this post was submitted on 11 Sep 2025
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Bad here is obviously loaded and murky, but I mean someone who habitually caused suffering to others either intentionally or with wanton disregard for their well-being. Someone who profited off of inciting violence against others. Someone who was unrepentant and unlikely to have changed their ways.

That happened today. My reaction was... not compassionate and equanimous, but I am unsure how one should view events like these.

On the one hand this was a person theoretically capable of goodness and compassion even if they did not typically manifest those traits. They had a family who loved them. They were a person deserving of compassion as are their family members.

On the other hand, this person will not continue to cause suffering to others. Their death might be used as a pretext to cause greater suffering, but they themselves will not cause further harm. The way by which their capacity for harm was diminished was not good, but the fact that they will not continue to cause harm is good.

Are there suttas or any other works that touch on these topics? Or on right view/right thought about people who have caused a great deal of harm dying/being killed?

Edit:

I found 2 suttas that clarify the Buddhist view:

The question I am still struggling with is how Buddhism would address the paradox of tolerance - that toleration of the intolerant will lead to a destruction of tolerance.

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[–] Archangel1313@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 days ago

Don't overthink it.