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Bugs bug me
Ning
You tell me idk New
If I'm not supposed to harm other living beings, what should I do if there's an ant infestation at my house ๐
I'm serious please help me ๐ญ
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Comments
I've had hornets nests and I had them killed because they were a danger. Farming vegetables lots of insects are killed. I think you just prevent them coming in the future after you get rid of the infestation. And yes it's possible I'll return to birth as a hornet, but samsara is imperfect by definition
I usually am successful with just keeping my place clean, not giving them thing to eat. Leaving the spiders alone in the corners outsources the killing to a degree too.
An honest infestation is difficult though. I've heard stories of the lengths monastics will go to when they have bug problems in their monasteries. At some point though it does become necessary to take more severe action. In those situations you can mitigate the karma through keeping as positive of an intention as possible and doing some purifying practices afterwards.
Itโs a tricky problemโฆ in the past Iโve put my Buddhism on temporary hold in order to had exterminations done, and then make reparations by leaving a cake in the forest for the ants there to eat.
I heard the story of a US-based Zen monastery that had a bug infestation. First, they tried eveything they could think of to remove them nonviolently. Then, they sent a letter to their seniors in Japan seeking advice. The seniors advised to extermimate the bugs since the health and hygiene of visitors takes precedence in this case.
You asking the question shows that you are rightly thinking of the ants as important and that you've likely already tried various nonviolent remedies.
A practical idea for your possible consideration:
If ants they can be guided to new sites with trails leading to their favourite food. I use tiger balm smeared trails.
Wasps and bee I have a particular affinity with and place gumdrops or plant flowers for the bee visitors.
You can also try talking to them or moving them on an individual basis...