RIGHT LIVING
Undertaking the Commitment to Abstain from Harming Living Beings
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Harming living beings is
unhealthy. Refraining from harming living beings is healthy. (MN 9)
Abandoning the harming of living beings, one abstains from harming
living beings; with rod and weapon laid aside, gentle and kindly, one
abides with compassion toward all living beings. (MN 41) One practices
thus: "Others may harm living beings, but I will abstain from the
harming of living beings." (MN 8)
A layperson is not to engage in the livelihood of trading in weapons. (AN 5.177)
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Everyone has to
earn a living somehow, and all human activities involve some form of
harm to others. The Buddha encouraged his followers to abstain from
certain trades that do the most harm, including involvement with weapons
of warfare. He did not condemn them as morally wrong but pointed out
that the harm caused by weapons rebounds on the worker and has a
cumulative unhealthy effect on the mind.
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Think about
what you do professionally and reflect on how much harm to other beings
is intrinsic to the job. If there are ways to mitigate this harm, try to
implement changes in how things are done. If you are engaged in a job
that is fundamentally harmful, such as making or deploying weapons that
are used to kill, then it would contribute to your welfare to look for
another line of work.
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Tomorrow: Restraining Unarisen Unhealthy States
One week from today: Abstaining from Taking What is Not Given
Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media
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Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.
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