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**salomal-qask** · 05-13-2011, 04:16 AM

IF we could get back to the main issue which is regarding an enlightened person not killing another in a world where everyone is enlightend. Could someone explain to me what it is that would prevent an enlightened person from killing another, he would commit no harm nor create any more fruits of kamma because he is enlightened. He would no longer have the desire to kill, because he would no longer have desire, but what about the desire to eat. Would he still have that?

It can be said that all suffering results from craving.
From that, it can be said that craving leads to suffering.
But this does not mean that ALL craving ALWAYS leads to suffering,
or that craving by itself IS suffering (although it CAN be).
Suffering results when we crave conditioned things, thinking that having those things will bring lasting happiness.
But if the things are themselves temporary, this will bring us back to suffering.

On the other hand, if you crave something with the full understanding that it will not bring lasting happiness, then you will not suffer when the happiness it brings ends.

So, if Buddha wants a sandwich, Buddha can enjoy a sandwich because an enlightened being knows that even though it tastes good, it's only temporary, but that's okay. An enlightened being doesn't expect a sandwich to end suffering. He just wants to have some lunch.

He knows that he'll want to eat again tomorrow, but he's okay with that.

05-13-2011, 04:16 AM	#12
salomal-qask Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 516 Senior Member	IF we could get back to the main issue which is regarding an enlightened person not killing another in a world where everyone is enlightend. Could someone explain to me what it is that would prevent an enlightened person from killing another, he would commit no harm nor create any more fruits of kamma because he is enlightened. He would no longer have the desire to kill, because he would no longer have desire, but what about the desire to eat. Would he still have that? It can be said that all suffering results from craving. From that, it can be said that craving leads to suffering. But this does not mean that ALL craving ALWAYS leads to suffering, or that craving by itself IS suffering (although it CAN be). Suffering results when we crave conditioned things, thinking that having those things will bring lasting happiness. But if the things are themselves temporary, this will bring us back to suffering. On the other hand, if you crave something with the full understanding that it will not bring lasting happiness, then you will not suffer when the happiness it brings ends. So, if Buddha wants a sandwich, Buddha can enjoy a sandwich because an enlightened being knows that even though it tastes good, it's only temporary, but that's okay. An enlightened being doesn't expect a sandwich to end suffering. He just wants to have some lunch. He knows that he'll want to eat again tomorrow, but he's okay with that.
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