Lifestyle changes concerning Buddhism 7

The first changes came when I became environmentally active a year or two prior to my Buddhist practice. I began to eliminate chemicals from my home. I did not want to destroy our natural environment - just be rid of those pests!

I was unable to sleep were there a spider in my bedroom. I woke at the first sound of cockroaches crawling about in the entryway, next to my room. I shrieked and jumped fearfully, when catching a mouse scurry past. I was so unable to enter the laundry with daddy long legs present, that once refusing to spray them, I initially cruelly snipped at their legs to discourage their living their using garden shears.

When I first considered taking up the path to Buddhism, I was unsure how to address my problems with the natural creatures that society considers to be pests. It took me over a year until I gradually learned to look upon them as equal beings with equal feelings and rights to myself. It was not until I had learned this, that I was able to stop tormenting any such creature that came near me. The lack of significance of 'self' also played a major role, along with my growing compassion and acceptance.

Over the past twelve months, I have learned to cease my former fear, live with and beside these 'friends' in equality, and respect their rights without demanding my own. I have naturally and automatically become unable to intentionally harm them, leading to the ability to follow the Buddhist principle of ahimsa.

I did not start by realizing I should not, forbidding myself to do so, and then manufacturing ways to establish this, but began by doing and subsequently understanding.

I will conclude this discussion my next post.