DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - Question regarding the precept against harming living things and euthanasia

**wowwieholmes** · 10-24-2011, 11:37 PM

...ultimately... Does this go against the first precept or is it merciful in regards to Buddhist teaching?

hello Ferret

the Buddhist teachings are ultimately about the mitigation of suffering

thus, regarding karma (action), such as killing, the buddha prescribed non-killing because this abides with freedom from suffering

for example, when men go to war, they often return with post traumatic stress disorders, which can last for their entire lives

however, whether the act of killing generates suffering is dependent on intention & the situation

ultimately, the buddha said: "karma is intention" (here)

thus when the buddha described "killing", he described it as killing with violence, with hatred, without mercy, without conscience, being bloody-handed, etc

therefore, in your job, it would seem you are not ending life ("killing") with a violent intention. you are not taking life in a manner that generates suffering in yourself & others

for example, when you end the life of sick, old and/or debilitated animals, you are not doing this against the wishes of those people who love those animals

this is contrary, to say, a man who goes to war, who kills the loved ones of others, against the wishes of those who love those killed

instead, your intention is a compassionate & considerate intention rather than a violent & inconsiderate intention

utlimately, the precept is merely a training rule

ultimately, the purpose of the precept rests in your conscience, given its purpose is to safeguard your conscience

you can find an extensive discussion (here) on this subject, including the opinion of a monk named Ajahn Brahm

when asked about sick, old & dying animals, Ajahn Brahm often advises people to: "Ask the animal"; one should consider making their decision after asking the animal do they wish for their life to end

kind regards

element

[the Buddha said:]

And how are there three kinds of bodily conduct not in accordance with the Dhamma, unrighteous conduct? Here someone is a killer of living beings: he is murderous, bloody-handed, given to blows and violence, and merciless to all living beings. (Majjhima Nikaya 41)

Abandoning the killing of living beings, abstains from killing living beings, with rod and weapon laid aside, conscientious, merciful, he abides compassionate to all living beings. (Majjhima Nikaya 51)

Here, someone, abandoning the killing of living beings, abstains from killing living beings, with rod and weapon laid aside, gently and kindly, he abides compassionate to all living beings. (Majjhima Nikaya 114)

10-24-2011, 11:37 PM	#3
wowwieholmes Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 516 Senior Member	...ultimately... Does this go against the first precept or is it merciful in regards to Buddhist teaching? hello Ferret the Buddhist teachings are ultimately about the mitigation of suffering thus, regarding karma (action), such as killing, the buddha prescribed non-killing because this abides with freedom from suffering for example, when men go to war, they often return with post traumatic stress disorders, which can last for their entire lives however, whether the act of killing generates suffering is dependent on intention & the situation ultimately, the buddha said: "karma is intention" (here) thus when the buddha described "killing", he described it as killing with violence, with hatred, without mercy, without conscience, being bloody-handed, etc therefore, in your job, it would seem you are not ending life ("killing") with a violent intention. you are not taking life in a manner that generates suffering in yourself & others for example, when you end the life of sick, old and/or debilitated animals, you are not doing this against the wishes of those people who love those animals this is contrary, to say, a man who goes to war, who kills the loved ones of others, against the wishes of those who love those killed instead, your intention is a compassionate & considerate intention rather than a violent & inconsiderate intention utlimately, the precept is merely a training rule ultimately, the purpose of the precept rests in your conscience, given its purpose is to safeguard your conscience you can find an extensive discussion (here) on this subject, including the opinion of a monk named Ajahn Brahm when asked about sick, old & dying animals, Ajahn Brahm often advises people to: "Ask the animal"; one should consider making their decision after asking the animal do they wish for their life to end kind regards element [the Buddha said:] And how are there three kinds of bodily conduct not in accordance with the Dhamma, unrighteous conduct? Here someone is a killer of living beings: he is murderous, bloody-handed, given to blows and violence, and merciless to all living beings. (Majjhima Nikaya 41) Abandoning the killing of living beings, abstains from killing living beings, with rod and weapon laid aside, conscientious, merciful, he abides compassionate to all living beings. (Majjhima Nikaya 51) Here, someone, abandoning the killing of living beings, abstains from killing living beings, with rod and weapon laid aside, gently and kindly, he abides compassionate to all living beings. (Majjhima Nikaya 114)
	Quote