Friday, December 15, 2023

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Living: Abstaining from Misbehaving Among Sensual Pleasures

 

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RIGHT LIVING
Undertaking the Commitment to Abstain from Misbehaving Among Sensual Pleasures
Sensual misconduct is unhealthy. Refraining from sensual misconduct is healthy. (MN 9) Abandoning sensual misconduct, one abstains from misbehaving among sensual pleasures. (MN 41) One practices thus: "Others may engage in sensual misconduct, but I will abstain from sensual misconduct." (MN 8)

There is a gift, which is a great gift—pristine, of long standing, traditional, ancient, unadulterated—that will never be suspect. Here a noble person gives up sensual misconduct and refrains from it. In doing so, one gives freedom from fear, hostility, and oppression to an immeasurable number of beings. (AN 8.39)
Reflection
The path factor of right livelihood usually focuses on the trades and business practices of laypersons, and we will look at those in time. Here, however, right livelihood is translated as right living, in an attempt to be somewhat broader in outlook. In that context, this is the place to consider the basic ethical precepts of the Buddhist tradition. Here we focus on sexuality and the importance of refraining from unhealthy sexual conduct. 
Daily Practice
The text actually says to abstain from sensual misconduct, which is considerably broader in range than sexual misconduct. Anything that gives pleasure can be abused, and you might want to think about such things as the films you watch, the web sites you visit, and ordinary pastimes like eating, drinking, and carousing. The practice here is to be attentive to what you do and give the gift of harmlessness to yourself and others.
Tomorrow: Developing Unarisen Healthy States
One week from today: Abstaining from Intoxication

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