Master of Buddhism Lesson 2

1. Which of these guidelines do you think is the most important? Why?

The guideline which I think is the most important is right understanding. This is because I believe that all of what we are, including our actions and our makeup begin in the mind. That is, we are our brains. When we begin to form our thoughts or interpret what is presented to us, much care needs to be taken before we act on those thoughts. We need to see what we perceive for what it really is and not simply act on it without regard for consequence or repercussions.

2. What is the unifying concept of these guidelines?

I think that the unifying concept is when "suffering" is understood and acted upon with a realization that everything is interconnected, it can end and can be transformed to not only attain a better mental state for oneself but for everything we come into contact with not only physical but emotional as well.

3. What do you think the Buddha would have to say today about "Right Livelihood?" Can you think of any positions in today's workforce that he might use as an activity one should avoid?

The Buddha might say that right livelihood is something people need to focus more on and less on their material, social, or economical status. People should focus more on why they are in the position they are in and why they think they need (or needed) to get there. For example, people still find it necessary to accumulate things to out do one another. There are so many people I know who simply work just to own a brand new car. The financial stress alone is enough to set the suffering wheel on warp speed. Then there are the illegal drugs dealers. Because of all the immediate money they can attain, they tend to not consider thinking about the personal suffering or effect it has on everyone and everything else.

Two examples I can think of which the Buddha might say to avoid would be testing consumer products on animals (e.g. makeup, drugs, etc), the tobacco industry (e.g. cigarettes and chewing tobacco). Both of these not only have a huge potential to affect the immediate animal or person using the products but can also place a long-term mental and physical burden on them as well.