Venerable Dr. Yifa - Evil & Suffering, Morality & Ethics

[@100woodywu]

Buddhism of great moral codes and philosophy, and it isn’t necessary to believe in reincarnation or things of that nature to appreciate the wonderful wisdom it has to offer.

[@ronhudson3730]

There can be no there good or evil without intention. If you intend to help, you are good as is the action. The same for evil. Intention is key. When you walk on the grass you must kill many small organisms. Is that evil? No. It is an unintended byproduct of your movement. If a random act causes a positive result several steps removed from that act, is that good? No, it is an unintended byproduct of a that act. If you intend a positive effect in a defined way - good. A negative act - bad. God or the universe, if you prefer, enters into it because it gives us free-will to do good or evil, unintended or unintended. it gives us agency. We have a choice which person to be - good or evil.

[@UAND154]

The simplest ideas make sense of truth of the one time precious life. Thanks❤ to both of you and being grateful to your conversation 😊😊😊

[@jacoblogan]

She says buddhism doesn't have original sin; but though it's not explicit, samsara implicitly implies original sin. Because you're born with craving inside of samsara and must escape as your goal- that's not different from the framework of original sin

[@longcastle4863]

I don’t believe there is any major religion that doesn’t somehow paint human beings as fallen creatures, who must live in hopes of an afterlife. A very unhealthy outlook for a species to adopt, imo.

[@David.C.Velasquez]

Even those that chance to peer beyond the veil of maya, come to discover that another veil awaits... ad infinitum. Can there truly be a place outside the ouroboros of samsara... other than true nonexistence?

[@chadthecurator1974]

That’s a good thought but I disagree with the assertion that this is similar to original sin. A reincarnated person is in that position from their own karmic path, linking to their own will. Moreover, Karma is seen as a law of nature, requiring no judgement to work. Original sin, however, incarnates a new soul with divine will and creates that person in the condition of original sin.

[@David.C.Velasquez]

@@chadthecurator1974 That is a very compelling counterpoint to op's assertion, and I must agree.

[@nohandler1493]

The problem here is the world itself is evil therefore you have to be monk then the world does not survive

[@HughChing]

Nature creates evil as a survival mechanism for the weak to compete against the strong in the game of survival. A strong person should practice good, and a weak person should practice evil. The equation of evil is: Evil = Achievement - Ability or Evil = Achievement - Goodness - Ability. Spinoza believed that evil is the lack of knowledge; post-science has a similar view, but identifies evil as a mechanism of survival. Morality Evil Index (Items 1 to 8 are mostly rational or complete, and Items 9 to 16 are mostly irrational) 1A. Allowing complete fuzzy logic (self-creation of the living system, Creators, God, Sainthood) 2B. Allowing complete fuzzy mathematics (predictive social science) 3C. Allowing complete fuzzy evidence (complete automation, both software and hardware, robotics) 4D. Allowing complete fuzzy beliefs (Religion of Knowledge toward DNA Intelligence) 5E. Allowing complete exact logic (post-science solution of completely automated software) 6F. Allowing complete exact mathematics (post-science solution of value, infinite spreadsheet) 7G. Allowing complete exact evidence (science, defenders of the establishment) 8H. Allowing complete exact beliefs (traditional religions, Divine Laws train and hamper science.) 9I. Allowing incomplete fuzzy logic (computer science with partial automation, legal system) 10J. Allowing incomplete fuzzy mathematics (information science, business analyses, spreadsheet) 11K. Allowing incomplete fuzzy evidence (engineering, application of science, Money-Oriented) 12L. Allowing incomplete fuzzy beliefs (non-traditional incomplete religions, scientology, terrorism) 13M. Allowing incomplete exact logic (dominated by simple problems with incomplete solutions) 14N. Allowing incomplete exact mathematics (dominated by game playing divorced from reality) 15O. Allowing incomplete exact evidence (false sense of reason with partial reasoning creating the most painful periods in human history, the Age of Reason, evidenced by the French Revolution and the Chinese Cultural Revolution, humans being the worst of the beasts) 16P. Allowing incomplete exact beliefs (Equation of Evil: Achievement = Ability + Evil, the most powerful of evil being self-brainwashing to counter brainwashing, superstitions) 道德邪惡指數（第1A至8H項大多是理性或完整的，第9I至16P項大多是非理性或不完整的） 1A。 允許完全的模糊邏輯（生命系統的自我創造、創造者、上帝、聖人） 2B。 允許完整的模糊數學（預測社會科學） 3C。 允許完整的模糊證據（完全自動化，軟體和硬件，機器人） 4D。 允許完全模糊的信念（DNA智能的知識宗教） 5E。 允許完整精確的邏輯（完全自動化軟體的後科學解決方案） 6F. 允許完整的精確數學（後科學價值解決方案，無限電子表格） 7G。 允許完整且準確的證據（科學、建制派的捍衛者） 8H。 允許完全精確的信仰（傳統宗教、神聖法則訓練和阻礙科學。） 9I. 允許不完整的模糊邏輯（具有部分自動化的電腦科學、法律系統） 10J。 允許不完整的模糊數學（資訊科學、商業分析、電子表格） 11K。 允許不完整的模糊證據（工程、科學應用、金錢導向） 12L。 允許不完整的模糊信仰（非傳統的不完整宗教、科學論、恐怖主義） 13M。 允許不完整的精確邏輯（主要是解決方案不完整的簡單問題） 14N。 允許不完整的精確數學（以脫離現實的遊戲為主） 15O。 允許不完整的確切證據（錯誤的理性感和片面的推理創造了人類歷史上最痛苦的時期，理性時代，法國大革命和中國文化大革命就是證明，人類是野獸中最壞的） 16P。 允許不完整的確切信念（邪惡的方程式：成就=能力+邪惡，最強大的邪惡是自我洗腦以對抗洗腦，迷信）

[@oskarngo9138]

“Scarcity” explains Evil; Morality; and everything... Scarcity is a much better explanation model than Religions... Scarcity explains: God, Evolution; Economics; GeoConflicts; Global pollution; BLM....Everything...!

[@David.C.Velasquez]

I'd always hoped to see humans transition to a post-scarcity society in my lifetime, but have come to accept the reality that I won't :(

[@domini1331]

Whose sin is responsible for the sufferings by the animals?

[@A.--.]

If Bhudism believes society is responsible for evil then what do they say about violence used to bring about a just system that prevents evil environment?

[@jeremymanson1781]

That one question begs a whole lot of other questions. So where to start?

[@johnbowen4442]

People are responsible to not allow people in leadership positions those who are narcissists , pyschopaths by knowing their traits like Hitler , Stalin , Moa who caused massive suffering in their dictatorships . Democracy was created to overcome violence that was the norm before where people solved their differences with war .? It requires though people taking responsibility for their countries by being aware educating themselves on issues instead of just following the narcissist people who promise that they will fix everything just give them the power that they crave .

[@oskarngo9138]

A just system can Never become reality..! Just for Whom? There will always be a looser... you are just not Zooming-Out far enough....!

[@koala83r72]

Hitler, Pol Pot, Stalin the list goes on and on believed they brought atrocities and violence to bring about a just system to prevent what they believed to be an evil environment. I think that was the point that it is just not *insert name of evil dictator* it's the accompanying associated society/environment and other factors that gives evil power.

[@A.--.]

@@whatistheevidence370 all violence starts with the "purest motivation" and principal of "use least violence necessary" which is in line with your principal. Unfortunately no where in history did Bhuda or Bhudists ever demonstrate how this is to be achieved. We see bhudist monks exhibit disproportionate violence against others in Asia. I can give specific events of your interested. We have seen Bhudist monks try to work con-artistry on the streets of London and NY tp get momey. Showe where this principal was demonstrated and i will show you where it was violated. Secondly you said after this necessary violence the Bhudist should repent. Who should he/she repent to? Finally what is the evidence that the Lotus Sutras were taught by Bhuda? Were they written in the First Council Meeting, 2nd or later? Also, thank you brother for a detailed response i really appreciate your willingness to dialogue to reach Closer To Truth.

[@blijebij]

Buddhism has a lot of beauty. further my writing here is just a spontenous reaction about the video, so please its not in any way a complete view. In the process of evolution, such as in humans where consciousness and instinct are intertwined, suffering inevitably emerges. Suffering is an integral aspect of the evolutionary concept. It manifests in various forms: physical, mental, psychological, and empathetic. Integrating every impulse can lead to internal expansion and awakening, provided one can accept these experiences from a place of surrender. This, admittedly, is easier said than done. Suffering always presents a confrontation for us. It can teach us valuable lessons or, as mentioned earlier, it can paralyze us. Ideally, everyone would have loved ones to help share and alleviate their burdens. I believe suffering has many facets and is also a crucial part of spiritual awakening and purification. It's about learning to accept and surrender. Suffering is likely a necessary experience, but it can also be debilitating. Thus, suffering takes on many forms, each unique to the individual, and can be either constructive or destructive. I don't view what we value from culture as fundamentally evil or good, but rather as a manifestation of a constructive or destructive mindset within oneself or towards others. Consider egoism: a small amount can be healthy, but when it becomes unbalanced and dominant, it turns toxic. Therefore, instead of categorizing actions as good or evil, I prefer to see them in terms of their outcomes, their end results. We are all on our unique paths, bearing individual responsibilities and leaving our own marks through our actions. Karma, as it relates to the Eastern Indian and Tibetan concept of reincarnation, is a topic I won't delve into right here and now. From the Eastern perspective, it is an intriguing concept, while from the Western viewpoint, there is no solid proof for it. Note: Personally, I don't adhere strictly to the Eastern path in terms of belief and faith. Even with Buddhism or Hinduism, though I share some fundamental aspects with both, within my own unique way how I perceive and experience myself and the world.

[@blijebij]

@@halcyon2864 That is an interesting remark. I will honestly ponder this, however remember i ask the same from you (an open mind), that means this, often Truth has a black&white signature when its passed on from people to people. Keep the door open that it is maybe possible in reality this is an over simplification as my introduction also can be. What does that mean, it means its possible that physical pain and mental suffering are in the brain not 100% isolated but to some degree entangled, interwined. In that case the real Truth is an overlap. I will look that up at neurological science about the brain. Lets see what comes out of this exploration, but absolutely an interesting remark. Ill come back to this tomorrow, thanks for your reply!

[@blijebij]

@@halcyon2864 Will do thanks!

[@blijebij]

@@halcyon2864 I have read a summary of the two arrows and also looked into brain research. In physical pain, three parts of the brain were active, and in mental suffering as well, sharing one of the three brain regions for both states! Therefor, I think your statement, the Buddhist assertion is quite reasonable for the most part, but that in both there is also something of the other, this can be seen as the symbolism of yin and yang, in yin there is always an element of yang, and in yang there is always an element of yin. So, there is an overlap of 1/3 in the brain. It shows its not an absolute truth, but mostly true. Thus, in physical pain, there is a bit of overlap with mental suffering, and in mental suffering, there is a bit of overlap with physical pain, which is quite logical. Having said that, thanks for complementing my knowledge on these matters ^__^ I agree the difference is specific and matters.

[@blijebij]

@@halcyon2864 I have a high apreciation for Buddhism for several reasons, there is really deep introspective psychology in it as well as compassion, besides more elements that matter. I found your remark very interesting and from curiousity, I had to read your Buddhistic recommendations as well as checking brain regions. In general I try to be holistic about things. Everything has relations with everything. But thank you again ;)

[@ingenuity296]

Buddhism makes more sense than other religions.

[@longcastle4863]

All major religions are basically the same, including Buddhism. Which is basically, there’s something wrong with you, but be good in this particular way and you’ll get to go to whatever the particular religion’s version of heaven is.

[@dadsonworldwide3238]

Its not a religion, it doesn't take a monastic vows to anything it subjugates itself by nature itself. It takes the chaldean model or platos cave of tied up mystified shadows on the wall, unties itself and may be self aware of the cave and the escape into the real world but it doesn't take it ,it just submits and does nothing. It doesn't even do like the physicalist who measure the shadows or caves. Stays in jail , atleast those materialist are unaware or dumb of the fact they are trapped in such a dualistic chaldean Babylonian cave.

[@Cuckold_Cockles]

Why? Because they wear their philosophies on their sleeve? Or because they seem most down to earth. The Buddhist Monks are great posterboys for the religion but Buddhist family households are generally no different than a Christian household, seemingly even more strict than the latter. Almost more replicative of a Catholic household

[@dadsonworldwide3238]

@@Cuckold_Cockles I love them all its not a derogatory statement it was a more precise etymological definition of what a religion is without urban slang or revisionist corruption. And the source of the philosophy still shares strong comparisons in the hermetics tradition of the more ancient summarian or chaldean dualistic, God is nature ,governed by extreme physical lawisms prescriptions structuralism. The Babylonian evolutionary primordial soup mythology thats influenced us all today in our theory of everything. It is also one traditional view in one half of Judaism and Christianity. I was pointing out the other half is mire I Egyptian, mosaic, 1st temple kadokite Judaism, athens Greece, reformed European Christianity and modern day classical American faiths. A triality of soul ,spirit and flesh. Subjective ,objective, idealogical.. More platonic tripartite of nature

[@dadsonworldwide3238]

@@Cuckold_Cockles My point is best expressed by the biography of classical American founders and even issac newton himself since his & other classical equation of how human dashboard is evidence of the knowledge of good and evil. Cause and effect. Etc. 1900s usa structuralism becomes anthetical to that adopts the dualistic chaldean model similar to any and all other dualistic philosophy

[@0-by-1_Publishing_LLC]

"Existence* is a diametrically opposed at its core with the initial conflict between "Existence and Nonexistence" getting the ball rolling. The framework of "Existence" requires that the *highest* and *lowest* possible extremes of whatever emerges must be explored. If the highest levels of joy and happiness are to exist, then the opposite must exist as well. ... This is because "Existence" is an all-or-nothing proposition.

[@NewComments]

Says who

[@0-by-1_Publishing_LLC]

@@NewComments *"Says who"* ... Says "Existence." That's just the way it is, my friend.

[@NewComments]

@@0-by-1_Publishing_LLC That’s just the way it is for apes on a desolate part of the universe. Our form of existence and experience is just that… ours.

[@PabloVestory]

Comparing to the number of interviews and episodes with strong presence of the monoteistic religions, it would be really nice a little more of buddhist views

[@S3RAVA3LM]

Buddha offers a boat ride across the river of samsara to the other shore that is liberation - after reaching this shore, the boat may be let go of; what you decide to do and where to go now is up to you. The Nikayas utilize the method of retroduction often and via negativa. Often, if Buddha denies something, he isn't actually denying it, but rather the false conception of it in the mind. The mind plays many tricks on the person. People apply false notions to things and believe that such things are the very way their mind conceieve it.

[@David.C.Velasquez]

Even those that chance to peer beyond the veil of maya, come to discover that another veil awaits... ad infinitum. Can there truly be a place outside the ouroboros of samsara?

[@teachedteach]

There are great minds in the West that can explain Buddhism brilliantly. Unfortunately Yifa struggles with English in such a way that it all gets somewhat confusing and cumbersome. Robert Lawrence should choose a well trained western Buddhist next time.

[@A.--.]

Buddhism has no Primary Sources from Bhuda himself. They believe whatever they think and their knowledge is limited.

[@dongshengdi773]

Why would I want to break the cycle of life and death to get rid of suffering? You are assuming that I'm suffering. In fact , I enjoy my life so much that I want to live forever to enjoy the food and the sex. I want to be reborn again and again. Quite the opposite of Buddhist teachings about nirvana

[@A.--.]

@@dongshengdi773 beacuse you need to think about others as well. You are enjoying a good life but it may be that the privileges you enjoy came at the expense of other people's loss. For example land stolen from endogenous people, oil/gold/diamonds stolen from poor people, hard work stolen from slaves and non-union employees. The life of Paradise and Hell makes the most sense beacuse ultimate accountability of every little action can only be done by our Creator God.

[@adammobile7149]

I like buddhism, but I don't think she is a good person to be interviewed. First of all, there is a language barier, and I'm also not sure if she understands Western perspective. There are hundreds of people who could present budddhist views much clearer, I think.

[@Resmith18SR]

Both Good and Evil are man made concepts relative to the human species. Nature or the Universe is completely amoral or non moral.

[@anteodedi8937]

Are you saying there is no objective morality? You guys go around claiming things like that, but you don't understand the absurdity of your claims or their consequences. The inanimate universe may be amoral, that is to say it stands in no relation to morality/it's not morally directed, but that doesn't mean there is no objective morality.

[@Resmith18SR]

@@anteodedi8937 I do believe that objective morality exists, but not in the sense that an objective fact that science discovers exists. An objective fact is a statement that corresponds to something that exists in reality. A moral truth has an irreducible subjective aspect because it's created by humans but it's objectivity is not something that exists independently in the world like an objective fact like the Law of Gravity. Human ethics and moral beliefs are objective because human nature exists and our laws and culture are real and evolving just as evolution has shaped our genetic structure.

[@anteodedi8937]

@@Resmith18SR If I am getting this right, you are saying that objective morality exists in the sense that humans are moral agents, and they follow morality and such? But that's not a claim about morality, that's a claim about human society and such. By objective morality, I mean there is a set of moral truths independently of what humans believe or think, aka moral facts. And I don't see the need to reduce them to the facts of natural sciences for them to be objective or to correspond to reality, but rather they supervene on them. That's what ethical non naturalism argues for, as an example. (P.S. Non-natural may be a bit of a confusing term here. In this context, it doesn't mean supernatural or how the word is usually used.)

[@Resmith18SR]

@@anteodedi8937 Ok, I understand and what specifically are these moral truths that exist independently of what humans believe or think? If humans never existed there would still be moral truths or moral facts? I agree more with E.O. Wilson and the concept of Evolutionary Ethics. Moral laws unlike physical laws can be broken or disobeyed and there's an element of subjectivity because humans don't agree on moral behavior and never will.

[@anteodedi8937]

@@Resmith18SR Yeah, that's true, there would still be moral truths even if humans never existed, pretty much like the laws of logic. The law of non contradiction is still true even if humans cease to exist. I agree, there is an epistemic level of subjectivity. Humans disagree because they are prone to error. Humans used to disagree whether the earth is a sphere or whether it is flat, but that doesn't mean there is no objective truth of the matter (ontologically speaking). Also, I think the level of disagreement is exaggerated. We agree on most things when it comes to morality, and we have made a lot of moral progress, and we agree on a more lot of things than we used to do before. But this moral progress is on itself evidence that there is a body of truths on which we are making progress. I would strongly recommend the work of Dr. Michael Huemer regarding morality. He tackles this issue much better than me and is a formidable defender of objective morality.

[@jamesruscheinski8602]

follow divine central authority unity to overcome evil, turn on the light?

[@longcastle4863]

So in Buddhism, we repeatedly have to return to this world (through reincarnation) as a human being in order to deal with bad Karma issues we have from previous lives we have lived. And that when we finally live an appropriate life with no Karma issues, then we will not have to experience being again as a human being. If I have understood this correctly, then doesn’t this automatically paint human beings, this life, this planet, this reality, this existence all in a negative light? Isn’t what is being suggested is that this is all punishment? Where is the impetus in all this, then, to love ourselves as a species and to work toward bettering ourselves as a species and ensuring as much as we can the longevity of our species and the health of our Planet? Perhaps I’m wrong, but Buddhism seems just another version of, be good and you get to go to heaven, otherwise, you have to come back here. Which is described as a kind of a hell, but let’s face it, nowhere near as horrific as the Christian hell. So maybe that’s a plus. But, I would ask, is Buddhism, overall, a positive for the health of the species and the planet or a negative?

[@johnbowen4442]

Positive or negative , true or false is black and white thinking which is duality the. cause of all the worlds problems as Buddha taught ?

[@catherinemoore9534]

I can't follow her 'reasoning'.. . If you want clarity and depth about the problem of suffering in Buddhism, a good start is reading Chögyam Trungpa. His work is very important and accessible to a western mind.

[@dongshengdi773]

PROBLEMS WITH BUDDHISM are: 1. STOIC (being calm and almost without any emotion.) No feelings, No emotion, prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. (Or if you prefer: wisdom, morality, courage, and moderation.) Stoicism holds that the key to a good, happy life is the cultivation of an excellent mental state, which the Stoics identified with virtue and being rational. The ideal life is one that is in harmony with Nature, of which we are all part, and an attitude of calm indifference towards external events. 2. LACK OF LOVE ~ teaches compassion only as the highest virtue. 3. PASSIVE ~ We are just part of this Karmic universe, Cause and Effect. We are the effect of some cause, ie, we were born because our parents made love . . . 4. SELFISH ~ Does not concern about other important things, (example, the origin of the universe, the nature of the self as a body with a soul or mind, And the nature of God or Creator or Prime Mover, or the nature of the spirit) is only concerned of the self reaching enlightenment, nirvana 5. ATHEISTIC ~ Doesn't concern himself about god, more accurately, AGNOSTIC . 6. NO SOUL 无我 , ANATTA , NON-SELF ~ The self is just a tiny little part of a bigger reality in the universe. 2019

[@Aquamayne100]

how are these problems?

[@jeffborelo8334]

Almost the perfect definition of the misinterpreted occidental view on Buddhism in the 19th century (just missing few points like nihilism etc). So once again like many others, your analysis is very far from the original sanskrit « teachings » and therefore uncorrect…

[@nohandler1493]

But it does not answer, why you have to suffer? why people have to suffer without any reason. You cannot just say its a buddhist understanding of reality thats how it works. Without evil you will not understand the good that one of the reason. evil is a contrast of good.

[@Maxwell-mv9rx]

Believes buddhism is healung pain though meditation. But what she are showing about heal pain is abstract rambling. It is buddhism proceendings think so not.

[@sujok-acupuncture9246]

By denying God , Buddha gave dignity to human being. A god sitting somewhere up above , keeping all the accounts of our deeds , peeping in to our personal life all the time, all the place is simply the most childish and stupid religions teaching.

[@Aquamayne100]

agreed

[@longcastle4863]

How does Buddhism dignify human beings when the goal of Buddhism is to live in a way so that you can stop having to become a human being?

[@sujok-acupuncture9246]

​@@longcastle4863 no... That's not Buddha teaching.

[@longcastle4863]

@@sujok-acupuncture9246 Your denying it doesn’t make it not so. Your decision to not say how Buddhism does not teach an escape from the cycle of life and death is more telling, though.

[@sujok-acupuncture9246]

​@@longcastle4863​ trying to escape from the cycle of life and death does not mean we stop becoming a human being. Infact the more we understand life in depth the more human we may become.

[@ChildofGod98765]

Amen, Jesus I praise you please take away my fears. Heavenly Father, I come to you asking for your blessings as a single mom. My husband passed years ago. I’m raising my children with strength and courage, despite the challenges I face with my sons both are special needs. Lord as I struggle to pay my rent every month and as I struggle to buy groceries for my children. I ask that you bless me with your wisdom and guidance, as I navigate parenthood on my own heal me Lord from lupus and heart disease and continue to give me strength to keep going so I may watch my sons grow into men.❤❤

[@සිංහයෝ-ස2ර]

Suffering how buddha elaborated here one women had her child died she ran crying to Buddha and asked to bring my kid back buddha told dear lady I will if u can bring be a handful of mustard seed from a house that no one died on that house 😂couple of trying she realised there is no

[@Straitjacket-Fits]

The cabalists of old long ago discovered the dual complexion of ideas. Light and darkness, sacred and profane, god and satan, all manifest themselves through the same phenomena.

[@grigorione7824]

sometimes , when ' the wind ' appears ... you are caught ' outside '

[@piehound]

Buddhism . . . YAY . . .

[@r2c3]

is it possible for a social group to thrive without a compass that effectively steers its members towards commonly accepted values 🤔

[@longcastle4863]

Social groups, human beings, Homo sapiens obviously thrived long before any of today’s major religions came on the scene. Isn’t it pretty obvious that when a group, a community, a society, a civilization needs “a compass” (moral ethics laws and rules), they are perfectly capable of making their own, to fit their particular times and circumstances?

[@r2c3]

​@@longcastle4863imo, ethical guidelines are necessary for anything larger than a primitive tribe... I don't exclude the possibility of being very wrong on this one, though... since, what points the compass in one direction for one, might not be the same for another 🤔

[@jazzythoughts-maat-ra]

🙏🏾💚🌱

[@reznet2]

Going to a Buddhist for answers about life is like going to a baker for a doctor's check up lol idk why you'd ask them about any of that

[@dongshengdi773]

All the Buddhists that I know pray to Gautama Buddha like he is a god. And they ask him for wealth specifically lots of money. Which is totally opposite of his teachings.