Do Christian Parents Abuse their Children?

[possibletarian]

But your person A/B experiment is not a fair experiment. Clearly [A] is the preference because he follows his unethical thinking with ethical thinking. So ethical thoughts win out again. I'm still choosing the person that has more ethical thinking processes.

The point I was trying to make is that the person with the most ethical thought processes (ie has 100% ethical thoughts and 0% unethical thoughts) is the best preference as he is uncapable of any unwholesome words/actions. Purely because of his different thought processes - ie ethical only thought processes.

I see your point. An unethical action WILL NOT happen unless it is preceded by violent or malicious thought. I agree that the best case scenario is to basically be locked in the room with Buddha.

I just find it hard to hold people accountable for their thoughts. The causes of their thoughts often have to do factors outside of their control (upbringing, treatment by others, environmental factors, etc.) In your line of thinking, a person who has a violent thought but then counters it with a nonviolent thought has behaved unethically. I disagree. I think he has behaved ETHICALLY, despite his having had the thought.

As I said before, I agree with you that cultivating benevolent thinking is GOOD. I just don't see having a malicious thought as BAD.

I'd say daydreaming about doing horrible things to other people is pretty bad.

Thoughts just pop into our head I'm not sure we have any control over that, whether the consciousness has some kind of veto power over that, or if it's just another thought that's popped into the head I'm not sure. Either way if it's the good and not the bad that is done and has precedent then I agree no ethics have been broken.

I would agree CL, daydreaming about nasty things happening to that particular person who irks you is best avoided if possible.