How skilfully is it to cut of grass with lawnmover?

[villkorkarma]

How skilfully is it to cut of grass with lawnmover?

[LonesomeYogurt]

I don't think there's any problem with it! So long as you don't intentionally kill any living beings, it should be fine.

[tiltbillings]

I don't think there's any problem with it! So long as you don't intentionally kill any living beings, it should be fine.

But what if you know that there little peeper frogs and toads and countless insects living in the grass that will not fare well being run over by the cyclone of death machine?

[manas]

We could try going over the area beforehand with a rake, while raking up some of the bigger twigs and sticks, some of the creatures might get the message that something is about to happen, and clear off.

I don't like mowing because I'm aware that probably thousands of tiny insects lose their lives in the process, but if I let the grass grow too long, I could be held as breaking one of the conditions of my lease, and could end up being evicted. Right now, becoming homeless - literally - would not help in my dhamma practice, because then my kids could no longer stay over on weekends, etc -and they need their father in their lives, in an environment more secure than a cheap caravan park or rooming house...

As laypersons, sometimes we need to weigh things up, and sometimes either decision we make is imperfect, ime.

[m0rl0ck]

If you cut the grass, thousands of living beings will die. A nap, on the other hand, harms no one.

[contemplating]

so what then should one do? cut the grass with scissors to ensure that no sentient beings are harmed? Could it be equated to driving to work and not knowing that you ran over/into hundreds of bugs and insects, even though you most likely did?

[SarathW]

Good question.
I always thought why bother cutting grass. It is noisy, environment pollution, costly, harm living beings etc.
Only reason I cut grass is as my neighbour cut his!
Why can't we see the beauty of grass without cutting it?

[manas]

It's all well and good for those who own their own home. But those of us who rent could get evicted if we never cut the lawn. I would prefer not to cut it also. But I ask those who judge us unwilling yet obligated lawn-cutters, what would you do? Let it grow to chest height, creating a fire hazard for the neighbours? Tell the landlord "my religion prohibits the mowing of lawns, sorry". If I did that, I'd get a notice to vacate. And for persons on my income, it's VERY hard to get a flat or unit nowadays.

[cooran]

Set the blades at a higher level. Most non-flying insects live right at ground level and would be missed by the blades. The flying ones leave the area. The noise of the mower will warn non-flyers to take cover in holes or dips.

In Australia, not cutting the grass would leave you and your neighbours open to deadly snakes and fires – as well as prosecution from council.

with metta
Chris

[Mr. Grimnasty]

How skilfully is it to cut of grass with lawnmover?

With a sickle is more skilful. Most skilful is with a scythe. Use no fossil fuel and get some exercise.

[Ben]

It all depends on whether you can do something like this:

lucy_pringle_crop_circle.jpg (50.59 KiB) Viewed 312 times

And remember, kamma is intention.

[alan]

Hah! Good one Ben.
The answer to the original question:
Cutting grass has no effect whatsoever on your Kamma, and it is not a question of skill.

[manas]

Set the blades at a higher level. Most non-flying insects live right at ground level and would be missed by the blades. The flying ones leave the area. The noise of the mower will warn non-flyers to take cover in holes or dips.
...
Chris

Thanks Chris, that is a good idea

metta