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F ORUM TEACHINGS | EASTERN HORIZON 511
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Is it wrong livelihood if we work in an oil rig we buy into its value, mission, and vision, in which case
which harms the environment even though it it can become wrong living.
provides energy which is important to modern
society? Likewise, is a soldier’s career necessarily Even career in an army is no exception to the above
incompatible with a spiritual life if he aspires to assessment. However, generally anyone who joins
keep the peace and protect sentient beings? army is willing to take the life of enemy and may have
even taken sincere oath to that effect. In such a case,
Aggacitta: In the first case, I would hesitate to say in the event one soldier kills an enemy, it is mentioned
that it is wrong livelihood, provided it doesn’t entail in Abhidharmakosa and its commentary that every

any of the ten types of bad conduct mentioned above member of the entire army will have incurred the same
while working there. From the macro perspective of karma of killing a person each irrespective of no direct
our current global climate crisis it could be seen as an involvement in it. The commentary expands on it saying:
exacerbation of the situation. But realistically speaking,
the change to green energy can only happen with In wars and the like, since all are engaged in the process
consistent and long-term commitment to implement of accomplishing the same one mission, everyone incurs
properly planned programmes based on efficacious the same complete karma acquired by any one of them
technologies and available resources. through killing an enemy as if everyone committed the
actual action.
In the second case, I would certainly say that it is
incompatible. This would fall under the category of dark However, the exception is, for example, if someone has
and bright kamma while the Noble Eightfold Path is been enrolled in the army, say under external pressure
called neither dark nor bright kamma. 6 and he has since vowed not to take anyone’s life even at
the cost of his own life. He would not be touched by the
Min Wei: The question of whether a Buddhist can be a killing action of his fellow soldiers.
solider has been debated for a long time and it remains
a controversial subject till today. I believe a Buddhist If due to life circumstances one becomes a butcher
can be a good soldier, and he can practice Buddhism just or a fisherman, how can he still practice the Dharma
like anyone else. The main aim of being a soldier is to even though strictly speaking his job is not right
defend the nation, to help free oppressed people, stop livelihood?
war crimes, and to maintain peace in general.
Aggacitta: By practising introspective mindfulness
Whatever one’s profession may be, one needs to do the and clear awareness (satisampajañña) he may come
job honestly, compassionately, and with the well-being to realise the unwholesomeness of his livelihood and
of others in one’s heart. Without right understanding change to a right livelihood. There is a real-life account
and compassion, we will not be able to help anyone. of a Vietnamese butcher who followed the advice of a
I believe dharma practice is even more essential for Thai forest monk to change his livelihood. Eventually
people who go through traumatic events like wars he did and even became a meditative forest monk
because it involves suffering and death. himself. While meditating under Luang Por Jaren in
Wat Amphawan, Singburi, Thailand, he had to undergo
Dadul: Remember, wrong living is driven by attachment excruciating pain before he could progress in his
or greed for goods or other gains in return for one’s vipassanā meditation.
action of body or speech, or say, for one’s service or
involvement. So merely working in a profession that is Min Wei: In fact, even when we are involved in
harmful in nature is not necessarily engaging in wrong occupations that are considered as unwholesome
living, although ordinarily when we are in a profession, livelihood, it is not necessary to be overly perturbed by

6 Ariyamagga Sutta (AN 4.237).