Good People and Bad People
As a child, I loved watching war films. I would always ask adults: ‘Which side is good, and which side is evil?’ Once confirmed, I would instinctively take sides—feeling furious and clenching my teeth when I saw the ‘evil’ characters oppress or kill the ‘good’ ones, wishing I could leap into the screen to punish the ‘evils’ myself; and feeling immense relief and deep satisfaction when the ‘evils’ were ultimately defeated by the ‘goods’ and received their just deserts. In those war films, the ‘goods’ were invariably virtuous, the ‘evils’ unfailingly wicked—easy to distinguish—and the ending was always the triumph of good over evil, culminating in a happy resolution. This clear-cut distinction between love and hatred was sown like a seed in my young heart: I came to believe that people in the world were inherently divided into ‘good’ and ‘evil,’ that good would inevitably prevail over evil, and that I myself must strive to become a ‘good’ person!
As I grew older and experienced more of life, however, I gradually became confused—because ‘good’ and ‘evil’ are not so easily distinguished as they are in movies: some ‘good’ people have flaws; some ‘evil’ people possess redeeming qualities; one person may be called ‘good’ by some and ‘evil’ by others; the same person might have been ‘good’ once, then turned ‘evil,’ and perhaps later become ‘good’ again… What bewildered me most was my own identity: am I ‘good’ or ‘evil’? I simply didn’t know!
Liu Kai of the Qing Dynasty wrote: ‘To affirm oneself while rejecting others is a common ailment of ordinary people.’ Indeed, people tend to regard themselves as right and others as wrong—a universal human tendency. But this is not truly a ‘disease’; rather, it is perfectly natural—and indeed foundational—to human existence. If a person always believed himself wrong and others always right, he would dare neither speak nor step forward. It is precisely because of self-confidence that people dare to speak and act—and thus, inevitably, view others and everything around them from their own perspective, believing themselves to be ‘good.’
From birth, humans instinctively suckle to survive; at mealtime, they instinctively bring food to their own mouths—their nature is inherently self-interested. At the same time, everyone pursues happiness, yet worldly temptations that promise pleasure abound—delicious food, beautiful homes, fine clothing, attractive companions… Thus desires arise. When infinite selfish desires pursue finite sources of happiness, collisions among these desires inevitably trigger conflict—even violence and slaughter. As Han Feizi wrote: ‘When people harbor desire, calculations become chaotic; when calculations become chaotic, desire intensifies; when desire intensifies, perverse thoughts prevail; when perverse thoughts prevail, moral principles collapse; and when moral principles collapse, calamity ensues.’ Only when calamity strikes and harms oneself personally can a person calm down and truly recognize his own errors—perhaps murmuring to himself: ‘Ah—I, too, can make mistakes!’
Yet most of the time, people remain unaware of their own faults, forging ahead confidently according to their beliefs. Others’ judgments of them—whether ‘good’ or ‘evil’—pass by like wind brushing past the ears. Perhaps only when a person fully understands himself does he attain Buddhahood! For any individual, different people hold different opinions about him—and even the same person’s evaluation may shift across different stages of life. Therefore, a person is often simultaneously ‘good’ and ‘evil.’
Some say we should assess a person by his predominant traits, and not ‘overlook his great virtues due to minor vices’—a reasonable point. A person embodying ‘great virtue’ may possess personal desires yet remain ungreedy; strives for fairness and reason in action; acknowledges and corrects his mistakes; never exploits others’ vulnerabilities; never slanders or harms others; never violates fundamental moral principles; repays kindness; and forgives grievances… Something along these lines, perhaps.