Evil Is Not Far Away—It Sleeps Within Your Mind

Imagine a peaceful afternoon, with people sitting together in conversation. Suddenly, each person is overcome by hatred, turning to strike and kill one another. What would happen? The world would descend into chaos, and people would want only to escape through death. The reason we can still live in this world is that we hold onto the hope that it will grow kinder and holier with each passing day.

The Dream of an Earthly Paradise

For countless generations, humanity has dreamed of a peaceful, happy world. Yet in reality, after thousands of years, that dream has still not come true. When society was still barbaric, people lived by the law of the strong prevailing over the weak. Religions arose, teaching people to turn toward goodness, yet this world remains full of suffering (dukkha). Perhaps it is because people have despaired that they place their hope in a more beautiful world beyond this one.

The Root of Evil Comes From Our Own Mind

So why have we been unable to build a kind and gentle world? Thầy Thích Chân Quang makes it clear:

The reason the world is not a peaceful, kind, and holy place is simply because human beings still carry evil within their hearts.

Evil is not somewhere far away—it dwells within the inner depths of each of us. If every person could eradicate the evil in their own heart, this world would instantly become paradise. But the question is: where does this evil come from, and how can it be destroyed?

Latent Afflictions: The Evil Sleeping Within the Mind

Thầy Thích Chân Quang emphasizes that this evil usually lies dormant, buried deep within our mind/heart. In Buddhism, this is called latent afflictions (kleshas)—bad seeds that have not yet revealed themselves. When everything is calm and stable, we easily believe we harbor no evil mind/heart. But the moment we are pushed into a difficult situation, it emerges. Thầy tells us:

Right now, looking around, everyone seems so gentle—no one harming anyone, no one hating anyone, no one killing anyone. But if we were locked in a courtyard and starved for days, and suddenly someone threw in a bag of rice, everything would be revealed at once.

So do not be quick to assume you have no greed, no hatred. Greed may not surface over a single dollar, but over a billion dollars, it is another matter entirely. That is what it means to lie dormant.

Never Trust Yourself Completely

Because this evil still lies dormant, the Buddha taught that we must remain wakeful and should not easily trust our own perceptions and thoughts. Thầy Thích Chân Quang repeats the Buddha's words:

Do not trust your own mind. Only when you have attained the realization of an Arhat may you trust your own mind.

Before such realization, our mind/heart still harbors hidden errors. Those who work in security and politics understand this too: they are not permitted to trust anyone easily. This is not suspicion—it is practical wisdom, fully in accord with the Buddha's teachings (Dharma). We may love everyone, yet we must still remain vigilant toward ourselves.

Greed Is the Gateway to Evil

One of the roots of evil is greed. Greed drives us to take what belongs to others unjustly. Thầy defines it:

Evil means daring to make another person suffer.

Such injustice cannot be measured by any formula, but it reveals itself in the feeling of grievance felt by the one who is harmed. When someone borrows ten million but must repay five or ten times that amount, losing their home in the process, they suffer and feel deeply wronged. Or when an employer pays wages so low that workers toil without enough to live on, while he buys cars and land—that too is injustice. Conversely, if the workers see that their employer also lives simply and shares their hardship, they will feel no grievance. When someone feels wronged, it means we have committed evil.

Practice to Eradicate the Sleeping Evil

So how can we eradicate this dormant evil? Thầy advises each of us to begin with ourselves:

If from now on we know how to practice, eradicating the evil within our own hearts, and help our brothers and sisters, friends, and neighbors—everyone around us—to practice together and eradicate the evil sleeping within their minds as well.

When we strive to build this world into a place of joy and happiness, we are creating good karma for ourselves. Wherever we are reborn in the future, that place will be a realm of peace. Because merit has been cultivated through the wholesome actions we perform today.

Please begin today: awaken what still lies dormant within your mind/heart, and join hands in building a world that is kind and holy. This is the highest and most beautiful ideal of a disciple of the Buddha.