[spineeupsenry]

Let's say that you and another beginning Buddhist participate in walking meditation once a week together, and notice that one of the optional paths you walk down each week is literally littered with ants and numerous ant hills every time you walk down it. When considering the odds it is very likely that no matter how much you try to step around them, a few are probably going to die each time you pass through that portion of your walk each week.
When taking into account karma and various other things I understand that unknowingly stepping on an insect does not have any where near the karmic consequences of knowingly stepping on one, if at all. However, if you know that the odds aren't in favor of you not stepping on numerous ants throughout the weeks that you walk that path, wouldn't choosing to continue down that path each week be equally as bad as knowingly killing insects?
What would you do in this situation? What would you do if your friend doesn't see this as a moral dilemma and is intent on walking the path each week regardless of if you decide to, or not?

[JaK_MarkoV_Pi]

In the Buddha's time and in the South East Asian Buddhist practice traditions, walking meditation was/is done back & forth.

Choose a path, twenty to thirty paces long, in a shady quiet place, mark both ends for starting & ending points, and simply walk back & forth, from one end, to the other, turning around, back & forth.

The chosen path will become well worn, easy to sweep and, generally, ants will not walk on it.

It will offer you a place to do walking meditation, where your mind will not be concerned with extraneous matters and also allow your mind to develop deeper samadhi.

Kind regards

[horaAppagob]

I can understand your reply, but what if it were simply a walk? The dilemma still exists even if you weren't meditating.

[PaulCameron]

Hello Inshun

Without reading other answers my opinion would be to change my path at once whether my companion wanted to or not. My friend would have the choice of joining me on another path if he or she wishes. We each have to have the courage to do what is right for us.

[Pheboasmabs]

walk around the anthills. i can't envision a place teeming with creatures that there is simply no way to walk around it -- it would be an ant infestation!
if an alternative route is not too inconvenient then it should be taken.