Posted by: Michael Rickicki | 01/09/2018

Right Livelihood

In taking a closer look at the factors of the Eightfold Path, I find myself aching what Right Livelihood means to me. Before getting to that, though, is best to see what the Lord Buddha said:

“A lay follower should not engage in five types of business. Which five? Business in weapons, business in human beings, business in meat, business in intoxicants, and business in poison.”

AN 5.177

Fortunately, I deal in none of those and it may be that I’ve incorrectly framed the question as my questing is not so much with what I’ll producing and selling but with the treatment of those who work for me. In today’s capitalist economy, people at the bottom in the American workforce are often left to work for minimal pay and without benefits.

Sadly, there’s not much more that we can do as small business owners other than pay as well as we can and treat everyone with respect. The problem is systemic and the best solution I can come up with is to take less and share more.

May I do my best to treat my employees well. May I be sure to use the money I make in the service of others and to support the Dhamma.


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Shillelagh Studies

A hub for the music, culture, knowledge, and practice of Irish stick-fighting, past and present.