More on the ten paths of nonvirtue today

• Review of killing, stealing, and unwise sexual behavior
• New ways people lie, including identify theft and job applications
• Legality is not the same as ethics
• Divisive speech and harsh words online
• Social shaming of ideas, not people

Gomchen Lamrim 104: More on the ten paths of nonvirtue today (download)

Contemplation points

1. Some modern forms of unwise and unkind sexual behavior might include prostitution, genital mutilation, pornography, date rape, sexual harassment, transferring STDs, polyamorous relationships, etc. Spend some time thinking about each of these, if and why it is considered unwise and unkind sexual behavior according to the lamrim, whether it is a complete karma, etc. Are there others not mentioned in the teaching that apply?
2. Some modern forms of lying might include identity theft, lying on taxes, on job/college applications, on dating websites, etc. Spend some time thinking about each of these, if and why it is considered lying according to the lamrim, whether it is a complete karma, etc. Are there others not mentioned in the teaching that apply?
3. Some modern forms of divisive speech might include on-line forums/chat rooms (trolling), cyber-bullying, certain types of protesting, etc. Spend some time thinking about each of these, if and why it is considered divisive speech according to the lamrim, whether it is a complete karma, etc. Are there others not mentioned in the teaching that apply?
4. Some modern forms of harsh speech might include on-line forums/chat rooms (trolling), cyber-bullying, certain types of protesting, etc. Spend some time thinking about each of these, if and why it is considered harsh speech according to the lamrim, whether it is a complete karma, etc. Are there others not mentioned in the teaching that apply?
5. Venerable Chodron also pointed out that we have to get clear about what is legal and what is ethical, and how we as a society can get into trouble when we try to legislate ethics. Think of some examples of this in our society. Are there things you’ve done where you acted legally, but not ethically? What harm did you cause yourself? Others? What can you do to ensure that you are acting ethically and not just legally. For things that can’t be legislated, how do we as a society encourage others to act ethically?
6. More aware of how non-virtue is practiced in our modern society and in your own life, resolve to abandon negativity.