In short: in AN 5.177 the Buddha says a lay follower should not trade in five things: weapons, living creatures, meat, intoxicants and poisons. Right livelihood means earning without causing harm.
Mendicants, a lay follower should not engage in these five trades. What five? Trade in weapons, living creatures, meat, intoxicants, and poisons.
AN 5.177, translated by Bhikkhu Sujato.
Right livelihood today
The principle behind the list is harm: work that depends on killing, intoxicating or poisoning others. Today people apply it by asking: does my work cause harm, and can I reduce it? Right livelihood is the fifth factor of the Eightfold Path. See also the Buddha on money and success.
The full text in Pāli and English
Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato, from SuttaCentral (AN5.177). Ellipses (…) are abbreviations in the original. Notes are ANEW's.
| Pāli | English |
|---|---|
| “Pañcimā, bhikkhave, vaṇijjā upāsakena akaraṇīyā. | “Mendicants, a lay follower should not engage in these five trades. |
| Katamā pañca? | What five? |
| Satthavaṇijjā, sattavaṇijjā, maṁsavaṇijjā, majjavaṇijjā, visavaṇijjā— | Trade in weapons, living creatures, meat, intoxicants, and poisons. |
| imā kho, bhikkhave, pañca vaṇijjā upāsakena akaraṇīyā”ti. | A lay follower should not engage in these five trades.” |
| Sattamaṁ. |
Try it
Begin with a 3-minute practice, or make your teaching card for today.
Questions people ask
What are the five wrong livelihoods in Buddhism?
Trading in weapons, living creatures, meat, intoxicants and poisons (AN 5.177).