Sin? Is it actions or just thought?

txppratt · May 7, 2014

actions

Awesome · May 7, 2014

rocketsjudoka said: ↑

I was talking to a friend of mine this morning who is very Christian but is going through a rough patch. Without going into detail she is feeling that her faith is being tested because she feels lonely and can't find a long lasting meaningful relationship. One thing she said struck me though that is she says she has been "guilt of the sin of envy, when she sees all of her friends getting married or in good relationships". I know that envy is one of the Seven Deadly Sins but in my mind just feeling envious of other people isn't a sin unless you act on it. It's just human nature to be envious.

I've heard various points of views from Christians about what constitutes sin and some have said that a sin isn't a sin unless it is an action so in the case of feeling lust that is OK as long as you don't go out and cheat on your wife, have sex before marriage and etc.. I've also heard Christians say that they are sinners for just thinking about it, ie Jimmy Carter saying "he had lust in his heart."

In Buddhism there isn't a concept of sin. There are such things as negative actions that have negative Karmic repercussions but as far as thoughts are concerned things like lust and envy aren't evil but they are distractions that can lead to mental suffering if even not acted on.

I'm curious about what people here think of is sin? Is it just thought or does it have to also be action? I'm not posting a poll because I want to get some discussion than just a 'yes' 'no'.
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What Defiles a Person

10 And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” 12 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” 13 He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. 14 Let them alone; they are blind guides.[c] And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” 15 But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.” 16 And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled?[d] 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”
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In other words if you carry out certain things its already been done in your heart. You rob a bank in your heart before you step foot in the door.

Thoughts are a gateway like movie previews to your actions...good or bad. You can dwell on the wrong thing for too long before it goes from your head to your heart.

Its nothing wrong with wanting to be married or gleaning things from others relationships.

I guess you should've asked her why she can't stay in a relationship at all. Those are details missing in what you've said to us.

Does she want to be married, or does she want to be married to her friends husbands? That's really the question of envy

rocketsjudoka · May 7, 2014

Very interesting posts. I didn't want to turn this thread about my friend and I've already given her some advice on her situation but am more curious about the concept of sin since she mentioned that she felt she was guilty of the sin of envy. My advice to her was that it was just human to feel envious and nothing to worry about as long as she didn't do something to hurt anyone over that feeling.

rocketsjudoka · May 7, 2014

finalsbound said: ↑

so yeah, a thing that could be considered a "distraction that causes mental suffering" to one person could be totally kosher with someone else's faith. it's interesting how many people who grew up without religion don't have to deal with this "sin guilt" at all - they have no point of reference for what constitutes a "sin" - only the morals they've reached on their own accord. i feel bad for your friend. she just needs to get to living her life before it passes her by because she's so preoccupied with getting married. plus, ya know, if you're not sinnin', you're not livin'. and once she lets go of this guilt that almost certainly is making her uptight and rigid, she'll probably be more attractive to the opposite sex.
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When I am talking about distractions that cause mental suffering in a Buddhist context isn't about sin or about morality but about thoughts that take ultimately are futile. For example if I obsess about money and do anything to obtain it because I think that will make me happy I might find that instead I feel very stressed about how I can make more money. The pursuit of money instead of making me happy makes me more unhappy. One of the paths of the Eightfold Path is Right Thought that teaches that we should think about things that go beyond just momentary gratification or momentary suffering.

Right or wrong thought though doesn't constitute a sin as a violation of sanctity or something that makes you feel guilty. In the sense that guilt leads to suffering then it isn't right thought either.

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Sin? Is it actions or just thought?

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