How Are Good and Evil to Be Judged?

Good and evil cannot be measured by any instrument or weighed by any scale — so how then are they to be judged?

The Fully Enlightened Lord Buddha therefore proclaimed: “Whatever kamma one performs and need not suffer remorse afterward — that is wholesome kamma. Whatever kamma one performs and must suffer remorse afterward — that is unwholesome kamma.”

Therefore, before undertaking any action, one must reflect carefully upon what consequences may follow. At the very least, one ought to consider these four matters:

1. What will follow — will it bring benefit or harm to one’s own health or to the health of the community at large?
2. What will follow — will it adversely affect those around one, society as a whole, or will it transgress the law?
3. What will follow — will it have an economic impact, resulting in financial loss?
4. What will follow — will it increase or diminish defilement (kilesa)? Will it cultivate virtuous habits or unwholesome habits within oneself or within the community at large?

At the very least, before undertaking any action, one ought to carefully reflect upon these four matters.

October 13^th, 2019