Ep. 248 – Right Action & Livelihood, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 45

Rearticulating the moral foundation that makes happiness possible and honors our kinship with all living beings, Joseph Goldstein explores Right Action and Right Livelihood.

The Satipatthana Sutta is one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. This episode is the 45th part of an in-depth 46-part lecture series from Joseph Goldstein that delves into every aspect of the Satipatthana Sutta. If you are just now jumping into the Satipatthana Sutta series, listen to Insight Hour Ep. 203 to follow along and get the full experience!

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In this episode’s exploration of the Satipatthana Sutta, Joseph Goldstein discusses:

• Navigating cultural changes with mindfulness, integrity, and personal responsibility
• Right Action: cultivating clarity and strength of mind to abstain from actions that cause harm to self or others
• The Buddha’s teachings on non-harming, non-killing, and cultivating a deep sense of kinship with all living beings
• Desiring the welfare of all sentient beings– even something as small as a mosquito or an ant  
• Facing ethical dilemmas with awareness, avoiding the trap of rationalizing harmful or selfish actions
• Understanding karma and consequences as directly linked to the intensity of our defilements
• How non-stealing and generosity foster trust, harmony, and a universal sense of safety
• Living mindfully by not consuming or taking more than we truly need, contributing to global economic and ecological balance
• Becoming mindful of the power of sexual energy, refraining from sexual misconduct, and keeping the sangha beautiful
• Seeing Right Livelihood as a crucial aspect of the path, given how much of life is devoted to work
• Applying right livelihood into any profession by infusing our role with service, ethics, and awareness
• Understanding wealth as a blessing when rightfully earned and used for the benefit of many beings

This episode was originally published on Dharmaseed.

Grab a copy of the book Joseph references throughout this series, Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization, HERE and check out the other mentioned book from this episode, Kinship with All Life

"It’s possible to develop an attitude of service in whatever work we do. Are we simply doing a job to support ourselves, or, are we watching the attitudes in our mind as we do our work? Do we work with care, attentiveness, and a genuine desire to be helpful? It’s not only what we do, but how we do it.” – Joseph Goldstein

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