Deep Commentary

This verse was taught by the Buddha at the Jetavana monastery regarding the 'group of six' monks. When seventeen other monks had prepared their lodgings, the group of six arrived, claimed seniority, and demanded the space. When the younger monks refused, the group of six beat them, causing them to scream in terror. Hearing this, the Buddha established a rule against violence, reminding the monastic community that all beings tremble before violence and fear death just as we do. The instinct to live and the fear of dying are universal among all living beings. Recognizing this, the Buddha taught the necessity of respecting all life based on profound empathy: if we cherish our own lives, how can we ruthlessly destroy the lives of others? Non-violence is a noble human characteristic that distinguishes our capacity for wisdom and compassion from mere animal instinct. Taking a life is a grave offense, and refraining from killing is the first of the Five Precepts. As ancient sages taught, if all beings stopped the karma of killing, weapons of war would disappear, and the world would naturally be at peace. During the Buddha's time, conflicts involved primitive weapons, yet he strongly condemned violence; today, with highly destructive modern weaponry, the tragedy is even more profound. The act of killing includes doing it oneself, ordering others to kill, or rejoicing in killing—all rooted in greed, anger, and delusion. To build a truly peaceful world, we must overcome these violent tendencies, respect life out of compassion, and strictly refrain from harming others.