Rearticulating the moral foundation that makes happiness possible and honors our kinship with all living beings, Joseph Goldstein explores Right Action and Right Livelihood.
The Satipatthana Sutta is one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. This episode is the 45th part of an in-depth 48-part weekly lecture series from Joseph Goldstein that delves into every aspect of the Satipatthana Sutta. If you are just jumping into the Satipatthana Sutta series, CLICK HERE to start at the first episode.
In this episode’s exploration of the Satipatthana Sutta, Joseph Goldstein discusses:
- Navigating cultural changes with mindfulness, integrity, and personal responsibility
- Right Action: cultivating clarity and strength of mind to abstain from actions that cause harm to self or others
- The Buddha’s teachings on non-harming, non-killing, and cultivating a deep sense of kinship with all living beings
- Desiring the welfare of all sentient beings– even something as small as a mosquito or an ant
- Facing ethical dilemmas with awareness, avoiding the trap of rationalizing harmful or selfish actions
- Understanding karma and consequences as directly linked to the intensity of our defilements
- How non-stealing and generosity foster trust, harmony, and a universal sense of safety
- Living mindfully by not consuming or taking more than we truly need, contributing to global economic and ecological balance
- Becoming mindful of the power of sexual energy, refraining from sexual misconduct, and keeping the sangha beautiful
- Seeing Right Livelihood as a crucial aspect of the path, given how much of life is devoted to work
- Applying right livelihood into any profession by infusing our role with service, ethics, and awareness
- Understanding wealth as a blessing when rightfully earned and used for the benefit of many beings
This episode was originally published on Dharmaseed.
“When we’re killing things or harming, it creates the ultimate alienation and separation from other beings. This part of the path is learning how to relate to other forms of life as fellow living beings, each one with a desire to continue their life.” – Joseph Goldstein
Grab a copy of the book Joseph references throughout this series, Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization, HERE and check out the other mentioned book from this episode, Kinship with All Life
“It’s possible to develop an attitude of service in whatever work we do. Are we simply doing a job to support ourselves, or, are we watching the attitudes in our mind as we do our work? Do we work with care, attentiveness, with a genuine desire to be helpful? It’s not only what we do, but how we do it.” – Joseph Goldstein
Listen to more from Joseph:
In the search for liberation, we must explore the nature of our existence. Joseph investigates the wisdom of impermanence in Insight Hour Ep. 2.
There are deeper levels of truth about reality. Joseph explores different ways of freeing the mind by understanding the habits of preference and the emptiness of thoughts in Insight Hour Ep. 41.
It’s possible to smile at the antics of one’s own mind. Joseph offers responses to questions about selflessness, shame, cravings, and more in Insight Hour Ep. 111.
Metta practice can penetrate deeply. Joseph explores how love, kindness, gratitude, and friendship can revolutionize our lives in Insight Hour Ep. 117.