The Four Old Men

Ajahn Brahm tells the story of the four old men: wealth, success, peace and harmony. Ajahn explains the story as a Buddhist lesson in setting priorities in our relationships with others and in our relationship to ourselves.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Brahmavamso
• 2010
• 12
• 10

[angellicvoices]

@usemylight Ummm, I dont know what you are talking about. I thought I was talking about serial killers who cant be rehabilitated and not lovely bugs in nature.

[usemylight]

@angellicvoices If you are so hung up about punishing them, does that mean you absolve yourself from any blame? Harmony is more about acceptance of the presence of imperfection in the world. There are so many different trains of thoughts, beliefs, sexual preference, languages, races, which are different from yours, which is why harmony teaches to accept the presence of difference, instead of discriminate. Just like how we accept the presence of bugs in the expanse of the beautiful nature.

[usemylight]

@angellicvoices "abusing our trust" you say? If a babysitter managed to convince you to let him/her take care of your children and he turned out to be a killer or paedophile, i wouldn't call that an abuse of trust. That would be a premeditated course of action on his part and an unfortunate lack of judgement on your part. As such, you are punished for your lack of judgement and he will be punished for his crime, whether by law or karma. Forgiveness is the concept of moving on in your life.

[ZiggyOsiris]

@angellicvoices This viewpoint isn't based on the video, as I haven't watched any more than the first 5 minutes yet, but the way I handle this kind of situation is by making a distinction between forgiveness and acting like it never happened. I'll forgive the pickpocket for stealing my watch, but in his presence, I'll still keep a close eye on where his hands are.

[angellicvoices]

What about serial killers or pedophiles? How do we forgive them if they keep abusing our trust. Its been known, people like these cant be rehabilitated. Wouldnt it be better just to kill them. Hence there would be no tension, but more harmony in society without these types of people. I love buddhism and I love how buddha asks all of us to question everything in life including the buddha himself. I really am interested to know the answer to this question.

[lyntonio]

@RA21122012 and some people do take advantage of humans basic charitable nature.

[lyntonio]

@RA21122012

it was an analogy

[RA21122012]

@lyntonio

you misunderstand buddhism, the fact is a lot of people find this philosophy helps them to lead more happy and productive lives. for every affliction there is a remedy. some of the greatest warriors are also buddhist so no weeds here..

maybe you should ask ajahn to do a talk aimed at your obvious affliction, which is not being an axe murdering rapist, but is saying you are to appear hard, so I guess its an Ego problem?

[lyntonio]

there is always something wrong with this "lets all just forgive and sit around sing ing kum by ya" it's all that serial axe murderer rapist like me need.

no weeds no weeds no weeds

[lyntonio]

so justice is revenge?