..续本文上一页nifests itself as a physical action. This end-point of action, the physical action, was called kamma (karma). This should also be right, correct, perfected. It should not cause harm to others, disturb the peace and harmony of others, or cause unhappiness to others. One should make right action a part of one”s life, by abstaining from killing, from stealing, from sexual misconduct, from taking any kind of intoxicant. If it is known from experience that one does not perform such actions at all, then it is right action. One has started applying it in one”s life. Therefore this is right action.
Sammā-ājivo means right livelihood. One must have a proper way of supporting oneself. A householder must have some occupation. One manages to get food and clothing for one”s needs from some place or the other. But how is it obtained
Is it obtained by some fraudulent way, by cheating someone
Not only those who are householders but even those who have given up the household life should analyse their occupation "What is my occupation
What is the way by which I am bringing wealth into my house
What is the work or business through which I am making wealth
Is it right
Is it harming others in any way
Is it disturbing the peace and harmony of others or making them unhappy in any way
Am I doing anything that is encouraging people to live an immoral life." If so, such a livelihood should be given up. One may deceive oneself "I am not killing any living being." It may be true, but what occupation is one engaged in
What is the means of livelihood
Is it dealing in guns smuggling of AK -47s from some place and selling them to terrorists and deluding oneself, "Oh, they are doing the killing, I am not." Someone sells weapons, guns and bullets and yet thinks that one is very saintly. Oh no! That livelihood is a wrong one, one that is hindering people from leading a life of good conduct. Such a livelihood is helping them in breaking their sīla. Such an occupation is a wrong occupation.
Someone says that he does not kill any animal. But he rears cattle, sheep and goats, feeds them well so that they are fattened and sells them to the butcher. He gets good money for them, and says, "Now it is up to the butcher. If the butcher kills the cattle, what can I do
" How can this be a good livelihood
A certain person says that he does not take any intoxicant but sells intoxicants, alcohol, and other drugs like opium and marijuana. Whoever takes it from him breaks his sīla. Then is it not a wrong livelihood
Someone sells poison and makes a living. Whoever purchases it kills someone with it. So one should examine oneself to see if one”s livelihood is encouraging people to break the precepts. If that is so, that occupation is not the right occupation at all.
Even in the highest profession, it is very important to know the volition of the person who is engaged in it. If his mental volition is not good, however good the occupation may be, it will not be the right one if it is not accompanied by a good volition. What is the mental volition behind the source of livelihood
That is very important.
There was an incident in my life that took place about forty to forty-five years ago, before I heard about pure Dhamma, before I learnt the technique of Vipassana. Someone in my family fell ill. Our family doctor had gone on vacation, so I went to fetch some other doctor. I knew he was a busy man and may not come for a home visit. But it so happened that when I went to his clinic, he was sitting idle, there were no patients there. Out of idle curiosity, I asked, "Doctor, your clinic is generally crowded with patients. What is the matter, today there are no patients
" With a very sorrowful face he replied, "Usually there is some epidemic in the city in this season, this ye…
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