[jinnamys]

Hi Element,

The precept of no killing goes beyond not killing people. It is also about neither harming nor killing life. SN 55.7 explains how to practice and understood the precepts, included the one about "Not Harming Life".

Not killing, includes not killing people of any sort, dictators, murderes, etc... included.

I know it is hard to understand this last aspect but:

A Noble disciple reflects thus: From where the reflection that continues seems to fit just for a Noble disciple, not an ordinary person.

I am one who wishes to live, who does not wish to die. I desire happiness and dislike suffering. Since I am one who wishes to live... and dislike suffering, if someone were to take my life, that would not be pleasing and agreeable to me.

Now, if I were to take the life of another -one who wishes lo live, who does not wishes to die, who desires happiness and dislikes suffering, that would not be desirable and agreeable to him too.

What is undesirable and disagreeable to me is undesirable and disagreeable to others, too. And here comes what I think is the issue, the core point of this teaching:

How can I inflict upon another what is undesirable and disagreeable to me? If we do not know ourselves, do not have loving kindness toward ourselves we will ever ignore what is disagreeable and undesirable to us because that lack of loving kindness in ourselves.

Having reflected thus, If we have not reflect on that, which can take some amount of time... our behaviour will not change substantially.

...he himself refrains from harming life, exhorts others to refrain from harming life, and speaks in praise of refraining from harming life. Thus, his bodily conduct is purified in three respects.