Jill Rees: Welcome Press

“An important reason why fighting against evil in Buddhism is a part of our
Buddhist practise is that if we fail to do so, we become accomplices to
evil. In relation to this frightening reality, the Daishonin cites the Great
Teacher Nan-yüeh, who says that those who turn a blind eye to evil will fall
into hell along with those people who actually commit that evil (WND-1,
747). ‘Failing to do good is the same as doing evil’–this is the undying
credo of Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, the founding president of the Soka Gakkai.

“Evil friends function to intensify others’ ignorance or darkness–that is,
heighten the workings of the three poisons of greed, anger, and foolishness
in their lives. That is the fearful nature of such negative influences.
Allowing evil to go unchallenged, therefore, ultimately spells suffering and
pain for many people. As long as Buddhism is a philosophy that teaches the
inherent dignity of human life, it is crucial that its practitioners fight
resolutely against those tendencies that promote disrespect for human life,
discrimination, and the destruction of life.”

— Daisaku Ikeda