Search found 10 matches

by Thrylix
Fri Jan 13, 2012 6:45 pm
Forum: Sīla
Topic: The ethics of minimizing suffering and being a "good person"
Replies: 41
Views: 12792

Re: The ethics of minimizing suffering and being a "good person"

It's still a potential nuisance and if it's almost effortless to squash it, why not squash it? Like I said before, I actually like insects. I love watching them. But just because I like them, does that preclude me from liking to step on some of them? Children sqash insects too. Perhaps they also li...
by Thrylix
Tue May 31, 2011 10:31 pm
Forum: Sīla
Topic: The ethics of minimizing suffering and being a "good person"
Replies: 41
Views: 12792

Re: The ethics of minimizing suffering and being a "good person"

Its more likely hardwired into the human organism. Insects and arthropods are direct competitors for available food, carry parasites, sting, carry diseases and micro-organisms, and are themselves directly parasitical on the human organism. From a survival trait standpoint, it would be surprising if...
by Thrylix
Sat May 14, 2011 4:10 am
Forum: Sīla
Topic: The ethics of minimizing suffering and being a "good person"
Replies: 41
Views: 12792

Re: The ethics of minimizing suffering and being a "good person"

All interesting views. I've thought about all of them. I can't truthfully say I've stopped terrorizing ants, but the comments here made me a bit kinder to smaller lifeforms. Instead of stepping on every individual ant in my vicinity, as I was wont to do a month ago, I give their little anthills a si...
by Thrylix
Wed Apr 27, 2011 4:15 pm
Forum: Sīla
Topic: The ethics of minimizing suffering and being a "good person"
Replies: 41
Views: 12792

Re: The ethics of minimizing suffering and being a "good person"

...I never thought about why I do it it until recently. Well, now that you've thought about it recently, why do you think you do it? I'm going to venture a guess that it's a sort of subconscious display of dominance over other beings that I think don't matter. What better way of affirming your domi...
by Thrylix
Wed Apr 27, 2011 12:48 am
Forum: Sīla
Topic: The ethics of minimizing suffering and being a "good person"
Replies: 41
Views: 12792

Re: The ethics of minimizing suffering and being a "good person"

beeblebrox wrote: What is the motivation here in this thread, really? That might be something for you to think about. Just be honest with yourself... you really don't have to make up an answer. Delusion is one of the three poisons.

:anjali:
To view the opinions of others.
by Thrylix
Tue Apr 26, 2011 11:38 pm
Forum: Sīla
Topic: The ethics of minimizing suffering and being a "good person"
Replies: 41
Views: 12792

Re: The ethics of minimizing suffering and being a "good person"

... habitual act of destroying life... Nasty habit. Might be one to break if you are considering karmic consequences. Planting seeds and all that, you know... Doesn't the motive behind the act matter in this context? If I did it because I wanted to cause pain, that's one thing. But to do it "j...
by Thrylix
Tue Apr 26, 2011 11:00 pm
Forum: Sīla
Topic: The ethics of minimizing suffering and being a "good person"
Replies: 41
Views: 12792

Re: The ethics of minimizing suffering and being a "good person"

Even throughout college, I stomped on ants and other bugs without a thought. I still basically do it without even thinking about it. It was after that tennis match when I was scraping them off with a stick that I kind of thought about it from their perspective. I couldn't imagine the indignity of go...
by Thrylix
Tue Apr 26, 2011 9:39 pm
Forum: Sīla
Topic: The ethics of minimizing suffering and being a "good person"
Replies: 41
Views: 12792

Re: The ethics of minimizing suffering and being a "good person"

What about in the context of karma as you know it?
by Thrylix
Tue Apr 26, 2011 9:01 pm
Forum: Sīla
Topic: The ethics of minimizing suffering and being a "good person"
Replies: 41
Views: 12792

The ethics of minimizing suffering and being a "good person"

By most people's standards, I'm a pretty well-rounded, normal 24 year old guy. I'm considered nice, polite, and I'm well-liked. By the standards of most Americans, I'm a good guy. But an event this weekend got me thinking. I was at a state park playing a tennis match with a friend. After the game, I...
by Thrylix
Tue Apr 26, 2011 8:25 pm
Forum: Introductions
Topic: Greetings
Replies: 4
Views: 861

Greetings

An american here. I'm 24, not very spiritual, but interested in such things more as theologian. I'm very interested in philosophy. I have always had a particular fascination with the state of India and its culture there.