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)
This is something that leads to the welfare and happiness of a person in
this present life: accomplishment in initiative. Here, whatever may be
the means by which a layperson earns their living—whether by farming,
trade, government service, or some other craft—one is skillful and
diligent. One possesses sound judgment about it in order to carry out
and arrange it properly. (AN 8.54)
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Many of the
Buddha’s followers were members of the merchant class, and much of what
he teaches is suitable for those who are earning a living in society at
the same time as trying to follow his guidance. The practical advice
here is that it is good to be "skillful and diligent," whatever your
trade or mode of livelihood. Sound judgment is a valuable quality to
have and leads you naturally to a respect for life that abandons all
harming.
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Mindfulness is a
form of skillfulness. When you do what you do—whatever it is—with full
attention, this contributes to its skillful accomplishment. Try
approaching your means of earning a living as a craftsman might approach
their craft, with focus, sound judgment, and full awareness. Notice in
the text that this applies to managerial work as much as to farming, and
there is no modern pursuit that will not benefit from a mindful
approach.
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Tomorrow: Restraining Unarisen Unhealthy States
One week from today: Abstaining from Taking What is Not Given
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