Good, Evil, and the 108 Evils & 108 Virtues · Internal Version¶
This version presents the original source texts in full, without alteration, organized by theme with source citations.
[I] The Cosmic Level of Good and Evil — No Good or Evil in Hundun¶
The Tao is one; it is the Hundun system. Maintaining the perfect operation of this system requires two forces of symmetric balance, and requires the Taiji principle. From the perspective of the Hundun system, there is no question of good or evil, right or wrong; from the perspective of the operating state of the Tao, there is also no question of good or evil, right or wrong — only a question of symmetric balance. (Source: Xuefeng Corpus · Inner-Spirit · Should Good and Evil, Right and Wrong Be Discerned?)
The Taiji principle tells us: "All things carry yin and embrace yang" — truth and falsehood are united, good and evil coexist, beauty and ugliness reflect each other. The unity of opposites is the fundamental law constituting the universe; there is no absolute, only the relative. (Source: Xuefeng Corpus · Inner-Spirit · Keep Your Eyes on Truth, Goodness, and Beauty; Avoid Falseness, Evil, and Ugliness)
"Good and evil are the Taiji principle." (Source: Xuefeng Corpus · Q&A · Answering Yun Yin's Questions on Behalf of the Extinction Celestial)
The essence of the universe is Hundun; in Hundun there is no distinction between right and wrong, good and evil, beauty and ugliness or any other oppositions. (Source: New Era Human 800 Concepts, 4th ed., Concept 414)
[II] The LIFE Level of Good and Evil — Every Living Being Must Discern Good and Evil¶
However, for every living being, the question of good and evil, right and wrong absolutely exists. Without good and evil, right and wrong, one is no longer a living being — one is dead. Cultivating the Tao, entering the Tao, and attaining the Tao are not about eliminating one's sense of good and evil, right and wrong. Rather, they are about more clearly understanding what is good, what is evil, what is right, what is wrong — and thereby "doing no evil, practicing all good" — entering a more perfect LIFE space. (Source: Xuefeng Corpus · Inner-Spirit · Should Good and Evil, Right and Wrong Be Discerned?)
Those who do not discern good and evil, right and wrong are not great masters or sages — they are scoundrels. Those who instigate people not to discern right from wrong, good from evil are not cultivators — they are devils and Satan. (Source: Xuefeng Corpus · Inner-Spirit · Should Good and Evil, Right and Wrong Be Discerned?)
[III] The Standard for Measuring Good and Evil¶
To judge right from wrong, one must base one's judgment on four major elements: facts, science, logic, and spiritual perception — not on the words of ancient people. (Source: New Era Human 800 Concepts, 4th ed., Concept 13)
Any doctrine or order that can make people happy, joyful, free, and well is moral. Any doctrine or order that hinders people from attaining happiness, joy, freedom, and well-being is immoral. (Source: New Era Human 800 Concepts, 4th ed., Concept 26)
The greatest good is not good; the greatest evil is not evil; the highest virtue is not virtue; the greatest benevolence is not benevolent — this is beyond the understanding of ordinary thinking. From the overall and global perspective, the operating mechanism of the law of cause and effect is perfectly orderly, and indeed "good is rewarded with good, evil is rewarded with evil." However, in some special local domains, "good is rewarded with evil, and evil is rewarded with good" — but this in no way affects the operation of the overall mechanism of karmic retribution. (Source: Xuefeng Corpus · Q&A · Is It Really True That Good Is Rewarded with Good and Evil with Evil?)
[IV] The Complete List of 108 Evils and 108 Virtues¶
"Do no evil; practice all good." (Source: New Era Human 800 Concepts, 4th ed., Concept 200)
The 108 Evils:
Blaspheming the Greatest Creator, blaspheming divine beings, slandering celestials and Buddhas, defaming sages and worthies, insulting one's ancestors, beating and cursing one's parents, murder and robbery, cruel killing of animals, bullying widowers and widows, harming one's siblings, insulting teachers and elders, deceiving children, secretly harming good people, deceiving those who are ignorant, slandering fellow companions, covertly damaging colleagues, making false accusations and fraud, attacking and causing discord among relatives, oppressing subordinates and stealing their credit, flattering superiors to claim merit, receiving kindness without gratitude, harboring resentment endlessly, holding common people in contempt, disrupting governance, rewarding the undeserving, punishing the innocent, filling burrows and destroying nests, harming fetuses and breaking eggs, stealing others' achievements, concealing others' goodness, exposing others' flaws and ugliness, harming others' appearance, forcing good people into prostitution, depleting others' resources and wealth, using power to bully and intimidate, humiliating others to prevail, shifting blame to protect oneself, framing others, being arrogant about ill-gotten wealth, mocking poverty, undermining others' strengths, defending one's own shortcomings, theft and robbery, lying and deceiving, flooding and arson, invading people's homes, damaging others' property, ruining others' achievements, envying others' honors and status, jealousy of others' abilities, cheating on weights and measures, passing off inferior goods as superior, littering randomly, dirtying and disordering the environment, forcing others to do the impossible, driving others to suicide, desecrating ancestral graves, destroying people's homes, gossiping about others, disturbing people's minds, cutting in line and grabbing right of way, showing a ferocious face, plagiarism and infringement, backstabbing others, using public pretexts for private gain, lining one's own pockets, creating pretexts to extract benefit, embezzlement and bribery, setting up unauthorized projects, squandering and wasting, inciting public sentiment, advocating violence, destroying mountains and forests, digging up plant roots indiscriminately, polluting rivers, causing suffering to all living beings, cutting corners in construction, building dangerous structures, organizing gambling, scheming to take others' money, propagating ghost stories and superstitions, poisoning the inner Spirit, pretending to be supernatural beings, spreading superstition, randomly building temples, corrupting human character, practicing sorcery and magic arts, fortune-telling for others, harvesting organs from others, harming others' limbs, cursing others to suffer disasters, praying for others' misfortune, greedy eating and hoarding, wasting food, being lazy and slippery, comparing oneself with others, quarreling endlessly, disturbing others' peace and leisure, exposing others' privacy, trespassing into private residences, intimidating and threatening others, kidnapping and highway robbery, seizing others' land and property, not repaying debts, using authority for personal gain, using power to oppress people, complaining and jealousy, boasting and showing off.
The 108 Virtues:
Revering the Greatest Creator, revering LIFE, revering nature, revering divine beings, emulating sages and worthies, being filial to parents, respecting elders and caring for the young, treating people equally, praising good deeds, encouraging others, showing kindness to all things, extending love from oneself to others, sympathizing with others' disasters, rejoicing in others' joy, helping others in urgent need, rescuing others from danger, highlighting others' strengths, acknowledging one's own shortcomings, giving kindness without keeping count, repaying received kindness always, not resenting when humiliated, not hating when hurt, awakening others' wisdom, guiding others toward the light, sharing knowledge with others, teaching skills to others, being diligent, frugal, and simple, being hardworking and industrious, keeping one's word and being honest, being simple, pure, and honest, making people happy, bringing people joy, giving people freedom, helping others attain happiness, catching thieves when encountered, subduing demons when encountered, praising truth and beauty, concealing evil and promoting good, seeking truth from facts, suppressing lies, not picking up lost items on the road, not needing to lock doors at night, finding joy in helping others, offering convenience to others, being consistent in word and deed, being identical inside and outside, not taking evil paths, not doing wrong in the dark, wishing others peace, praying for others' blessing and smooth going, not flaunting wealth when rich, not being obsequious when poor, saying thank you often, keeping gratitude in one's heart, not going wild when achieving one's ambitions, not being discouraged when encountering setbacks, building up others' resolve, boosting others' confidence, helping others achieve their wishes, helping others accomplish things, treating others with loyalty and forgiveness, being magnanimous in tolerating others, being humble, respectful, and courteous, following orderly conduct, boldly withdrawing at the peak, not competing with the world, being just and fair, not favoring relatives and friends, dedicating oneself voluntarily, keeping a harmonious heart and calm spirit, being clean and tidy, having a kind and benevolent expression, answering when asked, being warm and hospitable, charitable giving, supporting those in danger and helping the poor, saying what is true, often planting fruit trees, being neither arrogant nor impetuous, having a calm temperament, not clinging to vanity, not yearning for high status and glory, rising at dawn, resting when dusk falls, being fond of learning and advancing, shining brilliantly on others, dressing appropriately, emanating a beautiful and pleasing presence, presenting a pleasing image in all one's standing, walking, sitting, and lying, being cheerful and lively, enjoying wholesome play and games, having a pleasing voice, speaking words that move people, in all good things putting others first and oneself last, in all difficult tasks taking them on oneself first and others last, being open and aboveboard, not doing things in the shadows, carefully keeping to one's proper role, not seeking enjoyment beyond one's means, loving peace, loving strangers broadly, drawing close to nature, cherishing grass and protecting flowers, being approachable and easy to get along with, showing compassion even for insects.
(Source: New Era Human 800 Concepts, 4th ed., Concept 200)
[V] The Karmic Mechanism of Good and Evil¶
"Misfortune and fortune have no gate — people invite them upon themselves. The retribution of good and evil follows like a shadow. Plant melons and you reap melons; plant beans and you reap beans. The net of Heaven is vast; though its meshes are wide, nothing slips through." (Source: New Era Human 800 Concepts, 4th ed., Concept 200, closing statement)
Plant melons, reap melons; plant beans, reap beans. Good is rewarded with good; evil is rewarded with evil. Misfortune and fortune have no gate — people invite them upon themselves. (Source: New Era Human 800 Concepts, 4th ed., Concept 192)
The law that maintains the sum of the universe's positive and negative energy at zero is called the Law of Karmic Retribution. (Source: New Era Human 800 Concepts, 4th ed., Concept 418)
Those who repay good with evil — misfortune will never leave their family. (Source: New Era Human 800 Concepts, 4th ed., Concept 321)
Concealing evil makes the evil greater; displaying good makes the good smaller. Correct errors as soon as they appear; do not shout about one's merits. (Source: New Era Human 800 Concepts, 4th ed., Concept 198)
Your current situation is the manifestation of the quality of your LIFE… Karmic retribution is precise to the finest detail. (Source: Chanyuan Corpus · Life Treasures · Everything Is Perfectly Matched to You)
[VI] Good, Evil, and the Destination of LIFE¶
Heaven belongs to the good; hell belongs to the evil; the human world belongs to those who are a mixture of both. (Source: Xuefeng Corpus · Inner-Spirit · Should Good and Evil, Right and Wrong Be Discerned?)
The selfless belong to the LIFE of Heaven; those with some selfishness belong to the LIFE of the human world; those heavily burdened with selfishness belong to the LIFE of hell. (Source: New Era Human 800 Concepts, 4th ed., Concept 353)
Selflessness is the pass to the Kingdom of Heaven. (Source: New Era Human 800 Concepts, 4th ed., Concept 110)
Selfishness is the source of vexation and the first pass to hell. (Source: New Era Human 800 Concepts, 4th ed., Concept 105)
Summary standard of LIFE reincarnation: the supremely good elevate to become Buddhas; the vicious sink into the ghost realm; the overbearing descend to the frozen layer; the cruel descend into the fire-tempering layer. (Source: New Era Human 800 Concepts, 4th ed., Concept 364; Chanyuan Corpus · Cultivation · Summary of LIFE Reincarnation)
[VII] The Practical Direction of Doing Good — Soul Garden Construction¶
Every person should build their own Soul Garden well. Clear from your Soul Garden the tares and poisonous weeds: jealousy, selfishness, anger, fury, hatred, complaint, comparison, cursing, worry, anxiety, fear, falseness, evil, ugliness, lying, slovenliness, hypocrisy, laziness, greed, possessiveness, monopolizing, competitive spirit, quarreling spirit, justification, and argument. Sow and cultivate flowers and plants: Truth, Goodness, Beauty, Love, Faith, Sincerity, Harmony, diligence, courage, selflessness, dedication, service, care, tolerance, consideration, compassion, and benevolence. (Source: New Era Human 800 Concepts, 4th ed., Concept 99)
Let your eyes be full of light; let your heart be full of love; begin every thought and intention with goodness; carry out daily affairs with diligence. (Source: New Era Human 800 Concepts, 4th ed., Concept 153)
How to accumulate heavenly treasure: generating good thoughts and performing good deeds is accumulating treasure in Heaven. (Source: New Era Human 800 Concepts, 4th ed., Concept 490)