Why do things happen?

Bodhgaya

What makes people harm other people, other things, just because? People torturing animals before killing them brutally, or tearing someone down for whatever reason?

How do you help these creatures that have encountered people that do these things to them? And how do you help people that do the damage? Can you? :-/

MindGate

Q: What makes people harm other people, other things, just because? People torturing animals before killing them brutally, or tearing someone down for whatever reason?

A: Some would say attachment. Others would say mental disorders and/or attachment.

Q: How do you help these creatures that have encountered people that do these things to them?

A: Comfort them. Be there for them.

Q: And how do you help people that do the damage? Can you?

A: Some you can, others you can't. Typically rehabilitation and counseling for the ones without serious mental disorders.

Now-Is-reality

What makes people harm other people, other things, just because? People torturing animals before killing them brutally, or tearing someone down for whatever reason?

How do you help these creatures that have encountered people that do these things to them? And how do you help people that do the damage? Can you? :-/

There is a lot of wrong in the world. It sucks. Straight-up. And it is hard in the younger generations for kids to see all of the trouble in our proceeding elders and be alright with the problems. Who can answer these questions? I want to shout this question from the tallest mountain, but I don't think I would get an answer. Which sucks.

A lot of people suffer. Some feel a need to inflict their suffering onto others. It's sucky and a horrible reality. And then there is the reality that people just DO things because they CAN... they grow up looking at a world of hate and pain and they deliver as they see.

Do best by you and understand yourself, and reach out and give love to the world... help people as best you can to alleviate suffering. I don't know if world peace is possible, but every person that decides to help and make a change, is one more betterment for the cessation of suffering.


I would like to think that simply being nice to those people will change them, but I am not sure. Simply give them loving-kindness despite their horrible behavior. But not toward their behavior, but because they suffer. And you can do metta meditation for these people... this helps yourself out, to accept the bad and not to attach to the pain of it, but rather be constructive with it. Go out and help the homeless, or if you notice someone who may turn out like that, someone who hurts a lot, try talking to them and not just ignoring them perhaps as others do.

Best of Luck,
Sorry the world can suck...
But you can put as much good into as possible.
Kindly,
Ash

Roger

What I'd do? One of my coping strategies? I try to think of the perpetrators you describe as abused animals. You never know. They may have the "conscience" of animals. That's my first step. How to help them? I dunno. Though if I were Saddam Hussein's prison guard I would have been be decent to him. Kind of a simplistic answer but that's all I have at this hour. :-/

taiyaki

cause and effect.

Cloud

cause and effect.

Seconded! Everything is just this, cause and effect. Conditionality. Just as a river follows the land, the Dharma follows the path of cause and effect, working all phenomena from this into that, from that into this. We become as we are shaped, and learn as we are taught (including what is seen, heard, smelled, tasted and touched). Who really has their finger on the button?

patbb

ignorance (The Buddhist concept of ignorance)
Of what things are and how things work.
How their mind work, how their body work, what are and how their emotions work.
http://www.youtube.com/embed/iZwnXj0Ck1k

Jeffrey

They don't know what is the root of happiness and the root of suffering.

compassionate_warrior

There are a lot of people in the world who are severely traumatized, often from infancy or childhood, and act out on the basis of that. They need healing. There's a massive need in this world for healing. Simply being nice to them won't change them because the issue is much deeper than that. What is needed is to change society so that child abuse doesn't happen, provide services for people who need them, restructure the priorities (not to mention the economy) of society, if not the world. Good luck.

Dakini

how do you help people that do the damage? Can you? :-/

I would like to think that simply being nice to those people will change them, but I am not sure. Simply give them loving-kindness despite their horrible behavior.Ash

Some people we can't help. Part of skilfull means is recognizing who is "helpable" and who isn't. If someone is emotionally disturbed or mentally ill, the most heartfelt attempts to help them can backfire (speaking from experience and observation, here). Difficult as it may be, sometimes one has to just walk away. Even trying to refer someone to a qualified professional may backfire; in such a person's distorted thinking, the person trying to be kind by reaching out can be perceived as something threatening. Even with more run-of-the-mill bullies, one could find oneself over one's head pretty quickly. Or not; sometimes speaking out against bullying can turn the tide. Learning how to discern and evaluate a situation or person is essential.

Now-Is-reality

how do you help people that do the damage? Can you? :-/

I would like to think that simply being nice to those people will change them, but I am not sure. Simply give them loving-kindness despite their horrible behavior.Ash

Some people we can't help. Part of skilfull means is recognizing who is "helpable" and who isn't. If someone is emotionally disturbed or mentally ill, the most heartfelt attempts to help them can backfire (speaking from experience and observation, here). Difficult as it may be, sometimes one has to just walk away. Even trying to refer someone to a qualified professional may backfire; in such a person's distorted thinking, the person trying to be kind by reaching out can be perceived as something threatening. Even with more run-of-the-mill bullies, one could find oneself over one's head pretty quickly. Or not; sometimes speaking out against bullying can turn the tide. Learning how to discern and evaluate a situation or person is essential.

Well, I said I would like to think. However I am aware that you cannot literally "save" everyone. Simply not interfering can be best in a lot of situations, but that doesn't mean be mean to them? I mean like say some guy comes up to you and is being rude, lets say a "bully" then, im just saying be kind to them regardless. You can't save the world, but you don't need to make it worse. That isn't to say in appropriate situations you should not stand up for what is right. I am not saying disregard what said bully has done to others, but rather don't elevate it by saying something like "God you're such a dick to people" or something of that sort won't help or change what is going on. I would rather say "that wasn't necessary" or something of the sort if the guy won't turn around and get mad. It's also easier being a girl in my case, I don't have to worry about getting socked, albeit. ;)However, there are a lot of situations where taking the risk to step forward and be nice to people like that can in the end do a lot of good.

Anyhow your ideas were good, I will be more conscientious of the situations of people.

Dakini

You're right, Now. It would be wrong speech to say anything to escalate the situation, anyway. Being respectful can work to set an example for such people. Thanks for the clarification of your thoughts.