How should today's youth combat negative moral influences?

Answer 1

The Eightfold Path of Buddhism gives an excellent way to combat negative influences of today's world. The combat has to be internal first and then to the world by example. It is a precis of the teachings of many of the world's religions. The wording can be adjusted to make it comply with almost any religion's views. It states that we should:

Pursue Wisdom (The Exercise of Judgement) through right understanding and right aspiration - aspire to better the state of existence of yourself and others

Demonstrate perseverance (Sound Ethical Discipline) through:

* Right thought - thinking on that which is good * Right speech - being positive, honest, comforting and caring in what you say * Right action (Conduct) - not being selfish but exerting energy to do what you believe is good for all * Right livelihood - working for the good of humanity and use your talents well * Right effort - not exerting effort in pursuit of worthless or harmful goals

Concentrate and focus on:

* Right mindfulness - directing your attention to that which is good and proper * Right concentration - being actively and wholly caught up in a way of life filled with love and good work Not fall victim to the mind hindrances (negative mind energies) of:

* Lust: The sense of neediness outside of biological need. The antidote for lust is restraint. * Aversion: giving in to a sense of anger and negativity. The mind looking for a fight. * Sloth and Torpor: A mind state of low energy, looking to fall asleep. * Restlessness : Being fidgety and jumpy in mind and body. A high-energy mind looking for sources of worry. * Doubt : Self-generated demoralizing thoughts to sabotage faith and trust

Keep yourself in balance by practicing and maintaining a good outlook on life. This can be done by maintaining:

* Equanimity: Holding all things in an ease filled balance * Lovingkindness: The spontaneous reaction to all beings * Compassion: The sympathetic reaction to others pain * Sympathetic Joy: The shared delight in the good fortune of others when we become aware of it