Right Livelihood in Western Society-Noble Eightfold Path 8 - If You Haven't Read Any of the Others, Please Read This One -

Hello to all,

For the final installment of this series I want to restate why I did this.

In the beginning I thought I was doing this to make others more aware of the core of Buddha's teachings and to prompt discussion of the effect living in Western Society has on them. Thich Nhat Hahn (mentioned in nearly every article) brought the idea of Engaged Buddhism to the West. He called upon Buddhists to become totally involved in all aspects of the West where suffering is seen and could be alleviated. These articles were going to be part of my effort. Bringing together a Sangha of different beliefs and thoughts on Gather was part of my goal.

What I learned was I was doing them more for me to understand my own mind. Which, in Buddhism is a major part of reaching a place of peace, compassion and love in your thoughts. These articles have exposed more of me than any of the Tag Games (though they're fun, too) on Gather.

The last of the Noble Eightfold Path is Right Livelihood - Discover a way to make a living without straying from your values of compassion and love. Your job/livelihood/career is a deep expression of yourself.

Thich Nhat Hahn wrote in "The Heart of Buddha's Teachings" - We cannot succeed at having a Right Livelihood one hundred percent, but we can resolve to go in the direction of compassion and reducing suffering.

Dalai Lama - "If we really want happiness, we must acknowledge that it comes about by taking care of other people."

For a lay person the barriers to Right Livelihood are dealing in intoxicants, weapons, poisons, slaves, or being a fortune teller. The last four are easy to avoid in Western Society. 

Unwholesome seeds can be planted/encouraged by not only drugs and alcohol, but also by media (books, TV, movies, newspapers, radio, music, etc). It is undeniable that media can have a positive effect, too. In a media career Right View, Right Action, and Right Thinking would lead to wholesome results that could ease suffering. Illegal and legal drugs cause suffering, but also alleviate suffering.

Crack and cocaine are examples of illegal drugs that have only negative effects, while marijuana may relieve pain and discomfort in some instances. Oxycontin, can ease intense chronic pain and can be abused or misprescribed leading to death (think too that the company making and selling this particular product knew it would lead to suffering). Distributing and making drugs can be negative or positive depending on desired result.

Now I get personal. We all know that alcohol can be dangerous. That overindulgence causes suffering in many ways, liver damage, violence, car wrecks, family problems, child abuse, etc. is simply a fact. It cannot be denied. 

My lady Mary's family owns a winery here in Missouri. Her folks pride themselves on their business having a family atmosphere, they promote a "Designated Driver Program" offering free soda or water to a group's designated driver, refuse service to over-inebriated visitors and will call the local police if necessary. I work out there to help her folks (they have been so good to me over the years that I could do no less) and to supplement my meager income. I do sell intoxicants but in such a way as to promote responsible use. I wondered how it fit into Right Livelihood until rereading "The Heart of Buddha's Teachings" and the Thich Nhat Hahn quote above. In a way it is helping people like the Dalai Lama spoke of. 

In Western Society this is striving for Right Livelihood. What do you think? What about your profession?

To read the other articles in this series go to: Right View, Right Thinking, Right Action, Right Speech, Right Diligence, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration.

The Buddha said, "Wherever the Eightfold Path is practiced, joy, peace and insight are there."

I bow to the Buddha nature in everyone.

Namaste, Wayne