Philosophical Sayings About Worldly Matter (XLI)

Why is sin more alluring to some people than virtue? Sins allow indulgence in one’s selfish ambitions and look like a wider road that is easier to walk; whereas virtues require high moral stature and the sacrifice of one’s personal interest for the good of the public and thus look like a narrower path to follow.

(This is a translation of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu’s philosophical sayings about worldly matters originally written in Chinese.)

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Below is not an official translation, just for reference.

Why do some people prefer evil over good? When it comes to doing evil deeds, they become very pleased and eager to try them out. They show great interest in actions that benefit themselves, but when it comes to doing good deeds and benefiting others, they are unwilling to do so, and they may even refuse to do it. The reason behind this is that all evil actions stem from self-interest and personal gain. For example, taking someone else's money or taking advantage of others is done for the purpose of benefiting oneself at the expense of harming others. Therefore, they enjoy engaging in such behavior, and for some individuals, the path of evil seems wide and accommodating, making it easier for them to walk on. Hence, some people tend to prefer doing evil deeds.

But what about the path of goodness? It mostly involves selfless acts that involve sacrificing personal interests and bringing happiness to others through strict moral standards. Consequently, some people perceive this path as narrow and disadvantageous to themselves. Individuals lacking virtue and character may not enjoy doing good deeds and instead prefer engaging in evil acts. On the other hand, individuals with virtue and character take pleasure in sharing their benefits with others. Eventually, people will admire and respect them. As for those who enjoy doing evil deeds, people will naturally have a negative reaction towards them because humans possess the ability to discern between good and evil, and these qualities can be sensed from within one's heart.