killing insects

[Billy5000]

I work in a cleaning job and I have to clean away spiders and other insects which accumulate within buildings. The only practical way to do this is to kill them. There are too many to try and remove them from the building. I feel terrible about this. I want to change my job because of it but I dont have any prospects for alternative employment and so its too difficult. I am in a quandary about this.

[cooran]

Here is a previous discussion about this topic:

Killing Insects
http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=19806" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

With metta,
Chris

[dhammacoustic]

Don't do it, terrible kamma. Find a way not to kill/harm them.

[ryanM]

Does anyone remember the sutta where the Buddha gave advice to a warrior/solider to carry on with his occupation, and hope for a future rebirth where this occupation wasn't necessary? That sutta reminds me of situations like this. I understand that you can't necessarily change your occupation right now, but I'd consider changing when you can seeing that it probably brings some sort of conflict up within you. Wishing you the best, my friend!

Ryan

[SarathW]

We should take every effort to not to kill insects.
Having said that, I am not pretending here that I do not kill insects.
I have to clean my house and break the cob webs.
Then I have to vacuum them as well.
However the intention is not to kill.

I do not use pesticides in my garden.
Pesticides are not good as it kills the native birds as well.
However when I work in the garden I may unintentionally kill worms or insects.

As lay people, there is a limitation the way we can observe precepts.
Killing an insect is not the same weighty kamma as a killing of a human. (Human has the potential to attain Nibbana)
May be we do not kill insects but may be doing greater harm by our wrong speech.
So if you observe all other precepts killing an insect could be a grain of salt in the Ganges river.

The point I am trying to make here is killing generally unwholesome.
We should be aware of that and should not try to justify the killing as good under any circumstance.

[cooran]

Spray catnip as mentioned in the link above - it doesn't harm just repels.

[SarathW]

While we are in this subject this may relevant.

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/anima ... lgw91.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[seeker242]

I want to change my job because of it but I dont have any prospects for alternative employment and so its too difficult.

Even though it's difficult, I would keep trying anyway.

[dennis]

I would suggest (if it's possible) to surreptitiously save as many insects as possible on each job you're assigned to. Loosing your job over something that may seem eccentric probably isn't a good idea. But even small acts add up.

[Monkey Gift of Honey]

Billy,

You wrote,

I work in a cleaning job and I have to clean away spiders and other insects which accumulate within buildings... I want to change my job because of it but I dont have any prospects... I am in a quandary about this.

Sonic Technology Bugbuster, Battery Operated No Harm Spider and Insect Vacuum by Sonic Technology
"This is a gentle insect vacuum designed not to harm the insect. ..."
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Bugzooka Bug Catcher Vacuum by BugZooka
"The battery-free BugZooka generates 10 times the suction power of motorized models to humanely capture insect invaders for outdoor release. ..."
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Humane Bug Catcher
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[Laurens]

I imagine that if it is a matter of your religious beliefs you ought to be able to raise the issue with your employer and tell them that it is against your religion to kill insects. If they discipline or fire you over it then that might qualify for unfair dismissal.

I'd consider contacting an employment adviser, or trade union to give you some advice. I imagine though that (depending on where you live) your employer can't make a Buddhist kill a spider any more than they can make a Muslim take off their Hijab. At least it could be argued as such, however given that you didn't raise the issue from the offset they might say you ought to have informed them from the very start. I would seek employment advice and maybe get a union rep to fight your corner if you have a case.

[iHappy]

I imagine that if it is a matter of your religious beliefs you ought to be able to raise the issue with your employer and tell them that it is against your religion to kill insects. If they discipline or fire you over it then that might qualify for unfair dismissal.

I'd consider contacting an employment adviser, or trade union to give you some advice. I imagine though that (depending on where you live) your employer can't make a Buddhist kill a spider any more than they can make a Muslim take off their Hijab. At least it could be argued as such, however given that you didn't raise the issue from the offset they might say you ought to have informed them from the very start. I would seek employment advice and maybe get a union rep to fight your corner if you have a case.

It depends on the country you live at...
People think I am weird when I am trying to save insects, even my own family thinks so.

Telling such a thing to a boss is beyond imaginable.

[dhammapal]

Surely you couldn't build a monastery without killing insects.

I heard of a case where following construction there was a sharing of merit to the insects that died.