Does illegal downloading violate the 2nd precept?

Buddhist ethical conduct including the Five Precepts (Pañcasikkhāpada), and Eightfold Ethical Conduct (Aṭṭhasīla).
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cappuccino
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Re: Does illegal downloading violate the 2nd precept?

Post by cappuccino »

Sam Vara wrote: Sun Dec 27, 2020 11:59 pm Indeed, but some of the examples above do not involve taking anything
The Thief of a Scent
The devata wrote:You sniff this water-born flower
that hasn't been given to you.
This, dear sir, is a factor of stealing.
You are a thief of a scent.
sunnat
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Post by sunnat »

It's that simple. Does it harm.


Do you hurt when someone takes something from you? Consider the other person in the same light.

Do you hurt when you act out of craving for something and take something that is not given to you? As a buddhist you should know the answer is yes even if in the moment you may not think so. Will you feel remorse. Will there be a niggling doubt. Will you cause a hindrance that will arise again and again blocking the path.

In the long run the world of commerce is one to abandon. Leave it to those who want it. Provide the path to those who do not.

A Good Dhamma book is always given. It is too valuable to put a price on so safely assume that if it can be taken, and not taken by someone else already, it is yours to take. Join a Dhamma library in the local monastery or temple and borrow books.
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Sam Vara
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Re: Does illegal downloading violate the 2nd precept?

Post by Sam Vara »

cappuccino wrote: Mon Dec 28, 2020 12:00 am
Sam Vara wrote: Sun Dec 27, 2020 11:59 pm Indeed, but some of the examples above do not involve taking anything
The Thief of a Scent
The devata wrote:You sniff this water-born flower
that hasn't been given to you.
This, dear sir, is a factor of stealing.
You are a thief of a scent.
This morning I took several breaths, and my morning stroll. And then I took a dump. Nobody gave them to me. Should I confess them?
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cappuccino
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Re: Does illegal downloading violate the 2nd precept?

Post by cappuccino »

I lost $100 recently… for a karmic reason


because I listen to music on YouTube


I should pay from now on…
bpallister
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Re: Does illegal downloading violate the 2nd precept?

Post by bpallister »

i don't do this much any more. I've lost my taste for movies. i do sometimes stream sporting events.
lkzone
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Re: Does illegal downloading violate the 2nd precept?

Post by lkzone »

It dont violate any precept because you are not subtracting nothing from anyone. Digital content can be copied. Not a theft.
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retrofuturist
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Re: Does illegal downloading violate the 2nd precept?

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings cappuccino,
cappuccino wrote: Thu Dec 31, 2020 9:56 pm I lost $100 recently… for a karmic reason

because I listen to music on YouTube

I should pay from now on…
What do you mean by this? Are you being superstitious, or did you get a fine, or something else?

Metta,
Paul. :)
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
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Re: Does illegal downloading violate the 2nd precept?

Post by cappuccino »

retrofuturist wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 12:36 am What do you mean by this?
The slightest of all the results coming from stealing is that, … it leads to the loss of one's wealth.

Vipaka Sutta
lkzone
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Re: Does illegal downloading violate the 2nd precept?

Post by lkzone »

Starting from the beggining that you are not subtracting not from anyone (theres a difference between someone losing or just not winning).
If you are doing right things with the bytes you get, theres no problem. The precept of Buddha states in the case of you take (subtract) something from someone.
In the same way the nature gives anything for anyone, early or later the human beings will learn to do the same.
Take it easy... all our good deeds have some bad behind them, and all our bad have some good.
Nobody is 100% pure. Some people wouldnt know Buddha if they hadnt downloaded that pirated pdf. That is the way the things are comming to we, today.
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cappuccino
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Re: Does illegal downloading violate the 2nd precept?

Post by cappuccino »

I just paid for 12 songs I frequently listen to…
bpallister
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Re: Does illegal downloading violate the 2nd precept?

Post by bpallister »

i've downloaded several buddhism books via pdf
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cappuccino
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Re: Does illegal downloading violate the 2nd precept?

Post by cappuccino »

bpallister wrote: Wed Sep 22, 2021 12:54 am i've downloaded several Buddhism books via pdf
probably fine
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zerotime
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Re: Does illegal downloading violate the 2nd precept?

Post by zerotime »

bpallister wrote: Wed Sep 22, 2021 12:54 am i've downloaded several buddhism books via pdf
copying Buddhist texts is the Buddhism History. Don't stop.
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