[Buddha-l] Re: Buddhist pacifism

[Kate]

Hi Mike,

>  From what I have heard, karma occurs on the basis of one of the three
> afflictions - ignorance, attachment  and aversion. Were you to kill the
> termites because you thought it was good, that would be ignorance.

Ok.  I understand that one.

>If you were to kill them to eat, that would be attachment.

We aren't supposed to eat?!  I thought the Buddha warned against such
austerities.  How can eating be considered an attachment considering the
Buddha recommended it?

> If you were to kill them because you disliked them, that would be
aversion.

Ok.  I understand this one too.

> The affliction that takes the termites as an object is the deciding
> factor.

In this example the termites aren't the object.  It is their action of
destroying the house that is.

 > I had a similar situation many years ago when I had some major roof work
> done. The builders discovered a wasps nest and could not safely continue
> their work. Reluctantly, I had to call in pest control. In the meantime.
> I tried shifting the wasps myself by smoking them out with incense. I
> had no aversion to the wasps, and I was not entirely ignorant. However,
> turning a blind eye to things probably constituted ignorance.

But what are the workable alternatives?  Replacing a house isn't usually a
financial possibility, especially if the first one isn't fully paid for.

Regards
Kate