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Selfish Desire is Evil
JaySon
Florida Veteran
in Philosophy
Ten kids killed and harvested for their body parts because witch doctors believe it will bring them good fortune.
An extreme example of clinging to self-interest.
How many horrible acts have beings committed out of greed?
The antidote to clinging to self-cherishing/selfish desire/self-interest is cultivating loving kindness, compassion, and Bodhichitta.
Furthermore, self cherishing is based on a lie, on deception. There is no self or other ultimately.
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Comments
I won't go to the click bait news. Yes. Appalling.
I would suggest that comes under what Buddhists call ignorance as well as the self interest you mention.
Let us like at some of the ignorance we can do something about:
... oh ... wait maybe the rich and bwankers are the ultimate self cherishers?
I too wonder if the source of that kind of harmful behavior has more to do with ignorance than selfishness.
Without the deluded belief that the body parts are magic both from the human beings collecting and selling them and from those who buy and use them, the selfish desire to make money or heal and protect oneself from harm wouldn't manifest itself in such horrific ways.
...and so is Fox News
Religion is easy to blame because a lot has been done in the name of God. But increasingly, people are evil sacks of shit cause they like it. Don't forget Buddhism has it's share - look at the Rohingyas....
@Shoshin
I believe it is spelled 'Faux News'
meanwhile ... https://www.positive.news
I think there is still a lot of goodness in the world. Sometimes the biggest problem isnt evil but everyday people can become apathetic. Take global warming. Lots of us will bury our heads in the sand until its too late. Inertia can be as destructive as evil.
I disagree with your " increasingly people are evil sacks of shit cause they like it".
I dont believe thats necessarily true and the use of that choice of words isnt helpful.
Of course we can agree to disagree . Im not living in a false reality but I don't agree with you.
I believe there is lots of hope. Pure evil or evil of course exists but there is far more goodness out there.
Yes, you're right. I was using religion as a shorthand for magical or ideological thinking where one becomes so convinced that one's belief system is correct that it allows for what is known as moral disengagement, basically giving people the ability through constructed beliefs to ignore basic moral standards.
I think I would say that rather than people becoming increasingly evil. We as a society are becoming more moral such that less offensive things to someone of a generation or two ago seem now to us more grossly offensive. And we can continue to become more moral over time if we continue to question and try.
...And things which were once upon the norm, or turned a blind eye to, are an abomination and an outrage, today. Pendulum swing like a pendulum do... but the swings get shorter....
I don't think we should continue to become more moral. Morality implies standards and evaluating them, and after evaluation of standards, judgement. No, the Qualities we need to cultivate, are the 4 sublime Qualities of Loving Kindness, Compassion Empathetic joy and Equanimity.
We may not be able to influence major corporations, CEO's and their environmental, financial and influential clout, but we can do things within our own community to 'pass it on'.
Think Global, Act Local.
"Whoops, there goes another rubber tree plant!"
I knew we had plan!
Imposed morality and ethics is often the basis of religious hypocrisy and strangely enough self criticism and failure. Leading to hurtful dukkha. When that happens with religious complicity, terrible consequences can ensue.
Far more helpful to resonate/cultivate/focus on/reveal our Better Being of the four sublime qualities. Aka Buddha Nurture.
I'll join.
https://www.positive.news
I would rather say that a lot of atrocities are committed by people who have become desensitised by being in some form of armed forces. But overall there are also some worrying trends, such as what US spokesperson John Bolton said when the International Criminal Court in The Hague was looking at prosecuting a group of American soldiers accused of torture in Afghanistan.
Tribalism has a lot to answer for...
I disagree with your disagreement.
You don’t have to.
So do you have special permission to use bad language on a buddhist forum or are you just the only one who does? I'm new to buddhism but not far off 70 years old. You seem to have taken my repectful disagreement quite poorly and bluntly.
I'm sorry you see the world as increasingly being populated by "evil sacks of shit" who enjoy it. That mustn't make for happy living for you.
"Sabbe dhamma nalam abhinivesaya" (Nothing whatsoever should be clung to) I guess this is because of the relative nature of living in Samsara...its somewhat unsatisfactory nature....
As a Mod...
...I'd honestly prefer people didn't - Right Speech and all that - but we're laypeople, human after all, and sometimes people make an emphasis. I have to admit i've even done the same on the odd and very rare occasion...
No-one has permission, as such. But every now and then, people vent, let off steam or just occasionally, lose it a little.
By and large, we're all usually very well behaved here...
You seem to like to take offence to my posts Colin. Maybe you should examine why that is so. I just disagreed with you, that’s all and you’ve launched an attack. You don’t like my language? Fair enough but you have really overreacted. After all, it’s not like I swear in all of them. Relax.
????
@Kundo? C'mon honey. you know you're sometimes apt to have a short fuse. @ColinA is a new member. Try to be a little more welcoming and a little less... 'bristly'. Play nice.
Ok?
Sure, but it goes both ways ????
I blame @federica
She does not let me swear (too much)
I am not allowed to keep internet trolls (as pets)
In fact I am so well house trained, I send myself to the naughty corner ...
... and now back to dharma decorum aka speech rite ... ??
I think this was the first post of yours that I've responded to and I certainly don't take "offence at your posts". I am not here long and I'm certainly not here to argue with anybody. By responding to your post I hadn't felt I had "launched an attack" on you at all. I am sorry if thats the way it came across to you. I thought I had chosen my reply carefully but I will be even more mindful of my responses going forward. Best wishes everybody and take care
Colin.
It sure does @kundo. Its lovely to meet you. ??
Indeed.
Someone has to do it!
Om elette
... eh ... that is no egg mantra ... [lobster tries again]
OM MANI PADME HUM m m m ...
https://www.ommanipadmehum.com