Questions to Master Deshimaru

Question

What is the Buddhist concept of good and evil

Answer

In the last analysis it is impossible to differentiate between good and evil. The distinction is relevant only from the viewpoint of morality. A robot could perform good or evil, depending on its program. Humans often act the same way. Some think neither good nor evil.... Dogs do not perceive colors. Fish are happy in the sea but humans aren't Each thing has its own world, each individual is different. Each has its own god. Your world and the cat's world are not the same. What is good for some is bad for others. In the end, it is impossible to choose. There is the world of young people, the world of old people. For some people making love is good, for others it's bad. But if our minds have no limits they can resolve all contradictions. If you stand on a level that is high enough and look down, nothing is so very, very good or so very, very bad; you are no longer aware of the contradiction. During zazen you can see and understand everything objectively. If you look subjectively then everything becomes complicated, and you're sad or full of cares. But if your zazen is deep, you enter your coffin and there is no more good or bad. What is so important, when death is in front of you? Nothing is so very important. During zazen you experience your coffin subjectively, and then everything grows calm.