ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Buddhist views on sin

Okay, imagine you're playing a game and there are some rules you need to follow, right? Just like that, Buddhism has some rules for people to follow so they can live a good and peaceful life. But sometimes, people don't follow those rules and do things that hurt others or themselves. These things are called "bad actions" or "unwholesome actions" in Buddhism.

Now, when someone does something bad, it creates negative energy, kind of like a dark cloud hanging over them. This negative energy can cause them to feel bad, to suffer, to hurt others, or even to be reborn into a difficult life later on. So, in Buddhism, doing bad things is seen as creating bad karma, which is a kind of energy that affects our lives.

But, the good news is that it's never too late to change! Someone who has created bad karma can still do good things to create good karma and improve their life. Buddhism teaches that anyone can learn to be more mindful, compassionate, and understanding, and through doing so, they can gradually reduce the negative energy they've created and cultivate positive energy instead.

So, in short, Buddhism sees "sin" as doing bad things that create negative energy and harm ourselves and others. But it also sees the potential for change and growth, and encourages people to cultivate positive energy and overcome their past mistakes.