Evil and the Ancients

2000-12-18 18:08:00

Melva writes:

"I don't believe evil masquerades as good. I believe that the evil serves a purpose of the Divine Will. I believe that on earth..suffering and pain are choices and eventually we can choose to not suffer. I do not believe pain or suffering are evil, they just are. I may not like everything that happens to me, but I do learn from it."

JJ:

Yes, both good and evil serve as part of divine purpose. However, pain comes as a result of choice. It is rarely what we choose. When's the last time you heard of someone scalding himself on purpose with hot water? Such pain was a result of bad choice -- not what the guy consciously chose. This should be self evident.

I would submit that pain and suffering is not something that "just is." If you make the right decision you often avoid pain and if it "just is" then it could not be avoided. On the other hand, the principle of good and evil "just is" for there is nothing we can do to make them go away from this reality.

Melva:

"Do Buddhists believe in evil? I am thinking I may be more Buddhist in my thinking."

JJ:

All the ancient scriptures from all faiths have been very consistent on the teaching of good and evil. Buddha's teachings were very much in harmony with the Bible on this subject. All of the writings of the "Ancient Wisdom" also teach the principle of good and evil. It is only recently that I have seen this idea of there being no evil surfacing.

Here are some quotes from the teachings of Buddha:

"15.  The sinner laments here, laments hereafter, and he laments in both worlds. Having seen himself sullied by his sinful deeds, the evildoer grieves and is afflicted.

"16.  The doer of wholesome deeds rejoices here and rejoices hereafter; thus he rejoices in both places. Having beheld his pure deeds he rejoices exceedingly.

"17.  He repents here, repents hereafter, the evildoer repents in both worlds. "Evil has been committed by me," thinking thus he repents. Having taken the path of evil he repents even more.

"18.  He rejoices here, he rejoices hereafter, the doer of wholesome deeds rejoices in both worlds. "Good has been committed by me," thinking thus he rejoices. Having taken the celestial path, he rejoices exceedingly."

  

"46.  Recognizing this corporeal body to be evanescent as foam, comprehending this worldly nature as a mirage, and having broken the flower-arrows of Cupid (Mara), the true aspirant will go beyond the realm of the Evil One.

"47.  The hedonist who seeks only the blossoms of sensual delights, who indulges only in such pleasures, him the Evil One carries off, as a flood carries off the inhabitants of a sleeping village.

"48.  The hedonist who seeks only the blossoms of sensual delights, whose mind is agitated, him the Evil One (Mara) brings under his sway even before his carnal desires are satiated."

  

"69.  So long as an evil deed does not mature (bring disastrous results), the fool thinks his deed to be sweet as honey. But, when his evil deed matures, he falls into untold misery.

"70.  Though a fool (practicing austerity) may eat his food from the tip of a blade of kusa grass for months and months, he is not worth one-sixteenth part of those who have realized the Good Law.

"71.  As fresh-drawn milk from the cow does not soon curdle, so an evil deed does not produce immediate fruits. It follows the wrongdoer like a smoldering spark that burns throughout and then suddenly blazes up."

  

"116.  Make haste in doing good and restrain the mind from evil; if one is slow in doing good, the mind finds delight in evil."

  

"121.  Do not think lightly of evil, saying, "It will not come to me." By the constant fall of waterdrops, a pitcher is filled; likewise the unwise person, accumulating evil little by little, becomes full of evil."

  

"123.  As a merchant who has limited escort, yet carries much wealth, avoids a perilous road, as a man who is desirous of living long avoids poison, so in the same way should the wise shun evil."

  

"163.  It is quite easy to perform evil deeds which are not beneficial to oneself. But it is extremely difficult to perform a deed which is righteous and beneficial.

"164.  If an evil-minded one, by reason of his false views, reviles the teaching of the Arhats, the Noble Ones, and the virtuous, verily he brings forth the fruit of his own destruction, even as does the katthaka reed."

(All the above quotations were taken from:  Theosophical University Press Online Edition, "DHAMMAPADA, Wisdom of the Buddha," Translated by Harischandra Kaviratna)

  

Melva:

"I have, in the past, believed in evil. I am not able to now. I don't know why this shift has occurred in me. I do not believe evil exists in me and therefore I have a hard time seeing it in others."

JJ:

I think you just have a different definition of evil than most and want to focus on the positive. This is good, but when we see evil as a form of error I think we must admit that we all make mistakes now and then, so good and evil in this context certainly does exist.