Right Livelihood

I feel that “right livelihood” is similar to “right action” but more comprehensive. Right actions are taken every day throughout the day and right livelihood is the path you are following. Perhaps for artists this is not so much of an issue and not really worth talking about. I do think that it is worth taking a look at both in an easy way and in a less easy way. The easy way is to look at how you earn a living and decide if it is harmful or beneficial to others. Do you work for Remington and produce firearms? Do you work for Wal-Mart and help put small businesses out of work? Some choices are easy to see (although not for everyone). The less easy way is to look at things more subltely. Do you work for a large, institutionalized school district that is not really helping children, but rather stifles their creativity and curiosity? Do you work for a store that buys it’s products from sweatshops or sells products that can potentially hurt people (alcohol, factory-farm meat, etc.)? Get picky and take a close look at what you do and how it affects people.

Chris O’Byrne
www.OnlineArtsMarketing.com