Does Evil Exist? Master Xinne on Suffering, Karma & the Buddhist Path | Ep. 027

Does evil truly exist? Where does suffering come from? And what does Buddhism actually teach about desire, addiction and liberation? This episode is proudly supporting the Fiji Cancer Society. Behind every cancer diagnosis in Fiji is a family fighting for hope. Your donation brings transport to treatment, care packs to patients and comfort to caregivers. Together we can turn compassion into action because your support is the lifeline they need. To register, support, participate, get screened or simply volunteer please reach out to the Fiji Cancer Society on 3324960 or 9986981. Website: www.fijicancer.com.fj | Facebook: Fiji Cancer Society | Instagram: fijicancersociety20. Opening Hours: Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 4.30pm | Friday 8.30am to 4.00pm. In Episode 27 of The Philotical Podcast, Alhazen Ali sits down with Master Xinne of the OYI Temple, a Mahayana Buddhist monk, for one of the most philosophically rich and spiritually honest conversations the show has hosted. Master Xinne opens up about his unexpected path to Buddhism, his background in martial arts and the philosophy that drew him to the Mahayana tradition. The conversation moves through Pure Land Buddhism, the transformative teaching of having nothing to gain, and the practice of walking meditation as a path to becoming a monk. The episode goes deep into the Buddhist understanding of suffering, where it comes from and how to bear it, before moving into a compelling discussion on evil, karma and ethical intervention. Master Xinne and Alhazen debate whether evil truly exists in an absolute sense and what Buddhist philosophy offers as an answer. The conversation then unpacks desire, addiction and instant gratification and what Buddhism teaches about breaking free from them. Master Xinne also speaks candidly about addiction among monks, why he came to Fiji, and the intersection of Buddhist and Christian values. The episode closes with a fascinating discussion on reincarnation, aliens, Buddhist misconceptions, karmic cycles and the nature of truth itself. This is a rare and deeply human conversation about the most fundamental questions of existence. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction and Master Xinne's Unexpected Path to Buddhism 05:30 – Martial Arts, Buddhist Philosophy and the Choice for Vegetarianism 09:52 – Pure Land Buddhism and Deeper Spiritual Insights 14:43 – Encountering His Master and the Teaching of Nothing to Gain 20:39 – Walking Meditation and the Path to Becoming a Monk 25:16 – Who Is Buddha and the Major Buddhist Traditions 31:02 – The Origins of Suffering and How to Bear It 36:21 – Evil, Karma and Ethical Intervention in Buddhist Thought 56:08 – Desire, Addiction and the Trap of Instant Gratification 1:03:55 – Addiction Among Monks, Why Fiji and Buddhist and Christian Values 1:15:03 – Reincarnation, Aliens and Buddhist Misconceptions 1:28:00 – The Nature of Truth, Karmic Cycles and Master Xinne's Final Message