mass murderer can still become an arahant -- so how can he be inherently evil?
Re: evil person or just evil actions?
But once a person has developed evil behavioral pattererns I believe that person is evil. Not inherently evil but evil.chris98e wrote:Whether a being is born inherently evil or not, or good or not, or both good and evil is a different disucssion.
Re: evil person or just evil actions?
Imo it's better to see the suffering of those people than the "evilness".
Nobody is completely happy while and after doing unwholesome actions.
As the Dalai Lama has often said,
there is one thing all beings have in common:
They prefer not-suffering to suffering.
Nobody is completely happy while and after doing unwholesome actions.
As the Dalai Lama has often said,
there is one thing all beings have in common:
They prefer not-suffering to suffering.
- Goofaholix
- Posts: 4017
- Joined: Sun Nov 15, 2009 3:49 am
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Re: evil person or just evil actions?
This is just an example of cause and affect, you observe behavioral pattererns and this gives rise to a judgement of the "person" exhibiting those behavioral pattererns.chris98e wrote:But once a person has developed evil behavioral pattererns I believe that person is evil. Not inherently evil but evil.
In terms of the teaching of not self what is "person"?
In terms of the teaching of the 5 aggregates what is "person"?
If the behavioral pattererns change at what point does "person" cease to be evil? at what point does your judgement change? do both happen at the same time?
Pronouns (no self / not self)
“Peace is within oneself to be found in the same place as agitation and suffering. It is not found in a forest or on a hilltop, nor is it given by a teacher. Where you experience suffering, you can also find freedom from suffering. Trying to run away from suffering is actually to run toward it.”
― Ajahn Chah
“Peace is within oneself to be found in the same place as agitation and suffering. It is not found in a forest or on a hilltop, nor is it given by a teacher. Where you experience suffering, you can also find freedom from suffering. Trying to run away from suffering is actually to run toward it.”
― Ajahn Chah
- SeekingDharma
- Posts: 35
- Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2011 5:48 pm
Re: evil person or just evil actions?
I suppose there is no better example than Angulimala (MN 86). He became enlightened and certainly wasn't evil past that point. Speaking in general, though, I think it is hard to turn the evil ship around. After enduring suffering, or just being inclined towards misdeed, most are unlikely to change without some sort of compelling influence.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html
Last edited by SeekingDharma on Wed Nov 23, 2011 9:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: evil person or just evil actions?
No its better to move out of that evil person's way while he is trying to inflict is evil actions on to everyone around him.David2 wrote:it's better to see the suffering of those people than the "evilness".
Re: evil person or just evil actions?
The statment of not self from the Buddha as the self is impermanent and connected to every other living being in existence. As for your many questions just ask one or make a statment.Goofaholix wrote:chris98e wrote:In terms of the teaching of not self what is "person"?
Re: evil person or just evil actions?
I see the assertion of not self from the Buddha as the self is impermanent and connected to every other living being [thus no (single soul)] in existence. As for your many questions just ask one or make a statment.
Re: evil person or just evil actions?
It's even better to try to prevent him from doing unwholesome actions, if possible.chris98e wrote:No its better to move out of that evil person's way while he is trying to inflict is evil actions on to everyone around him.David2 wrote:it's better to see the suffering of those people than the "evilness".
Re: evil person or just evil actions?
Yeah I'll just pull out my majic wand touch people with it and prevent them from doing evil actions.David2 wrote:It's even better to try to prevent him from doing unwholesome actions, if possible.
Re: evil person or just evil actions?
Well, the Buddha prevented many people from doing unwholesome actions.chris98e wrote:Yeah I'll just pull out my majic wand touch people with it and prevent them from doing evil actions.David2 wrote:It's even better to try to prevent him from doing unwholesome actions, if possible.
The farther you are on the path, the easier it gets to do this.
Re: evil person or just evil actions?
Unwholesome behaviors if being reinforced over and over again will become a very strong habit energy that is difficult to fix. Evilness could be a form of addiction, a horrible one. I'm sure there're moments when a serial killer or serial rapist must've felt quite guilty and ashamed of their actions, but their habit energy is so strong that they keep on repeating those terrible deeds. That's why the Four Right Exertions (cattārimāni sammappadhānāni) lists its 1st item as: "the non-arising [anuppādāya] of evil, unskillful qualities that have not yet arisen", because once something's become a habit, it'd be 10 times or 100 times harder to get rid off..
Re: evil person or just evil actions?
David2 wrote:Well, the Buddha prevented many people from doing unwholesome actions.
The farther you are on the path, the easier it gets to do this.
The Buddha was only able to directly help the people who asked for his help. But not directly to those who did not ask for his help.
Re: evil person or just evil actions?
He helped some people only with his noble presence, or his noble actions... just with being a good example for others.chris98e wrote: The Buddha was only able to directly help the people who asked for his help. But not directly to those who did not ask for his help.
You can't help anybody directly... help is always indirect.