|
||||||||||||||||||
 |
From: Keith (d207-216-60-167.bchsia.telus.net)
Question: The question is in regards to the Karmic cost of killing another human being. What I'm wondering is, if there is a "set cost" for each action we make, whether it be negative or positive. As I understand it, Karma is derived from the intention of behind an act rather than the act itself. So, how does this relate to a soldier who must kill constantly as part of their profession? Or a butcher for that matter? I think I read once that a hunter is looked upon lowly in the Tibetan tradition for the fact that their life's work is the death of other sentient beings. But how does this mesh with the idea of "Karma from intention" if their intentions are honorable? Response: Both the intention and the action count. A hunter's intention is to provide food for his family - that's good. He wants the animal dead - that's bad. He carries out the killing - that's bad. A murderer also kills a sentient being - that's bad, same as the hunter. He also wants the person dead - that's bad, same as the hunter. But has no mitigating intention such as providing food. So that's worse than being a hunter. A bad hunter intends to provide food - that's good. He wants the animal dead - that's bad. But he misses and doesn't kill the animal - that's not so bad. A soldier intends to kill his enemy - bad. He carries out the killing - bad. He does it because he is trying to save the lives of civilians back home - good. Or he does it because he believes his country should have world domination - bad. A butcher is trying to provide a service to his customers - good. He is trying to provide a living for his family - good. He does it by killing animals - bad. He tries to be as humane as possible - good. Or he doesn't care - bad. He carries out the killings - bad. The skillful choice of action is important too. The soldier's intention is to save the lives of civilians back home. Is killing the enemy the best way to accomplish that? Perhaps a diplomatic solution would accomplish the same goal with less casualties. If so, perhaps being a soldier may be an unskillful way of accomplishing the goal. Or being a vegetarian may be a more skillful way of providing for one's family than being a hunter. Skillful solutions are good; unskillful solutions are bad. In any action, there are many factors. Not just action and intention, but possibly many conflicting intentions. Each of these contributes to the eventual karmic effect, which may be good, bad, or both (or neutral). And the factors will be different in each individual case. There are so many factors at play that it is impossible for anyone other than a fully enlightened buddha to know exactly what the outcome will be. That is why it is impossible and useless to try to judge someone else's karma, either specifically or in general. The only thing you can do is to know your own intentions as clearly as possible, and to follow the precepts and the Eightfold Path as well as you are able. Keith
|
