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We have been trying to get rid of bedbugs for three or four months now. I know that a non-dualistic view would see myself, my family and bedbugs as a whole. But I still have to get rid of them because I do not want to spread them and the bites are very uncomfortable for my wife.
So any wisdom out there on how to view this non-dualistically?
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If you didn't have such a long history on this site, I would have thought that this is a troll question.
I remember a story where something is proposed similar to this but I'll do it in another way: suppose a bodhisattva sees that a vampire intends to feed on the blood of virtuous shravaka Buddhas, pratyekabuddhas, or bodhisattvas to live; which will cause them to fall into the Uninterrupted hell(for shedding the blood of an Arahant). When seeing this, the bodhisattva will think, "If I kill that vampire, I will fall into the hells or rupaloka; if I do not kill him, he will commit crimes which will lead him to the Uninterrupted hell, where he will suffer greater than he is now. I would rather kill him and fall to the hells myself than let him undergo great suffering in the Uninterrupted hell."
Then, deeply regretting the necessity for this action, and with a heart full of compassion, he will kill that vampire. In doing this, he does not violate the bodhisattva precepts; instead, he generates many merits.
Similar too is the idea of killing the bugs for the sake of protecting others.
Buddha bless,
Conrad.
This makes sense to me. It is sad and unfortunate that the bed bugs are born into the suffering realm of parasitic insects and that they will die by extermination, but perhaps next they will have a better rebirth and an opportunity to practice the dharma.
Can you anticipate people applying such reasoning to animals butchered for meat, or in some cases to humans?
Buddha bless,
Conrad.
The OP asked the question about non-dualism, not about the precept against killing.
I submit that the question is similar to the parable of the man struck by an arrow, which necessitates removal of the arrow first instead of idle speculation about it. I suggest that the question of non-dualism in relationship to bedbugs is idle speculation as well.
But again, the thread is not about the morality of the killing of the bedbugs. It's about non-duality in relationship to an infestation of bedbugs, which, again, seems like idle speculation.
I stand corrected.
Buddha bless,
Conrad.
Can you elaborate on "conventional phenomena"?
Again, sorry for the "almost troll", just trying to better my understanding. And yes, I'm trying to better my understanding of non-dualism, not the precept against killing.
Thanks again
Meanwhile, you have a bedbug problem, much as the soldier in the parable had a problem with the arrow. Even if they don't exist in and of themselves, you need to get rid of them.
On a practical level you could pray for the higher rebirth of the bedbugs , or make offerings at your locial Monestary to help offset some of the karma from the killing of sentient beings.
I would disagree about this being idle speculation, any time one in concerned about killing is a good thing no matter how it is expressed and I applaud you for that.
I try to catch insects in my house and move them out of my house.
I would say that Bed Bugs are not sentient life, they are closer to mould than mind;)
Thank you Donna and Hermit
Unfortunately that doesn't work with bedbugs. Once you have them you have to treat everything and not just get rid of items.
Nope, it's still do not kill.
I hope not.
You mean people like Hitler for example? :crazy:
Heh. I remember this kind of story specifically was told in the Yogacarabhumi-sastra, so I told another in a similar style.
I know, in that case I will say in relation to the OP:
" in seeing, there is just seeing. No seer and nothing seen. In hearing, there is just hearing. No hearer and nothing heard.”
-Bahiya Sutta, Udana 1.10
The duality of a person in relation to the bedbug is an illusion.
*nod* This is what I do. I mentally or under my breath apologize to them as I kill them. I know they can't hear me, but I think it's good to be mindful of what is happening. That could have been me in a previous existence (or might yet be).
I think the Doctor would agree. ^_^
Why wouldn't this question be taken seriously? I don't understand this "troll" accusation that keeps turning up on this site. I have yet to run into a question that I wouldn't consider legitimate.
I don't either, but then I haven't been here long. Maybe in the past there have been problems with it.. *shrug*
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=concern+troll