Why is sniffing a flower considered to be stealing?
score:1
In my understanding, this story illustrates a different point. The key verse is:
To a person unblemished, constantly searching for purity, a hair-tip's worth of evil seems as large as a cloud.
Meaning, when we cultivate purity, we shouldn't stop at the literal fulfillment of precepts, we should take it all the way to perfection (paramita) and ensure that in our mind there's not even a trace of egoistic/indulging intent.
This level of perfectionism is excessive for lay people, but for professional practicioners of dharma, this level of scrutiny is minimum requirement for developing the right level of detachment from this world, before Jhana practice can come to fruition.
Upvote:0
It's like if a person, maintaining his live by sensuality, lives on pleasure gained bt sensuality, would take the Dhamma, make use of it for his/here livelihood, which run out in the same way.
Maintaining one selfs needed pleasure, entertaining, by unrightouse means. Such counts as stealing, because the sacrify for it has not been done.
One should not make an effort everywhere,
should not be another's hireling,
should not live dependent on another,
should not go about
as a trader in the Dhamma.
That is why it is good to stay in ones own range.
Maintaining one livelihood, physical and mental, within the wrong range is very risky and destructs the certain economies, leads to inbalance and the hawk might catch.
It's very compassionated by a certain Deva if pointing out such dangers.
(Maybe it is understood good in that unusual way of comparison)
[Note: This is a gift of Dhamma, not meant for commercial purpose or other low wodily gains by means of trade and exchange]
Upvote:3
I guess one possibility is that "steal" is an inaccurate translation, and that a better translation might centre more on the "conceal" and "stealth" meanings of the words (e.g. concealing or taking a scent by stealth, secretly ... and observed only by a deva).
Another possibility is that it's taking what is not given: what is given (by lay-people to bhikkhus) are "requisites" -- food, medicine. The scent of a flower is not a requisite; taking the scent might be considered a sensual craving.
More post
- π How to distinguish dukkha Γ±anas from the arising of psychological issues?
- π Do thoughts create karma?
- π How to develop compassion while avoiding attachment?
- π Fathersday - how would a western disciple of the Buddha make use of this fest?
- π Is it true that everything is unconditionally changeable?
- π Posadha 8th precept
- π When should you put on your robes?
- π What is knowledge and vision?
- π What are the "defilements"?
- π What happened to Tanha, Raga and Arati?
- π Talking about Dharma - is it worthwhile?
- π Is there anything one can do to save the deceased from the consequences of their Kamma?
- π Helpful or ego-stroking?
- π Getting out of a rut when your sick and dying
- π What are the Devaputra / Devaputta?
- π Is it a bad heavy karma to criticize or give up your guru?
- π If the chain of dependent origination (PratΔ«tyasamutpΔda) ends, then isn't the last part independent?
- π What are the occasions did Panchasika or Pansilu meet the Buddha
- π Balancing the Five Powers
- π What concordances are there for the Pali Canon?
- π How are Buddhist Sacred Texts used in practice and historically, given the questioned authenticity of some of them
- π Usefulness of Madhyamaka to personal practice?
- π How can we make sense of the Universe from the Buddhist perspective?
- π Tolerating Sensations VS Diminishing them
- π Kalama Sutta only about Kilesas?
- π Is exposing immoral behavior divisive speech?
- π Can straight samatha ever lead to enlightenment?
- π What are the results of doing meththa meditation?
- π How to deal with immense guilt over past acts of cruelty? Is sincere repentance and striving really enough?
- π Did the Buddha say anything about bullying?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- π Why is sniffing a flower considered to be stealing?
- π Why is lust considered as being unskillful?
- π Why are the 16 Unwise Reflections ("shall I exist in future" etc.) considered unwise?
- π Why is Nanavira considered controversial?
- π Why is only intentional action considered as Karma, which gives rise to corresponding consequences?
- π Why is βnibbanaβ considered to be βunconditionedβ?
- π What is meant by "divorcing the view and the action" and why is it considered so dangerous?
- π What are the views considered "false convictions", and why are they false?
- π Is Jesus considered to be a buddha?
- π Why is Buddhism not Nihilism?
- π Why do Buddhists believe there is no creator?
- π If there's nobody to get enlightened, why bother?
- π Why isn't there a Buddhist Bible?
- π If Rebirth is not taken literally then why seek Enlightenment?
- π Why should one develop compassion?
- π Why are Jhanas controversial?
- π Why not kill animals to hasten their rebirth?
- π Why is meditation making me more angry?
- π If Buddha stayed unanswered on this matter, why do his followers preach that soul doesn't exist?
- π Why did the Buddha suffer before he died?
- π Why are Buddhist concepts so difficult?
- π Why does the Buddha call himself the TathΔgata?
- π Why does insight lead to to compassion?
- π Why is it hard to breathe naturally when meditating?
- π Why is Buddha almost treated like a God in most Buddhist traditions?
- π If there is no self, why do anything?
- π Attachment is a poison. Why is attachment to the Buddha and to Buddhist philosophy not a problem?
- π Why would anyone ever want to go to the heavens?
- π Why is contributing to the market demand for meat not wrong?
- π Why can't private buddhas just tell people what they did to achieve enlightenment