References – AN 5.177: Trades 
Sutta / Aṅguttara Nikāya / AN 5: Pañcakanipāta / AN 5.177: Vaṇijjāsutta

Download audio (6:08)
“Could you talk more about the particular professions that the Buddha laid out as wrong livelihood (AN 5.177)? Why is being in the military not on the list?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Work] [Military] [Right Livelihood ] // [Unskillful qualities] [Kamma] [Killing] [Intoxicants] [Rebirth]

Story: The widow of a wealthy man divests from Singha Beer. [Commerce/economics]

Right Livelihood [2013], Session 1, Excerpt 3


Download audio (0:58)
“What about people whose livelihood falls into one of these categories [AN 5.177] but they are convinced that it’s good for the world or that it had to be done?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Volition] [Right Livelihood] // [Delusion]

Right Livelihood [2013], Session 1, Excerpt 7


Download audio (2:15)
“The Buddha taught the five forms of wrong livelihood [AN 5.177]. This is from the producer side. Is there a similar teaching from the consumer side?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Commerce/economics ] [Right Livelihood] // [Idealism] [Politics and society] [Buddha/Biography] [Skillful qualities]

Right Livelihood [2013], Session 1, Excerpt 12


Download audio (2:29)
Comment: The general formula for Right Livelihood seems to be addressed to laypeople, not bhikkhus. [Right Livelihood] [Lay life] [Monastic life] // [Vinaya]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo.

Suttas about wrong livelihood: AN 5.177 (lay), DN 2.56 (monastic).

Follow-up: “Why is acting as a medical doctor wrong livelihood for a bhikkhu?” [Health care] [Culture/Thailand]

Readings from The Island [2025], Session 26, Excerpt 4