Oakville Zen Meditation
Proper Livelihood: Walking the Ethical Path in Daily Life
Proper livelihood is the fifth step on the Noble Eightfold Path. It falls under the broader category of ethical living: how we live in harmony with others and with ourselves. The Buddha was quite clear about what he meant by proper livelihood. In simple terms, it means earning a living in a way that doesn’t cause harm to ourselves and others.
He listed five specific occupations that should be avoided:
It’s remarkable that even though these teachings were given over 2,500 years ago, they still feel relevant today. Just think about it: human trafficking and the weapons trade are still major sources of suffering in the world. And we continue to see the devastating impact of the illegal trade of harmful substances, like fentanyl, which are responsible for so much pain among families and communities today.
So, on the surface, these guidelines seem pretty straightforward. But when we look more closely, and especially when we try to apply them to modern life, things can feel a bit more complicated. The world we live in today is very different from the world the Buddha lived in. So, how do we apply these teachings now?
For example, what about someone who works in the pharmaceutical industry? Medications can save lives, but they can also have harmful side effects. Does that fall under “selling poisons”?
Or consider someone working for a company that produces pesticides, or in the tourism industry, which might bring economic benefit but at a cost to the environment. Are these careers unethical?
These aren’t easy questions, and Buddhist teachings don’t always give us black-and-white answers. But they do encourage us to reflect honestly and mindfully. The heart of proper livelihood is really about intention and awareness. Are we working in a way that is honest, compassionate, and as harmless as possible? Are we mindful of the broader impact of our work, not just on ourselves, but on others and the planet? It’s not just about what job we do, but how we do it. Are we exploiting others? Are we being deceitful? Or are we showing up with integrity and care?
So where does that leave us?
As always, with the Middle Way. Life is complex. We’re not expected to be perfect. But we are invited to bring as much mindfulness, ethics, and compassion into our livelihood as we can.
The goal is to cause as little harm as possible and to support the well-being of others through our work.
Even in a complicated world, we can still walk this path with awareness. Proper livelihood is not about having the perfect job—it’s about showing up in the world with an ethical intention.
