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Is the Buddhist lifestyle harmless to living beings? Lot's of creatures are being killed in various human activities (walking, farming, building, etc.) Did Buddhists found a way to live while not harming other living beings? If yes, how?
p.s. For more info, read the same question on this SE.
Buddhism focuses on our intentions, and therefore intentional killing is adviced against.
Obviously, the consequences of our actions may sometimes lead to harm despite our good intentions. In buddhism we are - arguably - primarily accountable for the latter, our intentions, even though consequences also matter.
Also, see this answer written not long ago:
Some Buddhists -- especially ordained monks and nuns -- don't kill to eat, and don't even participate in farming or other industries.
They have rules of behaviour -- e.g. not digging earth, except if it's clean builder's sand, and drinking carefully-filtered water -- to avoid accidentally killing.
They eat what's given to them (i.e. donated in charity) -- including meat, like beggars, with another rule that they don't accept meat that killed especially for them.
You perhaps might think of "scavengers" on your Worldbuilding question -- eating what's already dead. I've read that monks won't eat fruit unless a lay-person first ritually damages the fruit (to make it "allowable").
The diet of non-ordained (lay) Buddhists varies, some eat meat but wouldn't want to be people who kill animals, some are vegetarian. There are stories from old Tibet of people trying to dig (the foundations of new building) carefully to avoid hurting worms.
The principle scruple seems to be against intentionally killing. There may be some doctrine which says that some accidental killing is inevitable, and is an example of the fact that the world is a kind of imperfect place, which is a motive for pursing enlightenment instead of re-becoming.
OP: Is the Buddhist lifestyle harmless to living beings?
Following Buddhism, one can ensure one does not intentionally kill.
Did Buddhists found a way to live while not harming other living beings?
This is by following the Buddhist training.
If yes, how?
Buddhist training has the following elements:
Abuse is a form of misunderstanding and communication. And the essence of the Nobel truths determines life contains suffering. So "No" but to emancipate yourself and others from suffering is a great deed and is the go. Just like an arrow the impact comes from letting go.
Buddhist monks don't kill; exemplifying the benefits of non-violence.
Buddhist laypeople, if taking moral precepts, training to minimize harming.
Obviously, if Buddhist laypeople did not kill insects & worms when farming, they would not have a "life-style". Instead, it would be a "death-style" (for the Buddhists).
