1. INTEREPRETING “RIGHT LIVELIHOOD”: Understanding and Practice in Contemporary Thailand NISSARA HORAYANGURA nissara@post.harvard.edu

2. Work and Happiness Work - the bulk of daily life Work - the bulk of daily life Work as means of self- actualization (reflect values and aspirations) Work as means of self- actualization (reflect values and aspirations) Work as means of self- development Work as means of self- development Work as part of spiritual practice Work as part of spiritual practice

3. Right Livelihood and the Buddhist Path to Happiness Right Livelihood - Part of Buddhist Noble Eightfold Path Morality (Sila) Right Speech (samma-vaca) Right Action (samma-kammanta) Right Livelihood (samma ajiva) Inner  Outer Transformation (on Individual and Social Levels) Mental Discipline (Samadhi) Right Effort (samma-vayama) Right Mindfulness (samma-sati) Right Concentration (samma- samadhi) Inner Transformation Wisdom (Panna) Right View (samma-ditthi) Right Intention (samma-sankappa) Inner Transformation

4. Interpreting “Right Livelihood” How is “Right Livelihood” understood? How is “Right Livelihood” understood? How is “Right Livelihood” actually practiced? How is “Right Livelihood” actually practiced? Choice of job Choice of job Design of work lifestyle Design of work lifestyle …by people seriously committed to spiritual (Buddhist) practice (Thai: “Phu Patibat Tham”) (8 case-studies of Bangkokians) (8 case-studies of Bangkokians)

5. Avoiding Wrong Livelihood Five Prohibited Trades in Buddhism Weapons Weapons Living beings Living beings Meat Meat Intoxicants Intoxicants Poison Poison Unethical jobs Jobs that cause suffering to others Jobs that cause suffering to others Jobs that involve breaking of 5 precepts Jobs that involve breaking of 5 precepts

6. Avoiding Wrong Livelihood Expanding interpretation of Wrong Livelihood “No trade in intoxicants” = No restaurants selling alcohol in shopping mall? “No lying” = No journalism? “No stealing” = No corruption? So no working in business at all? “No causing suffering” = No inciting consumerism? (e.g. advertising/marketing/retailing jobs)

7. From “Not Wrong” to “Right” Livelihood Among “Not Wrong” livelihoods, are some more “Right” than others? Among “Not Wrong” livelihoods, are some more “Right” than others? Are some incompatible with committed spiritual practice? Are some incompatible with committed spiritual practice? Or are some especially supportive of committed spiritual practice? Or are some especially supportive of committed spiritual practice?

8. From “Not Wrong” to “Right” Livelihood What is truly “Right”? What is truly “Right”? Not “Right” in simple moralistic sense Not “Right” in simple moralistic sense But “Right” in holistic sense But “Right” in holistic sense Nourish body as well as mind Nourish body as well as mind Benefit self as well as others Benefit self as well as others

9. Right Intention in a Right Livelihood Crucial deciding factor between wrong/not wrong and not wrong/right Crucial deciding factor between wrong/not wrong and not wrong/right Question is not strictly what job but how job is done (with what intention) Question is not strictly what job but how job is done (with what intention) Right Intention: Right Intention: Do no harm (Harmlessness) Do no harm (Harmlessness) Not for the money (Renunciation) Not for the money (Renunciation) Service (Goodwill) Service (Goodwill)

10. Spiritual Development and Service to Others Mutually complementary objectives Mutually complementary objectives Objective in work derives from objective in life Objective in work derives from objective in life Spiritual spin to self-development and service to others Spiritual spin to self-development and service to others Compassion – Social consciousness Compassion – Social consciousness How: Work according to dhammic principles How: Work according to dhammic principles What: Work in jobs directly related to spirituality (at least part-time, preferably full-time) What: Work in jobs directly related to spirituality (at least part-time, preferably full-time)

11. Spiritual Development and Service to Others How: Work mindfully and according to dhammic principles How: Work mindfully and according to dhammic principles e.g. Brahmavihara 4 and Iddhipada 4 e.g. Brahmavihara 4 and Iddhipada 4 “Work is dhamma practice.” “Work is dhamma practice.” (“Kan Tham Ngan Kue Kan Patibat Tham”) (“Kan Tham Ngan Kue Kan Patibat Tham”) - Buddhadasa Bhikkhu - Buddhadasa Bhikkhu

12. Spiritual Development and Service to Others What: Work in jobs directly related to spirituality (at least part-time, preferably full-time) What: Work in jobs directly related to spirituality (at least part-time, preferably full-time) Jobs that allow one to be “close to dhamma” eg learn and practice dhamma Jobs that allow one to be “close to dhamma” eg learn and practice dhamma Jobs that involve service Jobs that involve service Spreading dhamma/ helping others in spiritual development Spreading dhamma/ helping others in spiritual development Not only monetary donations but also social action through work Not only monetary donations but also social action through work

13. Examples of Right Livelihood Spirituality Directly Incorporated Spirituality Directly Incorporated Writer of dhamma books Writer of dhamma books Dhamma teacher Dhamma teacher Coordinator of spirituality-related projects Coordinator of spirituality-related projects Volunteer at retreat Center Volunteer at retreat Center Mental health counselor Mental health counselor Spirituality Indirectly Incorporated Spirituality Indirectly Incorporated Publishing firm publishes dhamma books Publishing firm publishes dhamma books Hotel offers “meditation retreat” package Hotel offers “meditation retreat” package Professor incorporates dhamma into teaching Professor incorporates dhamma into teaching

14. Difficulties in Practicing Right Livelihood “Worldly Work” vs. “Dhamma Work” “Worldly Work” vs. “Dhamma Work” Not enough time or money Not enough time or money Family expectations (e.g. to work in the family business) Family expectations (e.g. to work in the family business) Doing “Dhamma Work” in not so dhammic way Doing “Dhamma Work” in not so dhammic way

15. Right Livelihood and the Socio-Economic System Social conscience, but limited understanding of structural suffering Social conscience, but limited understanding of structural suffering Little questioning of how jobs are entangled in socio-eco system (e.g. leads to uneven distrib of income, exploits workers, ravages environment) Little questioning of how jobs are entangled in socio-eco system (e.g. leads to uneven distrib of income, exploits workers, ravages environment) Little consideration of how jobs can help reform socio-eco system Little consideration of how jobs can help reform socio-eco system “Spreading dhamma” at individual, not societal level “Spreading dhamma” at individual, not societal level Further expansion of interpretation of “Right Livelihood” to include societal dimension is possible (necessary) Further expansion of interpretation of “Right Livelihood” to include societal dimension is possible (necessary)

16. Suggestions Dhamma practitioners – spread dhamma at broader level/ contribute to re-spiritualizing society. Use professional skills creatively to serve society Dhamma practitioners – spread dhamma at broader level/ contribute to re-spiritualizing society. Use professional skills creatively to serve society Monks/Dhamma teachers - teach about RL more explicitly, including societal dimension. Monks/Dhamma teachers - teach about RL more explicitly, including societal dimension. Employers – find ways to incorporate/allow for some spiritual development on the job or provide paid leave to do it Employers – find ways to incorporate/allow for some spiritual development on the job or provide paid leave to do it Self-development workshops, self-reflection/evaluation, dialogue Self-development workshops, self-reflection/evaluation, dialogue Schools - Counsel students on RL/spiritual considerations in choosing careers Schools - Counsel students on RL/spiritual considerations in choosing careers Media – Highlight issues of RL and society Media – Highlight issues of RL and society

17. Thank You