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**penpizdes** · 11-14-2011, 05:34 AM

karma in buddhism is based in natural law. the five precepts are based in natural law, i.e., human neurological psychology

This is a very interesting idea, but right now I think what you're saying is only partly true. I'm still not convinced that the actions considered more or less inherently negative by Buddhists, and that are said to always generate some bad kamma, are not based on social customs. I have a really hard time believing there is a standard universal moral system inherent in human psychology.

For example, if you're raised in a group/society where theft (like shoplifting) is actively encouraged (maybe your mom is an anarchist and you live in a hippie village), I have a really hard time believing you're going to experience a lot of negative "mental" kammic retribution just because you spend your days stealing, totally convinved you're doing the right thing based on the customs of your society. I know the Buddha taught about intention, but there still seems to be a general conviction that certain acts (like stealing) will always cause you some kammic suffering, unless you're totally unaware of what you're doing (like when you step on an ant in a field of grass).

I guess what I'm saying is I've never been a hardcore fan of the idea that human beings are 100% morally hardwired. Moral relativism always made a lot of sense to me, or at least "relative" moral relativism.

I think it's possible to make some generalizations about human morality for sure, but there is some obvious variation.

I guess this makes me the anti-Buddha or something.

Any thoughts?

11-14-2011, 05:34 AM	#28
penpizdes Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 468 Senior Member	karma in buddhism is based in natural law. the five precepts are based in natural law, i.e., human neurological psychology This is a very interesting idea, but right now I think what you're saying is only partly true. I'm still not convinced that the actions considered more or less inherently negative by Buddhists, and that are said to always generate some bad kamma, are not based on social customs. I have a really hard time believing there is a standard universal moral system inherent in human psychology. For example, if you're raised in a group/society where theft (like shoplifting) is actively encouraged (maybe your mom is an anarchist and you live in a hippie village), I have a really hard time believing you're going to experience a lot of negative "mental" kammic retribution just because you spend your days stealing, totally convinved you're doing the right thing based on the customs of your society. I know the Buddha taught about intention, but there still seems to be a general conviction that certain acts (like stealing) will always cause you some kammic suffering, unless you're totally unaware of what you're doing (like when you step on an ant in a field of grass). I guess what I'm saying is I've never been a hardcore fan of the idea that human beings are 100% morally hardwired. Moral relativism always made a lot of sense to me, or at least "relative" moral relativism. I think it's possible to make some generalizations about human morality for sure, but there is some obvious variation. I guess this makes me the anti-Buddha or something. Any thoughts?
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