Why Did the Buddha Prohibit Killing ?

Описание: Why Did the Buddha Prohibit Killing ?
The Buddha’s prohibition of killing is rooted in the fundamental principle of ahimsa, or non-violence, which serves as the very foundation of Buddhist ethics. Far from being a mere legalistic command, the first precept is a form of mental training designed to transform the human character by replacing destructive impulses with the virtues of kindness and compassion. At the psychological heart of this prohibition is empathy. The Buddha taught that all beings—from the largest mammals to the smallest insects—possess a fundamental right to exist and fear death just as humans do. By practicing a "radical act of imagination," we are encouraged to take ourselves as the measure; since we tremble at violence and value our own lives, we should not kill nor cause others to kill. To take a life is to act out of a delusional sense of separateness, ignoring the truth that all beings desire happiness and fear pain.

Furthermore, the Buddha warned of the inescapable law of karma, an impersonal law of cause and effect similar to the laws of physics. Every act of violence sows a "seed" in the Alaya (storehouse) consciousness. These seeds eventually ripen into life experiences, and the negative momentum of killing can haunt a practitioner for hundreds of lifetimes, not as a punishment from a judge, but as the natural result of one's own actions. Even in this lifetime, violence leaves lasting imprints that can lead to mental derangement, anxiety, and depression.

Ultimately, the Buddha's vision is one of universal interdependence, beautifully illustrated by Indra’s Net—an infinite network of gems where each reflects all others. In this interconnected reality, harming any part of the "living organism" of the universe is effectively harming ourselves. By upholding the commitment to non-killing, a practitioner contributes to the "immune system" of a humane society, providing the world with the greatest possible gift: freedom from fear, danger, and animosity. This shift from restraint to active love (Metta) transforms a person into a "noble one" who protects all life with the devotion of a mother protecting her only child.

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