06-28-2013, 06:10 AM
you may or may not agree with the Buddha's definition of right livelihood. But here is a 'consensus' viewpoint on what was intended by his teaching of this principle:
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I was talking to someone earlier in chat about the work they did at Walmart ... cleaning the toilets. And they referred to it as jokingly causative of PTSD. And I recalled the few times at McDonalds where I worked as a teenager where I was assigned to those duties ... and yes, 'traumatising' might be considered a word for it.
it is easy to forget with my cozy office job, where I sit at a desk in an air-conditioned environment, where people are pleasant and civil, and my hands never get dirty that not all jobs are like this. My dad slaved in a hot kitchen 10-12 hours a day for decades on end; with some vacation time maybe every 3-4 years. I have it easy by comparison.
indeed; there are some jobs that are truly traumatising; and these people turn up to it day after day. Sometimes there are alternatives ... but sometimes, in the short term, there are not.
You have my empathy and compassion. You really do. I've seen enough glimpses of that type of misery and environment to know that it is not healthy, and highly distorted indeed (orange ray impositions on individuals).
namaste. and thanks for the opportunity to share.
plenum
wikipedia Wrote:Right livelihood
This means that practitioners ought not to engage in trades or occupations which, either directly or indirectly, result in harm for other living beings. In the Chinese and Pali Canon, it is explained thus:
More concretely today interpretations include "work and career need to be integrated into life as a Buddhist," it is also an ethical livelihood, "wealth obtained through rightful means" (Bhikku Basnagoda Rahula) - that means being honest and ethical in business dealings, not to cheat, lie or steal. As people are spending most of their time at work, it’s important to assess how our work affects our mind and heart. So important questions include "How can work become meaningful? How can it be a support, not a hindrance, to spiritual practice — a place to deepen our awareness and kindness?"
The five types of businesses that should not be undertaken:
Business in weapons: trading in all kinds of weapons and instruments for killing.
Business in human beings: slave trading, prostitution, or the buying and selling of children or adults.
Business in meat: "meat" refers to the bodies of beings after they are killed. This includes breeding animals for slaughter.
Business in intoxicants: manufacturing or selling intoxicating drinks or addictive drugs.
Business in poison: producing or trading in any kind of poison or a toxic product designed to kill.
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I was talking to someone earlier in chat about the work they did at Walmart ... cleaning the toilets. And they referred to it as jokingly causative of PTSD. And I recalled the few times at McDonalds where I worked as a teenager where I was assigned to those duties ... and yes, 'traumatising' might be considered a word for it.
it is easy to forget with my cozy office job, where I sit at a desk in an air-conditioned environment, where people are pleasant and civil, and my hands never get dirty that not all jobs are like this. My dad slaved in a hot kitchen 10-12 hours a day for decades on end; with some vacation time maybe every 3-4 years. I have it easy by comparison.
indeed; there are some jobs that are truly traumatising; and these people turn up to it day after day. Sometimes there are alternatives ... but sometimes, in the short term, there are not.
You have my empathy and compassion. You really do. I've seen enough glimpses of that type of misery and environment to know that it is not healthy, and highly distorted indeed (orange ray impositions on individuals).
namaste. and thanks for the opportunity to share.
plenum
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