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
Accepted
Is playing computer games an unwholesome activity?
There are different degrees of unwholesome activity. The term akusala (lit. unskillful, unwholesome) is a broad term that in addition to referring to 'bad' deeds (e.g. killing, stealing, adultery etc.....
- 7,446
12
votes
Can I count my contribution to the open source as a dharma?
Open source is awesome philosophically speaking, and that's really what counts in the dharma, not the actual benefit that accrues to others. A core tenet of Buddhism is to not cling:
"And he ...
- 24k
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:
&...
- 36.3k
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
8
votes
Accepted
Is Karma different for accidental killing than intentional killing?
The background story to the first verse of the Dhammapada is of an arhat killing insects accidentally, because he's blind.
The verse says,
All mental phenomena have mind as their forerunner; they ...
- 45.1k
8
votes
Accepted
When it comes to commercial products, is there harm to choosing a more beautiful and well-designed option?
That kettle example tells me you admire a certain attitude to life, an attitude of doing things right, properly, with attention to fulfilling the essential function and not having undesired side-...
- 57.2k
7
votes
Is it ethical to kill plant life while gardening?
The Buddha reportedly ate a meal of pork at least once in his life. So one pig had to lose its life. The Buddha ate rice pudding so some cow had to eat the grass to produce milk and some weeds must ...
- 3,003
7
votes
Buddhist practice and physical exercises
It is ok(ethically) to do physical exercises even for the purpose of being attractive. Lay people are not expected to follow the rules of monks. Such conflicts occur mostly when you try to live a monk'...
- 25.7k
7
votes
Is playing computer games an unwholesome activity?
There is a Sutta (SN42.2) where the Buddha is approached by the head of an acting troupe and asked, “I have heard that it has been passed down by the ancient teaching lineage of actors that 'When an ...
- 1,368
7
votes
Celebrate Christmas
Whatever the monk said on Facebook needs to be looked in context and should not be taken at face value. You will get that context only from that monk and hence I will not comment on what he said.
Now ...
- 1,209
6
votes
Can following Buddhist practices help me in my studies?
You didn't mention whether you are a University student or a high school student. I'm going to assume you are in University for this answer.
Since you follow Buddhist ideas, you are likely familiar ...
- 9,522
6
votes
Accepted
As per buddism, how is it possible to leave behind my obsession with drugs?
You start by saying, "I don't want to consult any doctor about my obsession".
I suggest that what you want (and what you don't want) are part of the problem: and should not be considered as ...
- 45.1k
6
votes
Accepted
Are some forms of employment less just to workers, according to Buddhism?
In the book "The Buddha's Teachings on Prosperity" there was an interesting section on the Buddha's advice to employers on how to treat their employees. I will fill in with direct quotes a bit later. ...
- 9,522
6
votes
Accepted
Shouldn't we take Lord Buddha's word above the all others?
A good Dhamma teacher would frequently refer to sutta/vinaya references to back up his point. If s/he doesn't do that, there's no guarantee their point is valid or that it really comes from the Buddha'...
- 9,691
6
votes
Celebrate Christmas
If you are concerned about what a monk or another teacher of Buddhism has said, I find it is worth knowing about the wonderful Kalama Sutta from the Anguttara Nikaya. I do not read Pali and so have ...
- 116
6
votes
Accepted
Should a Buddhist go to the gym?
i think it depends on the attitude and the frame of mind
a care to keep in mind the fact that it's a business of maintaining fitness of a frail and mortal bag of bones and impurities may negate the ...
- 1,683
6
votes
Why do I have to suffer due to a thing that a person in a past life has done that I have no control over?
Your friend believes they are suffering due to past life kamma. I have never read such a belief in the Pali suttas. Further, if this belief is true, there is no way for your friend to stop suffering ...
- 38.4k
6
votes
Are the movie Fight Club, and Project Mayhem in it, buddhist?
I don't think so.
it predicates detachment from material possessions
That's not enough to call it Buddhist.
Buddhism might be known for what it is, rather than for what it isn't. Maybe Buddhism isn'...
- 45.1k
6
votes
Can a Buddhist own and run a billion dollar business?
It is unlikely Buddhist practise can run a major corporation due to so many unethical things occurring in large business. For example, Apple was using cobalt from child labour in Congo; is said to ...
- 38.4k
6
votes
When it comes to commercial products, is there harm to choosing a more beautiful and well-designed option?
OP: "This might sound ridiculous as a jumping off point but it made me
consider my attraction to certain products rather than others."
Actually, it is a remarkably astute jumping off point.
...
- 4,324
5
votes
Is it ok for a Buddhist to participate in a demonstration?
The Buddha himself protested silently on at least two occasions in the Dhp commentary; both relate to his family, though. He never seems to have protested against the cruelty of kings, etc. and his ...
- 24k
5
votes
Is it ethical to kill plant life while gardening?
It is all about intention. you must set your intention on peaceable love, fruition of that love in your garden. there are weeds which are essentially herbs, and you may want to leaner a little of them,...
- 59
5
votes
Is modern capitalism inherently opposed to Buddhism?
I agree with @ChrisW. In addition to his answer:
Here is a quote from the Sigalovada Sutta that supports investment in business.
The wise endowed with virtue Shine forth like a burning fire,
...
- 36.3k
5
votes
Mindfulness when on the train, underground and bus
I too am on public transport for a reasonable part of the day. When I look around at my fellow passengers it's always notable to me how many are not present. The majority of people are on phones, ...
- 21k
5
votes
Noting craving for food : Ven. Mahasi Saydaw tradition
It is not Mahasi noting, but the core of the Buddha's teaching: Dependent origination(D0) and others.
Depending on contact feeling arises, depending on feeling craving arises, depending on craving, ...
- 3,398
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