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Killing and its consequences
I'm 24, have a professional job, and I still tend to flatten any bug in my path. When I'm out running, I'll actually go a couple strides out of the way to aim for them with my feet. I don't how many bugs I've crushed in some way over the years (mostly beneath my feet I'm sure) but it's probably a lot and I have no problem doing it.
Do you think that it's immoral? It seems pretty normal to me. Most of my male friends wouldn't think twice before planting a foot over some busy anthill, nor would I. The only downside is having to scrape their little exoskeletons off my sneaker later, although I usually just leave them stuck down there.
How would karma play into all this? Would I be reborn as many times as there are ants that I've crushed?
Do you think that it's immoral? It seems pretty normal to me. Most of my male friends wouldn't think twice before planting a foot over some busy anthill, nor would I. The only downside is having to scrape their little exoskeletons off my sneaker later, although I usually just leave them stuck down there.
How would karma play into all this? Would I be reborn as many times as there are ants that I've crushed?
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Comments
One of the Buddhist precepts is, roughly, "don't kill or cause to be killed." This is nice advice but it is more delicate than some easy-peasy pacifist mantra. In what moment do we, by our very existence, not deprive others of what may nourish them most? In what moment do we not destroy ... even as we create?
If you're thinking about this matter, it would probably be a good idea to reflect further until you come to some experiential answer with which to be at peace. If ignoring the questions doesn't work and embracing them doesn't work either, well, what works?
It's up to each person individually. Religious or philosophical nostrums are not enough.
Alan
Morality is a personal sense, something subjective. When you do it, do you feel immoral? I wonder what motivated the questioning?
Karmically, your lack of concern for lesser creatures affects your life now. Have you noticed how others lack concern for you? Perhaps your bosses, parents, teachers or partner seem to have a disregard for your struggles? Perhaps your there is a feeling in your life that something or someone is thwarting your intentions?
You could look around, in your life experiences, for the foot that carelessly snuffs out your joy... a lack of empathy. If your bug killing is as callous as you describe it, the experience should be potent for you.
Conversely, if you take the time to generate care for animals you see as less than you, your relationships with others (and yourself) will also become more caring.
With warmth,
Matt
Even if you have nothing else in common with a bug, do you not agree that they have as great a desire to live as you do? Why, then, would you kill them purposely if they posed no harm to you?