The Wisdom to Discern Good and Evil: The Boundary Between Humans and Beasts

In the famous film "Star Wars," among the countless beings from different planets, there is an elder revered by the entire galaxy. He is not a warrior with a mighty physique, nor is he even human. His form is tiny — a small mouse, leaning on a cane, hobbling along. Yet whenever a complicated matter arises, he quietly sits in meditation, and his judgments are always right, always profound. Why? Because he possesses the wisdom to discern good and evil to its fullest extent. The film conveys a message: outward form does not matter; what matters is the mind/heart and the wisdom that knows how to distinguish good from evil.

Good and Evil — The Measure of Human Dignity

The Buddha taught that what sets us apart from animals is precisely the ability to discern good and evil. When we live without paying attention to what is good and what is evil, we simply follow our impulses and our habits — exactly like beasts. Thay Thich Chan Quang emphasizes:

If we do not know how to discern good and evil, and only act according to habit and impulse, then we lower our own value, drawing closer to that of animals.

Even intelligent creatures such as dolphins, elephants, and bees still live only by instinct. Rare good deeds, like a dolphin rescuing a shipwrecked person, may be mere coincidence. Therefore, when we see a person who knows how to live in goodness, who can discern good from evil, we respect them precisely because of that wisdom.

Does Good and Evil Change Across Time and Place?

If we think of good and evil as an absolute measure, we can easily become confused. From ancient times to now, notions of good and evil have shifted with each culture and each era. There were places where child marriage was considered normal, where trading a daughter for two cows was seen as moral. On the battlefield, a commander shooting a soldier who disobeys orders is lawful, but in ordinary life it is a crime. Even religions differ among themselves. As Thay taught:

We can see that the concept of good and evil changes according to the times and the regions — it varies greatly, it is not something fixed and precise.

So how can we find a solid foundation? The answer lies in the Buddhist law of cause and effect (karmic law).

Buddhism: Not Imposing, Only Illuminating Cause and Effect

The Buddha did not issue rigid commandments. He simply pointed out the relationship of cause and effect (karmic law) behind each action, and then left each person to choose. When we scold someone, we should ask ourselves: "If they scolded me back, could I bear it?" If we could bear it, then scold away; if it would cause suffering (dukkha), then stop. This is the remarkably flexible way the Buddha taught about good and evil:

In Buddhism we have the law of cause and effect (karmic law), meaning the Buddha does not fix for us what is good and what is evil; he only shows us the karmic result of each of our actions. Then whether we do it or not is up to us.

The subtle point is that karmic results are not always repaid in exactly the same measure. A police officer who shoots a robber in the street — because that robber was a threat to many people — bears a lighter karmic result, and may even gain merit. But one who kills a kind, gentle teacher will face a karmic result a hundred times heavier — not only dying, but falling into hell. Cause and effect (karmic law) is flexible and ever-changing — and that is precisely why wisdom is needed to understand it deeply.

Do Not Live Superficially: Care About Good and Evil

Many people think that constantly reflecting on good and evil makes the mind/heart tense and life uncomfortable. But in truth, if we live only for pleasures, heedless of sin and merit, we will enjoy a brief false peace and then bear great suffering (dukkha). Thay Chan Quang warns:

Whenever we fail to create merit, sin gradually fills the space.

In the early years of practice, we need to be mindful of good and evil for ten years, twenty years, even thirty years. But once it becomes second nature, a person will live naturally in goodness; every movement becomes blessings from merit, and the mind/heart knows boundless peace. That is precisely the goal toward which every child of the Buddha aspires.

Wisdom Seen in a Small Story

Thay shares a practical lesson: At a party, someone criticized a person who was absent. Most people listened without caring. But suddenly one person said softly: "Sometimes we do not fully understand them." Just one gentle sentence, yet enough to startle us. That is the mark of deep wisdom — looking into the depths of a matter, never rushing to condemn. Thay affirms:

When we evaluate the goodness or the practice of another person, we should base it on the wisdom with which that person discerns good and evil, and by that we know whether their practice is strong or not yet.

As we live, let us observe those who know how to examine their own mind/heart, who can easily recognize their own hidden faults — they are the ones walking the noble path.

Good and evil are no longer abstract concepts once we learn to look deeply into cause and effect (karmic law). Let us begin with the smallest thing: pausing before speaking a word or doing a deed, and asking ourselves, "Will this lead me to peace or to suffering (dukkha)?" That is wisdom awakening. Then the true human being begins to appear, and the journey from human to saint becomes but a single step.