The speaker discusses the concept of good and evil, and how it relates to free will and personal choice. They reference St. Augustine's idea that evil is not a thing in itself, but rather the deprivation of good. The speaker also explores the differences between Western and Eastern philosophical traditions, noting that Western philosophy seeks to understand the "why" behind things, while Eastern philosophy, particularly Buddhism, focuses on the interconnectedness of all things and the concept of "non-creation."
The speaker shares a story about a conversation between a doctor and a rabbi, in which the doctor expresses skepticism about the idea that every human being can be saved or redeemed. The speaker also recounts a personal experience visiting a prison and encountering a man who embodied pure evil, which challenged their own beliefs about the possibility of redemption.
The speaker concludes by sharing two Buddhist stories that illustrate the idea that even those who are evil can change and find redemption through small acts of kindness. However, they also note that some individuals may be so deeply entrenched in their evil ways that it is difficult for them to change, and that true transformation requires a fundamental shift in their being.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. According to Hebrew, Christian, and Islamic traditions, life is considered a creation with a beginning.
2. The Greeks and Romans did not view the world as a creation, but rather as an eternal process.
3. In the fifth century, Christianity began to structure itself as a religious practice.
4. Saint Augustine proposed that evil does not exist by itself, but rather is the deprivation of good.
5. In Buddhism, there is no concept of a creator or a first cause.
6. Buddhism views everything as an interdependent process of causes, conditions, and effects.
7. The Western world distinguishes between knowledge that seeks to understand "how" and knowledge that seeks to understand "why".
8. Philosophy is concerned with understanding "why", while science is concerned with understanding "how".
9. Some neuroscientists believe that free will is limited to 5% of our decisions, with the remaining 95% being pre-determined by genetics and other factors.
10. The concept of free will is questioned by some, with some arguing that our choices are largely determined by factors outside of our control.
11. The idea that every human being has the potential for salvation is debated among philosophers and theologians.
12. Some people, including Dr. Drauzio Varella, believe that some individuals may be beyond salvation due to the presence of evil in their lives.
13. In Buddhism, even those who have committed evil acts can be transformed and achieve a state of goodness.
14. The concept of heaven and hell exists in Buddhism, but it is not a permanent state, and individuals can move between the two through their actions.
15. A good action can have a significant impact, even if it is small, as illustrated by the Buddhist story of the man who was saved from hell by a spider thread.
16. The story of the man who was saved from hell by a spider thread highlights the idea that even small acts of kindness can have a profound impact.
17. The concept of evil is complex and multifaceted, and can be understood in different ways by different cultures and philosophical traditions.