All human beings are inherently good.
For many people reading this may come off as a profoundly naïve statement. How can someone believe humans are good when we are actively massacring each other and the environment, with this not being a new phenomenon? To me, this comes down to my interactions with people. I think there are genuinely very few people who do "bad things" because they want to cause more suffering on the world. More often then not, people doing "bad things" is out of 1) the belief that they are doing the right thing; 2) the instinct to self-preserve (meaning that people when they know that others are mad at them will continue to dig their own grave to avoid facing those consequences) 3) ignorance (purposeful or otherwise).
Babies don't have a base reaction to act sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic, xenophobic, etc.. These are all taught behaviors by people in their community. Because of this, every human being has an intrisic level of wanting-to-do-good in them, but this may be buried behind what they have been taught.
Capitalism is a scourge on humanity.
Often, capitalism is the educator that causes people to lose sight of their goodness. The goal of capitalism is ever-increasing profits (something that is impossible), which means that capitalists must find ways to cut costs. The workers are typically the ones to face the brunt of this, but are divided from uniting together by this capitalist class (to use the Marxist terminology, the bourgeoisie). The bourgeoisie declares that X person is your enemy, but when that enemy is vanquished, then a new X becomes your enemy. Perpetual warfare, perpetual hatred.
This results in the silencing and killing, both figuratively and literally, of those who are not in the majority; this includes the planet. It is our goal, then, to end this system of death and actively work to dismantle it.
Follow applicable Buddhist precepts.
I was a bit unsure on whether or not I should add this (given that I don't want this to come off as an attempt to proselytize), but given that Buddhist ethics and world-view plays a major role in my own ethics and world-view, I decided to add it. To me, this means the Five Precepts and Thích Nhất Hạnh's Fourteen Precepts of Engaged Buddhism. These are as follows:
Five Precepts
- Do not kill.
- Do not steal.
- Do not commit sexual misconduct.
- Do not commit false speech.
- Do not take intoxicants.
My observance of this is... hit or miss.
Fourteen Precepts of Engaged Buddhism
Taken directly from The Fourteen Precepts of Engaged Buddhism - Lion's Roar.- Do not be idolatrous about or bound to any doctrine, theory, or ideology, even Buddhist ones. Buddhist systems of thought are guiding means; they are not absolute truth.
- Do not think the knowledge you presently possess is changeless, absolute truth. Avoid being narrow-minded and bound to present views. Learn and practice nonattachment from views in order to be open to receive others’ viewpoints. Truth is found in life and not merely in conceptual knowledge. Be ready to learn throughout your entire life and to observe reality in yourself and in the world at all times.
- Do not force others, including children, by any means whatsoever, to adopt your views, whether by authority, threat, money, propaganda, or even education. However, through compassionate dialogue, help others renounce fanaticism and narrowness.
- Do not avoid contact with suffering or close your eyes before suffering. Do not lose awareness of the existence of suffering in the life of the world. Find ways to be with those who are suffering, including personal contact, visits, images, and sounds. By such means, awaken yourself and others to the reality of suffering in the world.
- Do not accumulate wealth while millions are hungry. Do not take as the aim of your life Fame, profit, wealth, or sensual pleasure. Live simply and share time, energy, and material resources with those who are in need.
- Do not maintain anger or hatred. Learn to penetrate and transform them when they are still seeds in your consciousness. As soon as they arise, turn your attention to your breath in order to see and understand the nature of your hatred.
- Do not lose yourself in dispersion and in your surroundings. Practice mindful breathing to come back to what is happening in the present moment. Be in touch with what is wondrous, refreshing, and healing both inside and around you. Plant seeds of joy, peace, and understanding in yourself in order to facilitate the work of transformation in the depths of your consciousness.
- Do not utter words that can create discord and cause the community to break. Make every effort to reconcile and resolve all conflicts, however small.
- Do not say untruthful things for the sake of personal interest or to impress people. Do not utter words that cause division and hatred. Do not spread news that you do not know to be certain. Do not criticize or condemn things of which you are not sure. Always speak truthfully and constructively. Have the courage to speak out about situations of injustice, even when doing so may threaten your own safety.
- Do not use the Buddhist community for personal gain or profit, or transform your community into a political party. A religious community, however, should take a clear stand against oppression and injustice and should strive to change the situation without engaging in partisan conflicts.
- Do not live with a vocation that is harmful to humans and nature. Do not invest in companies that deprive others of their chance to live. Select a vocation that helps realize your ideal of compassion.
- Do not kill. Do not let others kill. Find whatever means possible to protect life and prevent war.
- Possess nothing that should belong to others. Respect the property of others, but prevent others from profiting from human suffering or the suffering of other species on Earth.
- Do not mistreat your body. Learn to handle it with respect. Do not look on your body as only an instrument. Preserve vital energies (sexual, breath, spirit) for the realization of the Way. (For brothers and sisters who are not monks and nuns:) Sexual expression should not take place without love and commitment. In sexual relationships, be aware of future suffering that may be caused. To preserve the happiness of others, respect the rights and commitments of others. Be fully aware of the responsibility of bringing new lives into the world. Meditate on the world into which you are bringing new beings.
Live in accordance with nature.
As we live in a world that seems to wish to move further from nature, we need to remember that humans too are beholden to nature. For me, this is partially what solarpunk is about: utilizing our current advancements in technology to better live with the environment. This also means, however, our technology should be reusable and against the idea of planned obsolence.