43
votes
Accepted
If a buddhist should not kill a mouse living in their home, what justification do they have to rid themselves of a parasite such tapeworms
The Mahayana perspective on social and ecological ethics is based on the high ideals of symbiosis, harmony, and cooperation.
In the old times there were wandering monks who did not work and lived on ...
- 56.9k
31
votes
Accepted
Should one give to beggars?
I have worked with homeless persons through non-profit agencies for over twenty years, therefore my answer is based on much experience. You are wise to seek the compassionate response. There is ...
- 326
25
votes
Accepted
Can Buddhism give any justification for military violence?
In the Theravada tradition, there's no justification for killing. But justification is a personal thing. Buddhism tells you about the consequences of an action. Not whether it is justified or not. ...
- 25.7k
23
votes
Should one give to beggars?
Dakkhina Vibhanga Sutta is the one you want to have a look at.
Ananda, there are these fourteen individual gifts (cuddasa
pāṭipuggalikā dakkhi). What are the fourteen?
One gives a gift to ...
- 25.7k
20
votes
How not to kill the mouse in my house?
"Without wisdom, effort, restraint of the senses, without giving up everything, I see no well-being for beings."
-- The Buddha (SN 2.17)
You can't have your cake and eat it too, unfortunately. ...
- 23.9k
15
votes
Accepted
Investing in poultry stocks and Buddhism
Honestly I would say that it's not even a grey area. For me, investing in stocks in the meat industry is not in keeping with right livelihood. To quote the Vanijja Sutta in full
"Monks, a lay ...
- 21k
13
votes
If a buddhist should not kill a mouse living in their home, what justification do they have to rid themselves of a parasite such tapeworms
Where does one draw the line for which forms of life are ok to destroy, and which ones are not?
That (i.e. "which forms of life?") might be not the right question.
If you're describing the ...
- 44.8k
12
votes
Can a Buddhist own and run a billion dollar business?
Sure! It is allowed for lay people, as long as they observe the five precepts and virtue (sila), which includes Right Livelihood (samma ajivo). Please also see this answer.
The Vanijja Sutta states:
&...
- 36k
12
votes
Is making art bad or sinful?
Art can be a continuation of samsaric inertia, or it can be an expression of the enlightened mind. What message are you sending with your art? What impulse does it carry forward into the future?
- 56.9k
10
votes
Can Buddhism give any justification for military violence?
There are places in the older texts that one can find passages advocating violence. For example the Tibetan Kalachakra Tantra has got anti-Islamic passages in it which can be used as a justification ...
- 21k
10
votes
As per buddism, how is it possible to leave behind my obsession with drugs?
I would like to answer this not from the perspective of a knowledgeable Buddhist, but from the perspective of someone who has been clean and sober for over 9 years. Disclaimer: I am a recent Buddhist ...
- 1,019
10
votes
How not to kill the mouse in my house?
In the past, I had some success with a no kill mouse trap like this one. It allows you to catch the mouse and release it in an appropriate area outside.
Now we share our home with 2 dogs and a cat. ...
- 855
10
votes
Is a starving person justified in stealing food?
In general, in Buddhism taking without asking would still be considered unskilful. The relevant precept is adinnādānā veramaṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi "I undertake the training principle of not taking ...
- 4,277
10
votes
Accepted
What should you do when someone teaches false Dharma?
You can share with them DN 16's Four Great Referrals:
“Here, monks, a monk might speak like this: ‘I have heard this directly from the Gracious One, friends, directly I learned it: “This is the ...
- 9,648
10
votes
Did the Buddha have special instructions to deal with masturbation?
he didn't prohibit it for secular people, it's not even subsumed under sexual misconduct
but since it's a lustful urge and act it is unwholesome and unskillful, and those need to be handled using the ...
- 1,673
10
votes
Accepted
Personal Relationships while on the path?
About 20 years ago I felt the same. People were talking about something pretty meaningless. It was not interesting. Also, according to the Buddhist precept of Mindful Speech, idle chatter should be ...
- 1,495
9
votes
Accepted
What can be done about fake monks?
I have some suggestions.
Guard yourself against any possibility of Wrong Speech by not saying anything about these persons, their motives, or actions that you don't personally know to be true; even ...
- 9,492
9
votes
Accepted
Will actors really go to hell?
The Buddha quote from the sutta says that anyone with some passion, aversion or delusion, reinforces it by watching the actor's performance. The actor too is intoxicated with emotions due to getting ...
- 36k
9
votes
Accepted
Found items and the Second Precept
The Vinaya actually goes into all of this under the rule against stealing. The question involves the factors involved in stealing:
the object has an owner,
you perceive that the object has an owner,
...
- 23.9k
8
votes
What are the benefits of practicing Sila?
Just like a house needs a strong foundation to last a long time, one would need sila as the foundation upon which the entire Path is built:
"Thus in this way, Ananda, skillful virtues have ...
- 9,648
8
votes
What are the benefits of practicing Sila?
The benefits of morality are many.
According to the Buddha, the main purpose of morality is non-remorse (AN 11).
Or, there are five benefits, including attainment/guarding of wealth:
“...
- 23.9k
8
votes
Is the only way to deal with the effects of your bad karma endurance?
Try to make good Karma - it will help you for sure. The Buddha once gave a simile.
He said that bad karma was like salt and good karma like water. If you put some salt in a glass of water it will ...
- 9,847
8
votes
Buddhist attitude towards prostitution and non-procreative sexual activity
Does it mean having sex with prostitute does not considered sexual
misconduct?
It does not break the 3rd precept, if both parties are proper(not belonging to the 20 kinds of improper partners). ...
- 25.7k
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