The Buddha very clearly what are the wrong making a living one should stay well away from earning ones living from anything that harms other human beings; examples: not trading in arms (Bombs, guns, fighter planes and military submarines etc. one should not in living beings, e.g. by selling and buying live animals, being involved in slavery or forced living beings, in fishing, soldiering, deceit, corruption, trickery, usury (The practice of lending money at unreasonably high rates of interest). And fortune telling.
it is very important to keep on remembering that the goal of the Buddha's teachings is to rid ourselves of del and wrong thinking We first need to have a solid moral background in order to develop the kind of concentration necessary (samadhi)for the development of mindfulness (sati). Only by applying the faculty of mindfulness can we begin to realise the 3 characteristics all phenomena i.e. Suffering and dissatisfaction (Dukkha); impermanence (Annica) and selflessness (Anatta).
This, of course, requires the practice of meditation. But if we have done bad things then th effect-or result of those deeds will mean that we cannot get, and maintain, good concentration. We will experience guilt, worry, regret, anxiety and so on all of which will make the practice of meditation extremely difficult, if not altogether impossible.
There are 5 hindrances -obstacles-that must be overcome if are to meditate according to the Buddha's instructions. They will prevent us from reaching the meditative states necessary for us to be able to discern the truth within the framework of our own bodies and minds. And it is by such understanding that we can free ourselves from all forms of suffering and, eventually, to free ourselves from rebirth of any kind.
These 5 hindrances, or obstacles, are (1)Sensuous desire (2) ill will (3) laziness and sleepiness (4) Restlessness and worry, and (50 Sceptical doubt.
Buddha used similes to clarify the effects of these He compared sensuous desire with water mixed with many, ma colours. Ill will as boiling water. Laziness and sleepiness being like water covered in mosses. Restlessness and worry with agitated water whipped by the wind. And sceptical doubt as cloudy and muddy water. In just such water one cannot see one's own reflection so in the presence of these s mental hindrances, one cannot clearly discern one's own benefit, nor that of others, nor that of both.
To counteract these 5 hindrances, or obstacles we have 5 powers. Each of these will grow stronger develop and become more refined as you practice meditation. These powers are 1) Faith or confidence (2) Energy (3) Mindfulness (4) Concentration and (s) wisdom. So each of the hindrances/obstacles to meditation have corresponding antidotes:
5 HINDRANCES OBSTACLES THE ANTIDOTES -THE 5 POWERS
SENSUOUS DESIRE MINDFULNESS
LL WILL LOVING KINDNESS METTA
LAZINESS & SLEEPINESS ENERGY
RESTLESSNESS AND WORRY CONCENTRATION
SCEPTICAL DOUBT WISDOM
So far I have concerned myself with talking about personal ethics. But Buddhist ethics can, of course, be applied to the world at large.
The Buddhist work ethic and business and professional ethics would, ideally, be closely tied to respect for the environment. It is in EF.schumacher’s book small is beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered.
"While the materialist is mainly interested in goods, the Buddhist is mainly interested in liberation But Buddhism is the Middle and therefore in no way antagonistic to physical well being. The keynote of Buddhist economics is simplicity and non- violence, From an economist's point of view, the marvel of the Buddhist way of life is the utter rationality of its pattern amazingly small means leading to extraordinarily satisfying results