On Inherently Positive and Negative Traits

On the Bardon Discord, this blog post was shared, leading to a discussion of whether or not traits can be inherently positive or negative, or whether one's situation determines if a trait is positive or negative. 

Traits can indeed be inherently positive or negative. Krodha, vyāpāda, and narcissism are inherently negative. Any sort of drug addiction is also inherently negative. Compassion, assertiveness, prudence, and honesty are inherently positive. The key thing to know is that whether or not a trait is inherently positive or negative does not depend on what results it produces. A positive trait is an expression of one's essential divine nature (Ātman/Tathāgatagarbha). A negative trait, on the other hand, derives from the kilesas within oneself. One's essential divine nature is something that is objectively real. Kilesas are also objectively real. So there is nothing subjective about whether a trait is inherently positive or negative, as I've seen some people say.

Now, people who have an issue with the idea that some traits are inherently negative or positive often raise two questions.

1. If some traits are inherently positive, why do they lead to negative effects in certain situations?

2. If some traits are inherently negative, why do they lead to positive effects in certain situations?

Regarding the first question, note that throughout his books, Bardon often speaks of the importance of balanced developed and warns against unbalanced development. Let's say you develop kindness for others. This is a water trait. If you are too kind, however, then you will always be giving your time and energy to others and have none left for yourself, which will lead to you burning yourself out and collapsing. Now, how could an inherently positive trait like kindness lead to a negative result like burning out and collapsing? The answer to this question is that the watery positive trait of kindness needs to be balanced out by the fiery positive trait of assertiveness. When you cultivate kindness but not assertiveness, this may produce negative effects, even though kindness is inherently positive. When you cultivate only assertiveness but not kindness, this may also produce negative effects, even though assertiveness is inherently positive. When you cultivate both kindness and assertiveness, however, you don't just develop the positive side of yourself. You develop the positive side of yourself in a balanced manner. This is the proper way to develop oneself, and it will lead to no negative effects. So, to recap, whenever an inherently positive trait leads to a negative result, it's not because the positive trait isn't really positive; it's because some other positive trait is missing but necessary in order to get you to make the right choice.

Regarding the second question, keep in mind that whether or not a trait is inherently positive or negative does not depend on the results. Therefore, if an inherently negative trait produces a positive result in some situations, this does not mean the trait is actually positive in those situations. An inherently negative trait is always negative, even in situations where it produces a positive result. Many religions acknowledge that a positive thing can come out of a negative thing, but they don't claim that this somehow makes the negative thing a positive thing. One example is found in Judaism, where the righteous matriarch Rachel was descended from the unrighteous and deceitful Laban. This story is interpreted as a lesson on how positive things (represented by Rachel) can come from negative things (represented by Laban). Even though Rachel was righteous, and even though Rachel was descended from Laban, this does not mean Laban was also righteous. He was very much an unrighteous and deceitful individual. Another example of this lesson can be found in Buddhism. In his book A Heart Released, Ajahn Mun explains that a beautiful lotus may grow in ugly mud, and that this should remind us that good things can come from bad things. Even though a lotus is beautiful, and even though a lotus grows in mud, this does not mean mud is beautiful. Just as the righteous Rachel was descended from the unrighteous Laban, and just as a beautiful lotus arises from ugly mud, there are times when a positive result comes about because of an inherently negative trait. Even in these cases though, the negative trait is still a negative trait because it still arises from one's kilesas instead of one's essential divine nature.

One other thing it's helpful to realize regarding the second question is that even in situations where an inherently negative trait can produce a positive result, a positive trait would also produce a positive result but in a more wholesome manner. I often see people point out that in some situations anger can produce a positive result. Perhaps, but in any of those situations, positive traits can produce the same a positive result without any of the negative results that a negative trait would also produce in addition to the positive result. As an example, let's imagine you are taking a walk and suddenly see a grown man beating a small child. If you become angry at the man because of what he is doing, your anger may compel you to confront him and stop him. In this case, a positive result does come from the negative trait of anger. However, when you act out of anger in this way, you reinforce the kilesas associated with anger inside of you, and this will make it easier for you to become angry in the future, even in situations where it is much less defensible to do so. In addition, you darken the atmosphere around you with the negative vibration of anger. So although anger has produced a positive effect, it produces negative effects as well. If your compassion for the child compels you to act instead of anger toward the man, then the positive result is still produced but the negative results are avoided. In addition to compassion, viriya is another trait that can often produce the same positive result as anger but without producing the negative results that anger inevitably also produces.