Buddhism and bacteria
score:2
As I pointed out in my answer to "are earthworms our mothers?" these kind of questions often assume incorrect frame of reference, different from the one Buddhism operates in. The point of teachings is to produce a certain state of mind, that will affect your behavior in certain way, that will eventually lead to better results, up to and including Enlightenment for you and the rest of the sentient beings.
The Five Precepts (no killing, stealing, speaking nonfactually, letting sensual pleasure control you, getting intoxicated) are an entry-level practice that is designed to help practitioner master basic discipline of self-reflection and self-control. Abstaining from killing, stealing etc. implies basic ability to watch one's mind for harmful thoughts and emotions, and to prevent them from getting acted out.
In light of the above, the no-killing rule should not be understood literally, as an absolute law, but as a guideline for training the mind. It is not acceptable to hurt or harm any creature (big or small) out of antipathy, obsessive desire, or ignorance. This is what Five Precepts are mostly about, countering the Three Poisons.
For reference, the Three Poisons are three basic moods afflicting the mind, impairing one's judgement and goal-making abilities:
- Anger/Hate/Irritation/Aversion/Antipathy/Negativity
- Lust/Desire/Attraction/Obsession
- Ignorance/Confusion/Sloth/Torpor
More post
- 📝 Why are there so many fire incidents happening around the world?
- 📝 When to delight and when not to delight?
- 📝 Is even Buddhahood itself a short straw next to material wealth and pleasure and fame?
- 📝 How not to feel helpless against the fact dukkha is everywhere?
- 📝 Over expectations and overconfidence
- 📝 Your mind accusing you
- 📝 How did Buddhism and Hinduism differ in their approaches to sex work
- 📝 Heaven and Hell in Buddhism
- 📝 A Question About our Aatma
- 📝 What is the recommended time of day for meditation?
- 📝 Is there a proper name for my recent experience?
- 📝 Looking for an Interpretation of The Blue Cliff Record
- 📝 How to bless someone?
- 📝 Dilemma about Money
- 📝 Is there a sanskrit translation of the Pali tipitaka online?
- 📝 What are sariras (scientifically seen)?
- 📝 What terms are equivalent to 'meaning' in Sanskrit, or Buddhist thought?
- 📝 Not doing anything
- 📝 How can the sensations of the meditation object (attention to the breath) be made more noticeable?
- 📝 is formless better than formed?
- 📝 What meditation practice will allow me to sleep less and focus more?
- 📝 Mindfulness, Eightfold path,
- 📝 What is the meaning of “becoming, birth, old age & death” in the 12 links?
- 📝 What are habits in buddhism?
- 📝 Where and what to study - Buddhist compassion and business communication
- 📝 Conciousness in Buddhism and Advaita Vedanta
- 📝 Difference between optimism and expectation
- 📝 Can Buddhism be interpreted as a quest for the young?
- 📝 Might immediate retaliation or reaction inhibit future bad kamma?
- 📝 A few questions about "becoming"
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 Buddhism and bacteria
- 📝 Are Vajrayana and Tibetan Buddhism the same thing?
- 📝 Does studying mathematics or science lead to a practitioner of Buddhism acquiring wrong philosophical views and mental afflictions?
- 📝 What are the differences/similarities in the concept of faith as used in Buddhism and Christianity?
- 📝 What's Buddhism view on choice, choicelesness and causality?
- 📝 Do Buddhism and Atheism contradict each other?
- 📝 Secular Buddhism and Suicide
- 📝 What does Buddhism literature and tradition say about transgender folks?
- 📝 What are the differences between "Nirvana" in Buddhism and "Moksha" in Hinduism?
- 📝 What is ignorance in Buddhism and what are examples of ignorance?
- 📝 How compatible are (Theravada) Buddhism and the Western life?
- 📝 Buddhism vs. Nature and Real World
- 📝 Boundaries and Buddhism
- 📝 Is there a historical connection between Buddhism and martial arts?
- 📝 Theravada Buddhism and Art
- 📝 Buddhism and addiction treatment
- 📝 Difference between Buddhism and Aristotelian "middle-way"?
- 📝 Pride and Shame in Buddhism
- 📝 Buddhism and self-improvement
- 📝 Preliminaries (common and uncommon) in Tibetan Buddhism
- 📝 Buddhism and terminal illness
- 📝 Can one follow Hinduism and Buddhism at the same time?
- 📝 Dualism of mind and matter in Buddhism
- 📝 Buddhism and organ donation
- 📝 What does Buddhism say about creativity and spiritual development?
- 📝 Buddhism and economics
- 📝 Buddhism and misanthropy
- 📝 Buddhism and Procrastination
- 📝 Hesitation between Buddhism and Advaita Vedanta
- 📝 Eternalism and Mahayana Buddhism