right and wrong in action
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also morals inseparable from action · right action as the action itself · morality in what we do · absolute right-and-wrong as present actions · right action here and now · right action in the present moment · the only wrong we can do · acting right now, not for ends · morality as an emergent property · Buddhist morality · doing right makes right real · missing the wrong in the present · ethical decisions here and now · morality in the situation · right that cannot be kept · wrong conduct · morality in behaviour · act right now · správné jednání · správne konanie tu a teraz · správné jednání tady a teď · morálka ako emergentná vlastnosť · morálka jako emergentní vlastnost · budhistická morálka · buddhistická morálka · robenie správneho robí správne skutočným · činit správné činí správné skutečným · prehliadanie nesprávneho v prítomnosti · přehlížení nesprávného v přítomnosti · etické rozhodnutia tu a teraz · etická rozhodnutí tady a teď · morálka v situácii · morálka v situaci · správne, ktoré si nemôžeme udržať · správné, které si nemůžeme udržet · zlé konanie · konať správne · morálka v konaní · morálka v správaní · konať správne teraz · správné a nesprávné v jednání CZ
Summary
In Buddhism morals are not abstract: right and wrong exist in our action, not just as ideas in our mind, and Buddhist morality is not separate from our behaviour. Mike says Dogen teaches that right is in our action and that there is no real right other than doing right; morality, Mike says, is an emergent property of what we do, unlike abstract right and wrong. And it is always now: the only place where we can do anything right is now, the only wrong we can actually do is here and now, and we can do right, but we can’t keep right.
Part of ↑ right and wrong ↑ action
Includes ↓ eating this meat or not ↓ gap between knowing and doing ↓ real events of everyday life
Main theme
the only place where we can do anything right is now
1Genjo-koan 1: Four Viewpoints Summer 2002 — Genjo-koan
So Buddhism says yes, ethical decisions are the most important thing, but we make them here and now
2Introductions 2: Reality in Ordinary Moments Summer 2003 — Introductions to Shobogenzo Chapters
In other words, right or wrong exists in our action. Not just as ideas in our mind.
3Right and Wrong in Action June 2006 — Padmafarma
But in Buddhism, we say that right and wrong are part of what we do
4Morality as Balanced Action February 2009 — Cholín
Dogen teaches that right is in our action. Right does not exist somewhere in the abstract, waiting to be done
5Buddhism Through European Glasses August 2014 — Banský Studenec
as I said intelligence is in the cell, morality, according to Dogen, is in our behaviour. Morality is an emergent property of what we do
6Life Itself Is Intelligent July 2021 — Skalní fara
it puts morality where it belongs, into what we do rather than what we think
7Kuge 5: Compassion and Freedom in Action Winter 2007 — Kuge
the only wrong that we can actually do is here and now. We can’t do a wrong in the past
8Shoaku Makusa 1: Not Doing Wrong Here and Now Winter 2006 — Shoaku Makusa
Doing right makes right real. There is no real right other than doing right.
9Shoaku Makusa 5: The Child and the Old Man Winter 2006 — Shoaku Makusa
Buddhism insists very strongly that there is right action, but it says that we cannot decide what right action is only by thinking about it.
Developed
in Buddhism, morals are not abstract, morals are inseparable from action
11Genjo-koan 5: Freedom Within Limits Summer 2002 — Genjo-koan
not doing wrong is not obeying an abstract moral law but finding the morality in the situation
12Ikka-no-myoju 3: Our Place in the Universe Summer 2006 — Ikka-no-myoju
there is an absolute right-and-wrong; they are the actions in the present themselves
13Shoaku Makusa 3: Balance and Not Doing Wrong Winter 2006 — Shoaku Makusa
So we can do right, but we can’t keep right. We can’t retain it in ourselves.
14Shoaku Makusa 4: Doing Right Without a Doer Winter 2006 — Shoaku Makusa
Thus right or moral action for Dogen is in the act itself, not in an abstract notion of right.
Acting morally means acting right at this very moment. Acting right at this moment is the only true morality.