Bhikkhu Bodhi Equivocating on Sīla?

[mikenz66]

Hi Dan,

Actually I was imagining the arahant doing somewhat like this:



"These aren't the [whatever] you're looking for..."

But, more seriously, as I said above, when faced with a difficult situation, I think that one should apply the advice to Rahula about whether the action would lead to affliction of self or others:
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=11640&start=40#p176235
not think of it as a legalistic bar exam.


Mike

[Dan74]

Hi Dan,

Actually I was imagining the arahant doing somewhat like this:



"These aren't the [whatever] you're looking for..."

That's lying. Bad Obiwan! Well I guess it was a drop in the ocean of bad karma he already made with all that violence in Episodes 1-3, not to mention 2-d character development and second rate acting.

But, more seriously, as I said above, when faced with a difficult situation, I think that one should apply the advice to Rahula about whether the action would lead to affliction of self or others:
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=11640&start=40#p176235
not think of it as a legalistic bar exam.


Mike

Funny that - a sensible advice from the Buddha. Who would've thought!

[Vepacitta]

Personally, if a person has to really think and equivocate about what is right in terms of sila vis a vis the ever popular Nazi/Jewish scenario (I tried to introduce the Cheka/gulag scenario for a change of pace, but no one got it), then that person really has no moral centre.

I said this in Bhante Bodhi's class when someone started equivocating in this way - I let that person have it in no uncertain terms and and Bhante just smiled and nodded his head.

This stuff should be in-born, it's just so bleeding obvious ....

V.