Buddhism 101
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Why don’t more Buddhist teachers teach the Basic Core Tenants of Right Action and Right Livelihood (Conscious Consumerism and Purposeful Occupation) that could save the Earth?
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I have been a student of Buddhism since around 2014. I have read many books. I have listened to Buddhist teachers in-person and online. I have gone on a meditation retreat.
I’m realizing that none of these teachers really truly taught the importance of:
Right Livelihood
&
Right Action
Therefore, I will educate you on these concepts from the Buddha, that are the basics of this religion and may serve you well to understand.
The 4 Noble Truths:
1. The truth of suffering (𝑑𝑢𝑘𝑘ℎ𝑎)
Life inherently involves suffering, or “dukkha,” which can include physical pain, sickness, old age, death, and emotional distress.
It is a pragmatic acknowledgment that life is unsatisfactory, not a purely negative worldview.
2. The truth of the cause of suffering (𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑢𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑎)
The root cause of suffering is craving, attachment, and desire, known as “tanha”.
This includes craving for pleasure, for existence, and for non-existence.
3. The truth of the cessation of suffering (𝑛𝑖𝑟𝑜𝑑ℎ𝑎)
Suffering can cease completely.
This cessation is achieved by overcoming craving and attachment.
This state of liberation is known as nirvana.
4. The truth of the path to the cessation of suffering (𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑔𝑎)
The way to end suffering is by following the Noble Eightfold Path.
This path is a practical guide that includes ethical and mental practices designed to cultivate wisdom and liberation.
-Source: Google AI
The Noble Eight Fold Path
Wisdom
Right View: An accurate understanding of reality and the Four Noble Truths.
Right Intention: A commitment to avoid thoughts of greed, hatred, and harmful intent.
Ethical Conduct
Right Speech: Speaking truthfully and avoiding lies, divisive talk, harsh words, and idle chatter.
Right Action: Refraining from harming others, such as killing, stealing, and sexual misconduct.
Right Livelihood: Earning a living in a way that does not harm others.
Mental Discipline
Right Effort: Cultivating positive states of mind and abandoning negative ones.
Right Mindfulness: Being fully aware of your thoughts, feelings, and surroundings.
Right Concentration: Developing focused, meditative states of mind.
Source: Google AI
You can read on my Website or Medium page all of my writings about how the environment is dying. You can also read about it here in The Guardian:
“The Amazon rainforest is now emitting more carbon dioxide than it is able to absorb, scientists have confirmed for the first time. The emissions amount to a billion tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, according to a study. The giant forest had previously been a carbon sink, absorbing the emissions driving the climate crisis, but is now causing its acceleration, researchers said. Most of the emissions are caused by fires, many deliberately set to clear land for beef and soy production. But even without fires, hotter temperatures and droughts mean the south-eastern Amazon has become a source of CO2, rather than a sink. Growing trees and plants have taken up about a quarter of all fossil fuel emissions since 1960, with the Amazon playing a major role as the largest tropical forest. Losing the Amazon’s power to capture CO2 is a stark warning that slashing emissions from fossil fuels is more urgent than ever, scientists said.” — The Guardian
I think we’re literally starting to ingest our own shit, our own sins, our own karma.
Why haven’t meditation teachers taught about Right Livelihood and Right Action?
An idea/solution for Buddhist teachers: You could create a simple one-page document that you give to everybody who joins your congregation, and you say the Four Noble Truths and the Eight Fold Path at the beginning of each session, and then you start your teaching. This can give everybody a pause to reflect upon their lives and how they are following or not The Buddha’s Teachings.
Here is my explanation of these concepts, for those meditation teachers who wish to share these important concepts with their followers:
Right Livelihood:
Conscious Consumerism
Paying attention to what you buy
Trying to buy organic, local, vegan, biodegradable food and products
Right Action:
What is your occupation? Is it evil? Or good? Is it karma positive or negative?
Do you have a purpose greater than yourself?
The environment is dying, therefore that means we’re going karma negative. You could help by taking action that is karma positive.
The Real Problem and the Real Solution
Is the problem with all of the listeners of these meditation teachers that they actually don’t have a purpose? Maybe they’re priveledged and need to get out of their minds and actually help people in poverty, the homeless, or the environment. Maybe then they would feel better? This concept of Right Livelihood and Right Action may be a really good way to teach these concepts and help save the world.
Many people are stuck in mind stories. Emptiness, impermanence, etc. are great concepts to teach.
However, what if actually their souls are in need of thinking beyond themselves and not just egotistically seeking enlightenment.
What if their souls could feel better by helping the world through Right Action and Right Livelihood?
You could save their souls, bring them out of the cycle of samsara of birth and death, by helping them view their lives in terms of karma positive and karma negative terminology.
This is a serious topic you could meditate on if you are a meditation teacher. Get creative. Be gentle, be bold. Be You.
Do you need more proof that the environment and animals are dying?
Here is proof that bees are dying:
“In the United States, in 2025, honeybee colonies will face record-breaking losses, with scientists warning that the impact could be felt in agricultural production. Washington State University entomologists said annual commercial honeybee colony losses “could reach 60 to 70%.” Over the past decade, “annual losses have typically ranged between 40 and 50%.” — Impakter
And butterflies are dying too :(
“80% of butterflies in the UK have declined since the 1970s, with habitat loss, climate change and pesticide use the main drivers of this decline.” — Butterfly Conservation
And animals in the ocean are dying too :(
“Oceans have thus far absorbed the brunt of global warming- trapping 93 per cent of excess heat in the biosphere. Ocean warming, along with overfishing, has already caused fish stock depletion by between 15 and 35 per cent over the past eight decades even as global populations grew from 2 to 8 billion.” — Eco Business
What do you feel in your heart about what’s happening to the environment?
Speak from your own story, or the story of indigenous sacred islands sinking into the sea. Speak of acidity in the ocean killing animals. Speak of the Amazon rainforest not being able to absorb all of the CO2 consumerism is creating.
Remember, you are a leader, you have a large audience, you then have responsibility to speak up. That is your karma, FYI. Even if this is you reading this story now, you now Know, so your karma will be calculated and known. I would follow Buddha’s teachings.
Here are some quotes to inspire you to speak up:
“If I were to remain silent, I’d be guilty of complicity.” — Albert Einstein
“Silence becomes cowardice when occasion demands speaking out the whole truth and acting accordingly.” — Mahatma Gandhi
“The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.” — Dr Martin Luther King Jr.
“Too often the strong, silent man is silent only because he does not know what to say, and is reputed strong only because he has remained silent.” — unknown
“The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause.” — Mark Twain
“Silence is the only answer to a fool.” — African Proverb
“Those who remain silent are responsible.” — Edith Stein
Source: Google AI
“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.” — Alice Walker
“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” — Dr Martin Luther King Jr
“To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men.” — Ella Wheeler Wilcox
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.” — Archbishop Desmond Tutu
“A man dies when he refuses to stand up for that which is right. A man dies when he refuses to stand up for justice. A man dies when he refuses to take a stand for that which is true.” — Dr Martin Luther King Jr
I hope this is helpful to you, your soul, your karma, your audience, and this planet. You could make an important impact!
Written by
Ashley Heacock, Researcher, Writer, Mentor, Guide
MIT Sloan School of Management, MBA
Harvard Kennedy School of Government, MPA
The George Washington University, BA Economics, BA International Affairs
Contact: ashleyheacock@gmail.com
Website: awakeningconsciousness.community
Other articles you can read about the environment by me:
You can also read about my articles about evolution on earth that may inspire you:
Here are additional articles I wrote you may enjoy to learn more about what is happening on this planet:
The Heart of Ants
The Love and Care of the Animal Kingdom medium.com
