Answer: Everyone needs to have a profession or occupation to support themselves and their family, pay taxes, and contribute to society. Young people depend on their families for support, while the elderly may rely on pensions or assistance from their children. People of working age generally must find an occupation to make a living, except for those who have accumulated great merit in the past and come from an exceptionally wealthy family, so they do not need to work.
The immediate purpose of a profession is to provide for oneself, while its broader purpose is to contribute to society. These two purposes are fair and balanced: contribution leads to benefits.
Those who deeply understand the Law of Karma always strive to contribute more than they receive to accumulate merit. In contrast, those who do not understand the Law of Karma tend to focus more on maximizing personal gain.
Some jobs offer high income but contribute little to society, while others contribute significantly but come with low pay.
There are professions in which the more one works, the more merit one gains; these are considered Right Livelihood. Conversely, there are jobs in which the more one works, the more sin one accumulates; these are considered Wrong Livelihood.
In both cases, we earn wages to make a living, but with the Right Livelihood, we provide practical and reasonable benefits that help others grow morality. With Wrong Livelihood, we may spread superstition, cause unrest, or harm. By evaluating how the jobs impact the lives and minds of others, we can understand what constitutes Right or Wrong Livelihood.
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