Right livelihood

Right Livelihood is one of the 8 fold Noble Path taught by the Buddha for the cessation of suffering.

There are five trades that should be avoided:
Trading in arms
Trading in living beings
Trading in flesh
Trading in intoxicants
Trading in poisons

One who kills animals (or other beings) will receive karmic retributions. Hence, abstaining from killing leads to the cessation of suffering. Some may say that they kill because it is their occupation and they are merely doing their job. But the law of karma will function whatever its justification. If you kill someone, will he be angry? Certainly! Will he bear hatred against you? Certainly! Will your life be very smooth when so many people hate you? The result is obvious.

One may ask, “How much karmic retribution will one get if one kills for living?” This is hard to tell. Each animal has its own feeling and grievances at time of death. Some may be resigned to their fate. Others may bear hatred at time of death.

A deeper understanding of right livelihood is your day-to-day life. Every thought, every action and every word you say at every moment of your life is very important. It leaves a karmic imprint to be ripened in future. If you sow a cactus seeds, you will reap cactus and be pricked in future. If you sow flower seeds, you will reap lovely flowers in future.

Graphics and formatting: Ada

Author:

Jerome is a Buddhist practitioner that has learnt from Theravada, Mahayana and Tibetan traditions and is still learning! He first learnt meditation and Dharma from Theravadan monks and practitioners in the lineage of the Arahant Venerable Amatha Gavesi Maha Thero from Sri Lankaramaya Buddhist temple in Singapore. Then, he completed a Diploma in Buddhism from the Buddhist and Pali College in 2016. He also learnt from Zen Master Wu Jue Miao Tian (85th Zen Patriach) from the LingJi lineage in Taiwan in 2014 - 2015.  Subsequently, he learnt from Garchen Rinpoche from the Drigar Thubten Dargye Ling tradition (Tibetan) and attended annual Om Mani Padme Hum and Om Ami Dewa Hrih retreats from 2015 till date. Currently, he is a disciple of Master Jin Bodhi (Mahayana) from Bodhi Meditation in Singapore and is an active volunteer there. Master Jin Bodhi is his main Dharma teacher. Jerome feels that Buddhism is not a religion but is a practical way to reduce our life's problems. The essence of Buddhism is not in the books or sutras but in the way we apply it into our lives. Having understood some aspects of Buddha's teaching, he wants to give back to the society and hopes to share his insights with everyone who has the affinity with him.