The
3-fold Definition of Right Action: 1:
Avoiding all killing, and any form of harming of all living beings... 2:
Abstaining from taking, and thus stealing whatever is not given... 3: Stopping all
adultery, and any sexual abuse of illegitimate partners ... That is Right Action!
The Characterization of Right Action.
The blessed Buddha said: Friends, it is caused by behaviour in conflict with the Dhamma,
caused by
immoral behaviour,
that some beings here, right at the breakup of the body,
right after death, reappear lost in
states of pain, in an unhappy destination,
in the downfall dimensions, even in the hells...
It is caused by behaviour in harmony with the
Dhamma, caused by
good moral
behaviour,
that some beings here, on the breakup of the body,
after the death,
reappear in a happy
destination, even in the divine
worlds! And which are the 3 kinds of bodily moral behaviour that
are in good harmony
with the Dhamma? 1: Here one, stops all killing of living beings, abstains from injuring living beings;
with weapon and
stick laid aside, gentle and kind, such good one
dwells in harmless sympathy towards all beings. 2: Avoiding the taking of what is not given, one refrains from stealing what is
not openly given.
One does not take by way of theft the wealth
or property of
others, neither in the village,
nor in the forest. 3: Abandoning abuse of sensual pleasures, such one gives up misuse in
sensual
pleasures.
One does not have sexual intercourse with partners, who are protected by
their mother, or father,
or mother and father, or brother, or sister, or relatives,
who is married, who is betrothed to another,
who are protected the by law, who are underage, in prison, or
who are engaged to other side.
That is how there are three kinds of advantageous bodily moral behaviour
that
is in good harmony
with the true Dhamma... Such fine behaviour is Right Action!
Explanation: Primary of these is the ending of intentional killing or destroying
of other
beings
either by physical action, or by verbal incitement, ranging from killing
eggs of lice
and bugs, or causing abortion, to any slaughter of living creatures,
including humans. Restraint from taking, what is not given, means abstaining from
taking, with intention
to steal, living beings or non-living articles, which have another owner.
Removing or
misappropriating them, without the owner's consent, either by physical
effort or by
inciting another to do so. Restraint from wrong behaviour in sensual pleasures means abstention
from
any kind
of sex, which will cause pain or suffering to others. Examples will be
adultery, since
this causes the disruption of marriage, rape, intercourse with
minors = paedophilia, and
any perversion of others. Included here
also are abstention from the use of alcohol,
drugs
and any kinds of
intoxicants, which causes carelessness, and gambling with cards,
numbers, dice,
on horses, and various teams etc.
Knowing right and wrong
action, exactly as right and wrong action, is right view. Awareness of presence of right
and wrong action, is right awareness. Exchanging wrong action with right action, is
right effort... The
factors of the Noble 8-fold way thus mutually enhance each other! Any intentional action
- good as bad - determines -whether the
future will be
pleasant or painful for the acting individuality...
So be it... Take care: Be aware!
