Good Vs. Evil: the Eastern viewpoint.

I don't know much about eastern philosohpy on the idea of good and evil, and once I get a better grasp I wish to compare it to Christian views of good and evil (well, those of the common believer), so I have two questions for ya, fast and easy:

1.- Is there such a thing as "the devil" in eastern religion? How does an eastern "satan" compare to the traditional satan?

2.- The Yin-Yang: from the way I understand it, it's something related to the balance between good and evil, and in the ying-yang symbol features a white haf with a black dot in it, and a black other half with a white dot in it.

In contrast, from what I gather from Christian thought, God (representing good) is perfect, thus implying that his quality of being "good" is absolute.

The devil in this case is a rebel expelled from paradise, and is not purely evil since being purely evil would mean that the devil is somehow perfect as well, but it really doesn't hold true in that framework since only God may be perfect.

Does the Ying-yang suggest that good has some evil in it and viceversa?

3.- Is there such a thing as hell in eastern religion?

Disclaimer: the discussion in question 2 stems from various sources which I find somewhat hard to trace, and some other part of the discussion comes from my own interpretation of the material I've read, and sorry for the bad english...I stayed up late watching TV last night.

 

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Depends what eastern religion you are talking about. I have a book that lists over 30, some with gods, some not. Mostly, there are certain myths about hells, but it's not really an integral part of Buddhist philosophy, and certainly not Taoism.

Personally, I think the perspective is this: there is no absolute good or evil. Is something good? compared to what? good for who? Is something evil? again, compared to what? evil for whom? In Taoism, there is no fixed and codified morality, only the general cultivation of "virtue", from which all action springs spontaniously.

 

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Ah spider, ever so helpful...

So basically not all eastern religions have a personification of good and evil (God vs the devil per se) so, what is the ermmm...central belief of doctrines such as buddhism and taoism which makes them lack such personification?

Is the individual in ultimate control of himself? What does he/she do to pursue "good" and avoid "evil"?

 

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http://www.cyjack.com/Reflection/Alan Watts - Limits of Language.zip

(Alan Watts, the limits of language. zipped mp3 file)

 

So is the Dalai Llama a Bodhisattva?

 

I suppose, although he probably wouldn't admit it. I think there are people besides the dali lama who's understanding is superior. He is an admirable spokesman, though.

 

yes, the dali lama is the incarnation of the bodhisattva of compassion, chenrezig

 

your english is fine to me, and you ask really interesting questons

 

I got a message indicating the file was protected by a password, strange.

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The password for all zipped files is

www.cyjack.com

 

The article is about language, which is structured very differently from east to west. I think it is a reflection of a radically different point of view.

 

ah, thanks spider...I'll listen to it when I get back from class

hehe thanks duendy, I thought I was out of it when I made that initial post

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1. Kind of, Kali the hindu devi, is considered to be irreligion, and even time itself, but she like all things come from the supersoul, Narayana (the one and only formless God).

Krishna speaks on good and bad:
"One whose consciousness is bewildered by illusion perceives many differences in value and meaning among material objects. Thus one engages constantly on the platform of material good and evil and is bound by such conceptions. Absorbed in material duality, such a person contemplates the performance of compulsory duties, nonperformance of such duties and performance of forbidden activities" (11.7.8)

"That which is expressed by material words or meditated upon by the material mind is not ultimate truth. What, therefore, is actually good or bad within this insubstantial world of duality, and how can the extent of such good and bad be measured?" (11.28.4)

"There is no need for a more elaborate description of these good and bad qualities, since to constantly see good and bad is itself a bad quality. The best quality is to transcend material good and evil." (SB 11.25.39)

"One who has transcended material good and evil automatically acts in accordance with religious injunctions and avoids forbidden activities. The self-realized person does this spontaneously, like an innocent child, and not because he is thinking in terms of material good and evil" (SB 11.7.11)

2. The Yin-Yang simply suggests duality is the inherent nature of things in this world.

3. In Hinduism, there's suppose to be 7 hells and 7 heavens, which are lokas (planes of existence). You can take birth on any of them, and gain and lose status on any of them. If you attain liberation, then you never return to the material universe.

 

Probably Yes. Per Eastern philosophy Lord Shiva has two sons, one Lord Vighneshwara (Ganapathy) and Lord Subrahmanya (Muruka). Ganapathy stands for the good and Muruka stands for the evil. Evil in the sense that it relates more to materialistic world and all worldly pleasures.

You have an excellent point here. Muruka is considered a rebel in paradise.

Symbol of Muruka are Vel (spear) and peacock and peacock is the national bird of India (and Thailand) – may be a lucky coincident

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spear denotes hunting, and peacock 'vanity'?

 

You are from the Muruka team right

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no. i dont belong to either 'team'. i am seeing the GAME!

 

Not exactly, the yin-yang represents the inherent unity of things that seem opposing.

 

Thanks for correcting that. I just remembered the unity between the tiger (physical) and dragon (spiritual).