Does Buddhism care about good and evil - and does that explain bugmen?

[wtfNeedSignUp]

At least from what I understand, a primary aspect of Buddhism is rejection of good/evil dichotomy and instead striving to go into enlightment by rejection desires, etc. This is in contrast to Western religions where good and evil is always the focus and you can only strive to become as pure as sin as possible for the betterment of you and your community.

Supposing that is correct doesn't that explain bugmen? If good and evil is less important than the self, then it's way easier to justify evil acts or pure lack of care at consequences of your actions.

 

[Agamemnon Busmalis]

I can't think of any way an evil act or mindless selfishness could be considered moral in Buddhism.

 

[Karen of Human Resources]

Not really.

I should say from the outset anything we say about Buddhist practice is going to be generalised. It spans everything from a materialist atheistic schools of thoughts drawing upon the Therevada and Zen to Vajrayana where there is a magic space man-turned-God watching your every move for literally everything and every flavor in-between.

Western religions tend to emphasise the individual. Me, my thoughts, my salvation, my sins. Eastern traditions go the other way and downplay the individual, indeed the nail that stands up must be hammered down.

Just look at the three refuges. Buddah, Dharma and most poignantly Sangha. The community. The individual pales next to the community, the village and the nation. All must work for the gain of the tribe.

Western religions dichotomy of good and evil is based on supernatural thinking. When you go back to the older Hellenic Law vs Chaos it makes more sense. I don't steal not because evil red man with horns did something, I don't steal because I don't want to inspire discord in my community.

If anything, as many problems as there are in the east I think that's more noble. I'm not stealing because of what some supernatural power wants from me, or will do to me if I do it; I'm doing it because I recognise shitting on my doorstep is a bad idea and will cause friction.

Even Enlightenment is never purely for the individual. Arhats and bodhisattva never fly off into the sunset to enjoy their gains, they remain in the community trying to lift it up a bit higher. How effective their efforts might be admittedly, are another matter entirely.

 

[Audit]

Within the realm of buddhism, I can only conclude that the minimization of India and maximization of not-India is an objective spiritual good for all reincarnated souls. I can't take too much fault with this notion.

 

[mindlessobserver]

Buddhism certainly has an opinion on Islam.


China's "bugman" problem is less Buddhism and more they are a soulless communist shithole.