<p>Without hesitation, kill the worm. </p>

<p>The sotapanna has overcome attachment to moral precepts and rules (sīlabbata-parāmāsa) and is therefore guided by the conscience developed in the heart. </p>

<blockquote>
  <p><em>Now, a trifling evil act done by what sort of individual is experienced in the here &amp; now, and for the most part barely appears
  for a moment? There is the case where a certain individual is
  developed in the body, developed in virtue, developed in mind
  [i.e., painful feelings cannot invade the mind and stay there],
  developed in discernment: unrestricted, large-hearted, dwelling with
  the immeasurable. A trifling evil act done by this sort of individual
  is experienced in the here &amp; now, and for the most part barely appears
  for a moment.</em></p>
  
  <p><em>Lonaphala Sutta: The Salt Crystal</em></p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-13T22:07:08.130Z
2018-01-13T22:12:24.337Z
2018-01-13T22:12:24.337Z
Dhamma Dhatu
<p>There are many arguments whether a sotapanna has a perfect morality/sila or not. But let's base this topic on this Sutta:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>With what four factors of a stream enterer is he endowed?</p>
  
  <p>...Is endowed with virtues that are not broken, not defective, not
  spotted, consistent, not blemished, not enslaved, praised by the wise
  as conducive to concentration and desired by the noble ones He is
  endowed with these four factors of a stream enterer....<a href="http://awake.kiev.ua/dhamma/tipitaka/2Sutta-Pitaka/4Anguttara-Nikaya/Anguttara6/09-navakanipata/003-sattavasavaggo-e.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Anguttara Nikaya 9.27</a></p>
</blockquote>

<p>Now, for example, a deadly worm is in the stomach of a sotapanna's child. The only thing to help his child is to kill the worm otherwise his child will die. With his perfect morality, what would a sotapanna do, will a sotapanna (naturally) let his child die? </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-13T23:09:40.057Z
See also [Trolley problem and its variants in Buddhist ethics](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/q/12237/254) -- what makes this question different is that one of the "people" in the question is a deadly worm instead.
ChrisW
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-14T01:15:16.683Z
See also [Are buddhist allowed to kill mosquitoes](https://philosophy.stackexchange.com/q/7820/4231)
ChrisW
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-14T15:38:44.813Z
I am sorry I can't answer in this topic for you. However, I put it into the blog at this link. This answer can destroy your doubt. There was similar case in commentary which I think you will interest to read: http://unmixedtheravada.blogspot.com/2018/01/profit-managementbodhisattaselfsatta.html
Bonn
<theravada><five-precepts>
What would a sotapanna do?
# What would a sotapanna do?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-01-13)

There are many arguments whether a sotapanna has a perfect morality/sila or not. But let's base this topic on this Sutta:

> With what four factors of a stream enterer is he endowed?
>
> ...Is endowed with virtues that are not broken, not defective, not
> spotted, consistent, not blemished, not enslaved, praised by the wise
> as conducive to concentration and desired by the noble ones He is
> endowed with these four factors of a stream enterer....[Anguttara Nikaya 9.27](http://awake.kiev.ua/dhamma/tipitaka/2Sutta-Pitaka/4Anguttara-Nikaya/Anguttara6/09-navakanipata/003-sattavasavaggo-e.html)

Now, for example, a deadly worm is in the stomach of a sotapanna's child. The only thing to help his child is to kill the worm otherwise his child will die. With his perfect morality, what would a sotapanna do, will a sotapanna (naturally) let his child die?

**Tags:** theravada, five-precepts

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: See also [Trolley problem and its variants in Buddhist ethics](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/q/12237/254) -- what makes this question different is that one of the "people" in the question is a deadly worm instead.  
> **username_1**: See also [Are buddhist allowed to kill mosquitoes](https://philosophy.stackexchange.com/q/7820/4231)  
> **username_2**: I am sorry I can't answer in this topic for you. However, I put it into the blog at this link. This answer can destroy your doubt. There was similar case in commentary which I think you will interest to read: http://unmixedtheravada.blogspot.com/2018/01/profit-managementbodhisattaselfsatta.html  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-01-13. Score: -3

Without hesitation, kill the worm.

The sotapanna has overcome attachment to moral precepts and rules (sīlabbata-parāmāsa) and is therefore guided by the conscience developed in the heart.

> *Now, a trifling evil act done by what sort of individual is experienced in the here & now, and for the most part barely appears
> for a moment? There is the case where a certain individual is
> developed in the body, developed in virtue, developed in mind
> [i.e., painful feelings cannot invade the mind and stay there],
> developed in discernment: unrestricted, large-hearted, dwelling with
> the immeasurable. A trifling evil act done by this sort of individual
> is experienced in the here & now, and for the most part barely appears
> for a moment.*
>
> *Lonaphala Sutta: The Salt Crystal*


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