David N. Snyder wrote:Really? What if it was a human being infested with ticks and fleas? Would you let the human die so that you don't accumulate any bad kamma?Virgo wrote:Absolutely not. You should never, ever kill living beings.cherrytigerbarb wrote:Is it ok to kill ticks and fleas if it's to save the life of an infested animal?
The fact that the infested animal will die is very sad, however, it is not your fault. All beings must die. It is a time to be equanimous.
Yes, killing is bad, but everything is not all so easy when we have obligations and responsibilities. And size does matter to some extent. The Vinaya makes one such distinction, considering murder (of a human) an offense so serious as to require permanent expulsion from the Sangha (Parajika 3), while killing an animal is a far less serious offence (Pacittiya 62), on a par with insulting someone, idle chatter and having a non-regulation size sitting mat.
Large royal animals are not allowed to be eaten even if offered to monks. Animals and small beings which one does not see but accidentally steps on or kills; there is no offense.
i am in complete agreement with David .
What is mentioned makes sense . With these noble thoughts of trying our best not to intentionally harm any beings , we must dig deeper and look further inside ourselves whether the roots of lust, anger , hatred , conceit , jealousy , ill will , harbored since time immemorial , is loosing its hold on us . If these base emotions continue to be strong with us , and yet we focus mostly only on the intricate details , i think somewhere down the road , we may have unknowingly forgotten our basics .
Also the contemplation of dukkha in everything that we do , is a pointer of the way life has been , is , and will always be..........the noble truth of living.............
sanjay