I don't know what's good and what's bad

http://hasunoha.jp/questions/11695
The content is similar to the continuation of the question above.

In my 30s, I began to have questions about “what is good and what is bad” about the above matters.

You can't do it yourself, but it's no good if someone else does it.
Things that were common sense at home are out outside.
I've seen this phenomenon many times until now.

Of course, I know that there is a distinction between things that cannot be done with a qualified person or position, such as “things you cannot do without a qualified person.”
However, there have been a number of times where I have felt the question or fear that bullying or unethical matters may be forgiven by some people.

Therefore, I have doubts about my existing values (marriage, employment, etc.), and I have kept my distance from the world as much as possible, and I'm thinking of strengthening them more and more from now on.

“Others aren't there to understand you”
is a word I enjoyed in response to the above question, but is it better to continue announcing “I don't know what is good and what is bad” even so?
Or is there another way to relieve this difficult feeling of living?
Please give us your opinion.

4 Zen Responses

Humans can only see things at their own convenience

Who is Shinran, the founder of the Jodo Shinshu

> “I don't know the two words of good and evil in general. Therefore, if you shiritsu to the extent that you think it is good for your heart, it is only good when you shiritaru; if you shiritaru to the point where you feel like it's nyorai's feet, it's true that shiritaru even if you shiritaru

It seems that they are saying that.
(Shoisho http://seiten.icho.gr.jp/html/640.html)

The modern translation is “I don't know what is good and what is bad. This is because if you can know everything about this entire world to the extent that you think that Nyorai (Amida Nyorai) is good, and if you can get to know the whole world so much that you think the Buddha is bad, you will understand what is good and what is bad, but in reality this is not the case. So I don't know what's good, what's bad, etc.”
I think it's like this.

For example, during the war, in Japan, it was considered good to hit enemy warships by loading bombs on zero battles.
In Japan today, there may be people who think this act is good, but there are also many people who think it is sad or something that should not happen.
There is also a way of thinking that the atomic bombing of Hiroshima City and Nagasaki City was good because it hastened the end of the war and reduced the number of deaths and injuries.
However, there are probably many people who are not convinced by this way of thinking.

At the end of the day, strictly speaking, humans only say what is convenient for them is good, and what is not convenient for them is bad.

There isn't a single person like Amida who can know everything about this entire world.

Shinran's words have that kind of background.

However, it's not “anything goes.”
Unnecessarily killing other lives, stealing things, injuring others, etc., “I don't know if it's good or bad, so it's okay to do it” is just nonsense.
That kind of thing should not simply be done.

Saying kind words to others, being considerate of others, etc. is simply good.

I want to make sure I don't forget that simple feeling.

Judging right and wrong is difficult

Right and wrong are different depending on each position.
Assuming that a person has been attacked by a tiger, it is good to help people if you look at it from the standpoint of a person, but if you look at it from the tiger's point of view, it's good not to help them.

Today's society has laws and rules made by people. I think protecting this is good for people living in today's society.

Also, the Buddha's teachings, and so-called morality in the Analects of Confucianism, such as not doing anything you don't like to be done to yourself, would also be good.

Also, good deeds are something that naturally makes you happy. On the other hand, bad behavior naturally creates a sense of guilt in your heart.

For example, why don't you think about it that way?

Instead of thinking about right and wrong with your head, only action

　Thank you for taking the time to think through my response the other day. The last thing people should do is stop thinking. It's just getting the job done without questioning anything.
One person I look up to is Hannah Arendt. She was born to a Jew and managed to survive in exile despite being persecuted by the Nazis. After the war, he became a journalist, and when he watched the trial of Eichmann, the remnant of the Nazis, it seems that he thought he was not guilty. The reason is that Eichmann simply followed the upper echelons of the Nazis. Then, when they received a protest from the same Jews, they said, “What is love for Israel? Don't you have love among your brethren?”
Arendt: “I've never loved one nation; should I love Jews? My friend is my love; that is my only love.”
When people stop thinking and do what they are told, they may do terrible things.
That's why it's important to review and reflect on your actions on a regular basis. Wouldn't good and evil come along at that time? It does not apply to everything, but values are not changed by society; people are changing them. I think human rights, law, morality, and religion will be involved in how much you think at that time and how you can make the right choices, so don't let others sweep you away.
Finally, I would like to close the curtain with Buddha's words.
“The Parable of Poison Arrow”
For example, let's say a person is shot with a poisoned arrow. Parents and friends will be very worried and go pick up the doctor. However, if those people insist that this arrow must not be removed or treated until these things have been clarified, what kind of bow was the bow that shot this arrow, what kind of bow was the bow string hemp thread or cotton thread, what kind of poison is the arrow made of, and what kind of poison is it? No doubt, he'll die before he knows those things.
Even if we answer questions such as whether the world is finite or infinite, whether the soul and body are the same or different, and whether humans still exist after death, it cannot be a solution to our painful lives. We must overcome this difficult life in our present lives. “Chuaghan Sutra Vol. 60: Metaphor Sutra”
First, rather than what is right and wrong, why don't you face someone in need?

“Secular Standards and Primitive (Buddhist Truth) Standards”

I'm waiting to borrow your wisdom

This is Kawaguchi Hidetoshi. This is my humble answer to the question.

“What is good and what is bad”... I really thought about this in my humble life.

Assuming that it is necessary to take a dualistic approach to one answer, I think it is necessary to understand the value judgment of right and wrong in terms of secular standards, so-called social norms of morality and law norms, and the other is a triumphal (Buddhist truth) standard, the standard shown by the Buddha and the other, the value judgment of good and evil in each precept or method for walking each Buddhist path.

Of course, it is also assumed that the world's standards of right and wrong are emphasized, and furthermore, if you are a devotee of Buddhism, you will be required to place importance on the standards of right and wrong explained by Nyorai in order to attain enlightenment, and work on practices such as adhering to each precepts and dealing with worries.

If you are interested in Buddhism from now on, and are able to proceed with learning and practice, I hope you can keep the above in the corner of your head for a moment.

Kawaguchi Hidetoshi Gassho

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