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INTEREPRETING “RIGHT LIVELIHOOD”: Understanding and Practice in Contemporary Thailand

INTEREPRETING “RIGHT LIVELIHOOD”: Understanding and Practice in Contemporary Thailand. NISSARA HORAYANGURA nissara@post.harvard.edu. Work and Happiness. Work - the bulk of daily life Work as means of self-actualization (reflect values and aspirations) Work as means of self-development

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INTEREPRETING “RIGHT LIVELIHOOD”: Understanding and Practice in Contemporary Thailand

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  1. INTEREPRETING “RIGHT LIVELIHOOD”:Understanding and Practice in Contemporary Thailand NISSARA HORAYANGURA nissara@post.harvard.edu

  2. Work and Happiness • Work - the bulk of daily life • Work as means of self-actualization (reflect values and aspirations) • Work as means of self-development • Work as part of spiritual practice

  3. Right Livelihood and the Buddhist Path to Happiness Right Livelihood - Part of Buddhist Noble Eightfold Path

  4. Interpreting “Right Livelihood” • How is “Right Livelihood” understood? • How is “Right Livelihood” actually practiced? • Choice of job • Design of work lifestyle …by people seriously committed to spiritual (Buddhist) practice (Thai: “Phu Patibat Tham”) • (8 case-studies of Bangkokians)

  5. Avoiding Wrong Livelihood Five Prohibited Trades in Buddhism • Weapons • Living beings • Meat • Intoxicants • Poison Unethical jobs • Jobs that cause suffering to others • Jobs that involve breaking of 5 precepts

  6. Avoiding Wrong Livelihood Expanding interpretation of Wrong Livelihood “No trade in intoxicants” = No restaurants selling alcohol in shopping mall? “No lying” = No journalism? “No stealing” = No corruption? So no working in business at all? “No causing suffering” = No inciting consumerism? (e.g. advertising/marketing/retailing jobs)

  7. From “Not Wrong” to “Right” Livelihood • Among “Not Wrong” livelihoods, are some more “Right” than others? • Are some incompatible with committed spiritual practice? • Or are some especially supportive of committed spiritual practice?

  8. From “Not Wrong” to “Right” Livelihood • What is truly “Right”? • Not “Right” in simple moralistic sense • But “Right” in holistic sense • Nourish body as well as mind • Benefit self as well as others

  9. Right Intention in a Right Livelihood • Crucial deciding factor between wrong/not wrong and not wrong/right • Question is not strictly what job but how job is done (with what intention) • Right Intention: • Do no harm (Harmlessness) • Not for the money (Renunciation) • Service (Goodwill)

  10. Spiritual Development and Service to Others • Mutually complementary objectives • Objective in work derives from objective in life • Spiritual spin to self-development and service to others • Compassion – Social consciousness • How: Work according to dhammic principles • What: Work in jobs directly related to spirituality (at least part-time, preferably full-time)

  11. Spiritual Development and Service to Others • How: Work mindfully and according to dhammic principles • e.g. Brahmavihara 4 and Iddhipada 4 • “Work is dhamma practice.” (“Kan Tham Ngan Kue Kan Patibat Tham”) - Buddhadasa Bhikkhu

  12. Spiritual Development and Service to Others • What: Work in jobs directly related to spirituality (at least part-time, preferably full-time) • Jobs that allow one to be “close to dhamma” eg learn and practice dhamma • Jobs that involve service • Spreading dhamma/ helping others in spiritual development • Not only monetary donations but also social action through work

  13. Examples of Right Livelihood • Spirituality Directly Incorporated • Writer of dhamma books • Dhamma teacher • Coordinator of spirituality-related projects • Volunteer at retreat Center • Mental health counselor • Spirituality Indirectly Incorporated • Publishing firm publishes dhamma books • Hotel offers “meditation retreat” package • Professor incorporates dhamma into teaching

  14. Difficulties in Practicing Right Livelihood • “Worldly Work” vs. “Dhamma Work” • Not enough time or money • Family expectations (e.g. to work in the family business) • Doing “Dhamma Work” in not so dhammic way

  15. Right Livelihood and the Socio-Economic System • Social conscience, but limited understanding of structural suffering • Little questioning of how jobs are entangled in socio-eco system (e.g. leads to uneven distrib of income, exploits workers, ravages environment) • Little consideration of how jobs can help reform socio-eco system • “Spreading dhamma” at individual, not societal level • Further expansion of interpretation of “Right Livelihood” to include societal dimension is possible (necessary)

  16. Suggestions • Dhamma practitioners – spread dhamma at broader level/ contribute to re-spiritualizing society. Use professional skills creatively to serve society • Monks/Dhamma teachers - teach about RL more explicitly, including societal dimension. • Employers – find ways to incorporate/allow for some spiritual development on the job or provide paid leave to do it • Self-development workshops, self-reflection/evaluation, dialogue • Schools - Counsel students on RL/spiritual considerations in choosing careers • Media – Highlight issues of RL and society

  17. Thank You

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