7
votes
Accepted
Will working for a company that engages in animal experimentation to alleviate suffering of humans be wrong livelihood?
The commentary to Dhammapada 124 reads:
Then the Buddha returned to the monastery and told Thera Ananda and
other bhikkhus about the hunter Kukkutamitta and his family attaining
Sotapatti Fruition in ...
- 34k
6
votes
Will working for a company that engages in animal experimentation to alleviate suffering of humans be wrong livelihood?
I think wrong livelihood for lay-people is narrowly defined in the suttas -- in AN 5.177:
Monks, a lay follower should not engage in five types of business. Which five? Business in weapons, business ...
- 43.4k
5
votes
Accepted
Is Buddhism a teaching of ethical neutrality
In situations involving lies and/or violence, does Buddhism teach siding with truth and peace against lies and violence, or does it teach ethical neutrality i.e. not taking stance on such subjects?
...
- 1,099
4
votes
How to deal with immense guilt over past acts of cruelty? Is sincere repentance and striving really enough?
What you did before was cruel to others. Assuming that you have ceased being cruel to others (which is not an assumption I make lightly, or take for granted, because 'ceasing' is far more difficult ...
- 4,370
4
votes
Sexual Misconduct involving Breast (Women)?
-- Officer, I was only going a little over the speed limit
To understand misconduct, we need to understand the reason for the rules we adopt. The rules are guides on our journey to letting go of ...
- 8,822
3
votes
Is Buddhism a teaching of ethical neutrality
For a global perspective, we should probably all review DN16. The wisdom that follows this introduction is worth reading in its entirety. It is subtle and not easily summarized. The problem, however, ...
- 8,822
3
votes
Sexual Misconduct involving Breast (Women)?
In the Pali canon, sensual (or sexual) misconduct as one of the five precepts is defined as:
He misconducts himself in sensual pleasures; he has intercourse with
women who are protected by their ...
- 34k
3
votes
Will working for a company that engages in animal experimentation to alleviate suffering of humans be wrong livelihood?
Good householder. Praisworthy to not simply act on fear and sharmeless, praisworthy to seek out for advice from wise. Yet here maybe possible to eliminate doubt and gain release. There is reason why ...
- 39
2
votes
Did Buddha endorse caste system in kannakathala sutta
In MN90, King Pasenadi asks about the caste conventions of his own society:
MN90:12.2: Sir, there are these four classes:
MN90:12.3: aristocrats, brahmins, merchants, and workers.
King Pasenadi is ...
- 8,822
2
votes
Accepted
Can someone be literally reborn in lower realms due to unskillful thoughts and emotions?
In a prior life, Venerable Mahāmoggallāna was known as Dūsī. Dūsī was prone to negative thoughts. And those negative thoughts led to negative speech:
MN50:12.4: “Come, all of you, abuse, attack, ...
- 8,822
2
votes
Accepted
Isn't giving to attain good Kamma "greedy" and therefore Unwholesome (akusala)?
there are no truly altruistic actions
I think that is an 'extreme' view (and therefore 'wrong') -- Buddhism tries to discern a 'middle way' i.e. which avoids extremes -- see also right view.
I believe ...
- 43.4k
2
votes
Is Buddhism a teaching of ethical neutrality
should a Buddhist defend truth or is it preferred to remain uninvolved
Maybe it depends, on the topic perhaps?
When the topic is Dhamma there is for example MN 22:
Then those monks, desiring to pry ...
- 43.4k
2
votes
Accepted
Are the titles “lama” and “rinpoche” given or self-proclaimed?
The term lama in Tibetan simply means “superior one”, or more precisely one to whom there is no superior. The term is often used as a semi-formal title, and also sometimes refers to particular Tibetan ...
- 121
2
votes
Do you know of a Buddhist text explaining why living in a community?
“Well then, monks, I will lay down a training rule for the following ten reasons: 5.11.32
for the well-being of the Sangha,
for the comfort of the Sangha,
for the restraint of bad people,
for the ...
- 5,887
2
votes
How to deal with immense guilt over past acts of cruelty? Is sincere repentance and striving really enough?
Here is a good resource worth reading: https://manjushridharmacenter.org/rinpoches-wisdom/the-four-powers-of-purification-of-negative-karma/
The problem when we don't forgive ourselves for our past is ...
- 21
2
votes
Two contradictory passages in the Majjhima Nikaya
In MN 22, the term "Dhamma" in the context of the raft simile refers to "the teachings" (based on the context of the sutta), and not to "phenomena" or "mental ...
- 34k
2
votes
Two contradictory passages in the Majjhima Nikaya
Dhamma is an explanatory device, a discursive construct meant to make a point. Understanding the point you get what it refers to in your immediate experience. Then you can cultivate and eventually ...
- 55.4k
2
votes
Difference between optimism and expectation
To 'expect' is to imagine a particular state of the world and assume or assert that it will come to be. It is a counterfactual that can lead to discontentment and attachment (dukkha and tanhā) if it ...
- 4,370
1
vote
How to deal with immense guilt over past acts of cruelty? Is sincere repentance and striving really enough?
Sadhu. It's fine now. Go on and keep the focus on the path toward liberation, not following other than that, good householder.
- 19
1
vote
Is identifying with the good always a problem?
The sutta quote below is a good guide.
If what one does, although perceived to be good by popular opinion, but in fact increases one's unskillful mental qualities and decreases one's skillful mental ...
- 34k
1
vote
Is Buddhism a teaching of ethical neutrality
I don't know how helpful this will be in your situation but I'll make it short:
IF you know the truth and somebody lies it is right to call it out. If you witness violence it is right to stop it if ...
1
vote
Is Buddhism a teaching of ethical neutrality
The story of the Buddha stopping his relatives, the Sakyans and Koliyans, from getting into a war over water rights of the Rohini river, comes from the traditional commentary to Dhammapada 197 - 199.
...
- 34k
1
vote
Is Buddhism a teaching of ethical neutrality
For my health issues, I recently worked with a healer who emphasizes a vegan diet.
[BTW he's also a staunch Buddhist, and no I've not been 100% successful as a vegan 🙃]
One day, while really enjoying ...
- 111
1
vote
Is Buddhism a teaching of ethical neutrality
Not exactly what you're looking for, though the Bodhisattva Never Disparaging story from chapter 20 of Lotus Sutra contains some similar elements. The story is popular where I live, but I haven't seen ...
- 398
1
vote
False Virtue and True Virtue
Wrong view is wrong, meaning ingratitude and deny of more Sublime, lack of metta and not respecting fathers, leaders, gods. Taking side and home/stand, is wrong. All cause by sensual desire and ...
- 35
1
vote
Sexual Misconduct involving Breast (Women)?
Here is a traditional view of sexual misconduct as I understand it.
The Daśākuśala-karma-patha-nirdeśa (Explanation of the ten virtuous paths of action) authored by Aśvaghoṣa. While the breasts are ...
- 469
1
vote
Isn't giving to attain good Kamma "greedy" and therefore Unwholesome (akusala)?
The Buddha explains the spectrum of "greedy and wholesome wishes" like this:
AN4.95:1.1: “Mendicants, these four people are found in the world.
AN4.95:1.2: What four?
For the foolish ...
- 8,822
1
vote
Can someone be literally reborn in lower realms due to unskillful thoughts and emotions?
There's the Right View with effluents or taints, according to MN 117 and it's also related to the theme of reflection in AN 5.57, where one should reflect that he or she is the owner and heir of their ...
- 34k
1
vote
Isn't giving to attain good Kamma "greedy" and therefore Unwholesome (akusala)?
Sounds like this sort of thinking could deter you from endeavoring to do good and participate in virtuous deeds, so you'd basically be a human, come across the dharma, and leave "this island of ...
- 511
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible