The Teaching of Ajahn Suchart.
19 November 2023
Question: What is the guideline for right livelihood other than avoid taking lives of others and avoid trading weapons?
Than Ajahn: Well, any kinds of occupations that contribute to the harm or suffering of other human beings or animals should be avoided: this is the general description of right livelihood. If you sell alcohol, it can cause harm to other people. When that person buys alcohol, he can get harmed by drinking too much. And when he gets drunk, he might drink and drive; he might be involved in an accident; and he might hurt other people. So, you should not sell alcohol or drugs because this will only hurt people, not help them. This is basically the general description of right livelihood: to avoid having occupation that will hurt other people directly or indirectly.
Question: Is an actor the right livelihood as the actor can influence the emotions or the thinking of the viewers?
Than Ajahn: It’s not a wrong livelihood but it isn’t a recommended livelihood. The recommended livelihood is to be a teacher or a monk—these are recommended because they will bring benefits to people. Other occupations are not recommended. But if those occupations are not harmful to other people, they are still ok.
“Dhamma in English, Jan 23, 2019.”
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“Sometimes the evil and unskilful action is done without knowing that it is bad, thinking that doing so is not demeritorious, such as those who kill animals as their livelihood — killing pigs, chickens, cows, and water buffalos and then selling them. Or fishermen who catch fish to sell, or those in businesses related to killing animals and selling the meat of animals, taking the meat of the slaughtered animals for sale. People in these trades may think that doing so is not demeritorious but is a necessity because it is a means of a livelihood. If we act in this way, we will be reborn as an animal after death.
Demeritorious actions can be done through fear of deprivation, fear of death, or fear of being harmed by others. If we harm others first by killing, we will become demons.
Demeritorious actions are sometimes motivated by greed; our craving for fame and wealth propels us to seek methods and ways to become famous and rich. We may even cheat, lie, kill, or commit sexual misconduct just for the sake of obtaining whatever we crave for.
These actions done with greed will lead us to become hungry ghosts.
Again if the actions are done with hatred, vengefulness, or animosity in return for injury received, then acting in this way, we will fall into hell.”
Question: Is selling weapons demeritorious?
Tan Ajaan: It’s not demeritorious, but it does encourage others to commit demerit.
Layman (M): What about selling animal traps?
Tan Ajaan: Yes, all of that is not right livelihood. It is best not to do it. We are Buddhists and it is not proper for us to encourage others to commit demerit or do bad kamma. They may turn on us. After selling weapons to them, they may be dissatisfied with them and return to shoot us down in anger.
Layman (M): What about knives and tools sold in the shop?
Tan Ajaan: If the items are not used to kill others, then there is no problem. But if they were used to kill, we can’t really help or prevent it because to kill a person, even a rock could do the job.
Layman (M): Is selling animals like cows demeritorious?
Tan Ajaan: Not demeritorious, but only wrong livelihood. That’s all. For it to be demeritorious, there has to be killing of animals, stealing, sexual misconduct, and lying or cheating. These are called demeritorious actions.
Layman (M): Is selling animal meat such as beef, chicken, or fish demeritorious?
Tan Ajaan: If it is not killed by us, then it is not wrong.
But if we instruct someone to kill, then it is. For instance, suppose we give an order to the stall selling chickens that we want three live chickens slaughtered tomorrow since we sell rice with chicken. Placing an order in advance for the chickens is a demerit.
However, if instead we choose to go to the market and buy meat that is already slaughtered, it is not a demerit.
Demerit arises from instructing others to kill or doing it ourselves.
Layman (M): Doesn’t this show that it is improper to sell weapons, tools, beef, and other meats in the shop?
Tan Ajaan: Some items are not weapons meant for killing people, and those can be sold. If they can be used to bring benefits, then you can sell them.
“Dhamma for the Asking, Jun 30, 2013.”
By Ajahn Suchart Abhijāto
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