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INTEREPRETING

Volunteer at retreat Center. Mental health counselor. Spirituality Indirectly Incorporated ... Hotel offers

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INTEREPRETING

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    Slide 1:INTEREPRETING “RIGHT LIVELIHOOD”: Understanding and Practice in Contemporary Thailand

    NISSARA HORAYANGURA nissara@post.harvard.edu

    Slide 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

    Slide 3:Right Livelihood and the Buddhist Path to Happiness

    Right Livelihood - Part of Buddhist Noble Eightfold Path Buddhist path can be followed to attain happiness at mundane level, or higher level for those truly committed to rigorous spiritual practice Buddhist path can be followed to attain happiness at mundane level, or higher level for those truly committed to rigorous spiritual practice

    Slide 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) Underlying concern: what difficulties do they face in trying to do so?Underlying concern: what difficulties do they face in trying to do so?

    Slide 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

    Slide 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)

    Slide 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?

    Slide 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

    Slide 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) Not for money – anti-capitalist becomes anti-wealthNot for money – anti-capitalist becomes anti-wealth

    Slide 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)

    Slide 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

    Slide 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

    Slide 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

    Slide 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

    Slide 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)

    Slide 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

    Slide 17: Thank You

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