Originally posted by Coletti
Always. Any intentional act, first begins with the intention and decision to act. A sin always starts with a thought.

We agree then that the commission of an act (in this case, a sinful one) begins with a thought.

Is a thought permanent, stable, enduring, changeless? Or is it subject to causes and conditions and as such ephemeral and fleeting?

Originally posted by eagles54
We agree then that the commission of an act (in this case, a sinful one) begins with a thought.

Is a thought permanent, stable, enduring, changeless? Or is it subject to causes and conditions and as such ephemeral and fleeting?

It is an event, like any other. Once you've had a thought, you can't 'un-thought' it. It may be that the thinking occurs over several minutes, and then you get hungry and think about food. Who knows. But it is a the thinking that proceeds intended action that counts as much as the action itself.

For instance - watching a violent movie is not a sin. But if you intentional strike someone - the metal decision to strike that proceeds the action is part of the sin. That may take a split second, or you may be planning it for a month.

Originally posted by Coletti
It is an event, like any other. Once you've had a thought, you can't 'un-thought' it. It may be that the thinking occurs over several minutes, and then you get hungry and think about food. Who knows. But it is a the thinking that proceeds intended action that counts as much as the action itself.

For instance - watching a violent movie is not a sin ...[text shortened]... action is part of the sin. That may take a split second, or you may be planning it for a month.

I agree that as a thought arises, you cannot 'unthink' it. That is not the point and it is not necessary to repress thoughts. A thought in itself has no power unless one gives it power through action. In that case, sin is not our natural state but only our response to allowing thoughts to gain power through our repetitve obsession with them.

Why do we have so-called sinful thoughts? Most people make no attempt to experientially know the nature of thought or more importantly, the nature of mind. Those thoughts arise over and over because they are cultivated through repetition. The essence of sinful thoughts is the same of thoughts of compassion or selflessness - they arise from our own volition, either consciously or unconsciously.

If sin were indeed Man's true nature, then nothing could be done about becoming truly loving and compassionate towards oneself and others. This is not the case at all.