Friday, October 4, 2024

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Living: Abstaining from Harming Living Beings

 


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RIGHT LIVING
Undertaking the Commitment to Abstain from Harming Living Beings
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)

What is wrong livelihood? Scheming, cajoling, hinting, belittling, pursuing gain with gain. (MN 117)
Reflection
The Buddhist emphasis on non-harming goes beyond killing and encompasses all forms of “raising the rod to strike against” a living being. Beyond physical assault, this can also include various kinds of psychological or emotional abuse, as mentioned in this passage. When you hurt others in some way, you also damage your own heart and mind. Like thrusting a flaming torch into the wind, you hurt yourself more than the other.

Daily Practice
It is not healthy to engage in dishonest or manipulative behavior, and if you need to do this as part of your job, you should think about changing professions. This is not to make a moral judgment but rather to point out a simple fact: harsh and harmful states of mind damage not only others but also the person initiating them. Take an honest look at how you behave as part of your livelihood and make changes if appropriate.

Tomorrow: Restraining Unarisen Unhealthy States
One week from today: Abstaining from Taking What is Not Given

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