He should not kill a living being, nor cause it to be killed, nor should he incite another to kill. Do not injure any being, either strong or weak in the world. - Sutta Nipata, 11,14
How does that supposedly work, anyway? Walking down the street kills ants, breathing kills bacteria, etc. Does it specify somewhere what they mean by living beings? I've always wondered that.
Personally, I could not allow an animal to suffer. But from a Buddhist standpoint, I assume it would be bad karma to take any life. But again, they always emphasize intention. So, the intention would be to ease suffering and that would be a good thing. What they have always taught is to treat all sentient beings with the same respect. They could have been your mother in another life. So all creatures are in essence our mothers.
I should ask the monks that question. I bet Kuten Lama would have an answer. That's one of the things I appreciate about the Tibetans, they always make you think beyond the words being spoken.
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I should ask the monks that question. I bet Kuten Lama would have an answer. That's one of the things I appreciate about the Tibetans, they always make you think beyond the words being spoken.
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