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 compassionate to all living beings. (M 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 poison. (AN 5.177)
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The guideline
calling for laypeople to earn their livelihood in ways that do not
inflict harm on themselves or others can be taken literally, as in not
producing or deploying pesticides, but the scope of what is meant by
poison can be expanded beyond a physical substance to include a wide
range of mental toxins as well. For example, trading in misinformation
or prejudice, or conducting all sorts of unethical enterprises could
also be considered toxic.
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Take stock of
what you do for a living and inquire into how much harm it may cause. If
the answer is “none” then take joy in that and carry on. But if your
profession causes harm, even from subtle toxic activity, be aware of
that and do what you can to diminish the harm. It is a blessing to
engage in a harmless profession and even more of a blessing to do work
that actively contributes to the welfare of others.
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Tomorrow: Restraining Unarisen Unhealthy States
One week from today: Abstaining from Taking What is Not Given
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