Episode Details

Day 10:  No Harm

"Harassing not others, those who seek happiness gain their own happiness hereafter."  ~ The Buddha (Dhammapada 132)

One of the Five Precepts is to refrain from stealing or taking what is not yours. But what does that mean during a pandemic? We have seen people going to stores to hoard things, such as toilet paper, food, water, and other supplies. Some have said this is a psychological response to lack of control over the situation.

However, most of modern supply chains work in a “just-in-time” replenishment, meaning shelves are going bare unnecessarily. They are going bare not because there is no food or supplies, but because they cannot be restocked fast enough when people take too much.

The impact seems hidden; however, it is now being seen and felt. The elderly and others who live on fixed incomes and cannot compete with the numerous peoples stripping the shelves bare. Medical workers cannot find masks, gloves, and other equipment to keep themselves safe. Pharmacies are running out of medication when people want two-month supplies or get a doctor to prescribe them medication that might help them if they get the virus. People who are sick may not get needed supplies.

Harm is being done each time. Your actions may start the chain of events that leads to someone being killed as a result. Lack of medication, food, and supplies can quickly impact the most vulnerable.

Focus

• Recognize when you are buying, or doing, something out of fear and loss of control. 
• Develop insight to see how your actions may be hurting others. 
• See if you can help those most in need, such as an elderly neighbor or someone with a medical condition. Have you given blood to a blood bank? Have you given comfort to someone?

Practice

• Continue to recite the Five Remembrances. 
• Continue to Meditate, at least once a day, starting with being mindful of the breath. For today, focus on the interconnectedness of all sentient beings. Are your actions harming them? Can you see how one action can cause another? Gain insight to see how an action can cause someone or something to die as a result, and how right action produces wholesome results. 
• New Practice: Strive to do no harm and instead to do wholesome actions and built merit. For instance, while you may want an extra can of food, which is fine, an entire case can cause a shortage. Connect with others to see how you can help them so they can survive.

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