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Buddhist teachings tell that all intentional killing is negative karma. So, what about bacteria? Are bacteria considered to be sentient beings? Is using antibiotics negative karma?

Is it possible to reborn as a bacterium?

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    Bacteria are not understood to be sentient (Wikipedia: Sentience is the ability to feel, perceive, or to experience subjectivity), so probably not. However, perhaps the intention of killing could have negative karmic effects. As opposed to cure an organism (i.e. human) or clean something to avoid contagion. – FullPeace.org Jun 25 '14 at 07:16
  • @yuttadhammo has replied to the same question at http://ask.sirimangalo.org/1560/bacterial-rebirth-and-karma - see Q4. – FullPeace.org Jun 25 '14 at 08:01
  • Not a complete duplicate, but related to killing http://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/87/is-killing-vermin-and-insects-justifiable – Andriy Volkov Jun 25 '14 at 13:48

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As I pointed out in my answer to "are earthworms our mothers?" these kind of questions often assume incorrect frame of reference, different from the one Buddhism operates in. The point of teachings is to produce a certain state of mind, that will affect your behavior in certain way, that will eventually lead to better results, up to and including Enlightenment for you and the rest of the sentient beings.

The Five Precepts (no killing, stealing, speaking nonfactually, letting sensual pleasure control you, getting intoxicated) are an entry-level practice that is designed to help practitioner master basic discipline of self-reflection and self-control. Abstaining from killing, stealing etc. implies basic ability to watch one's mind for harmful thoughts and emotions, and to prevent them from getting acted out.

In light of the above, the no-killing rule should not be understood literally, as an absolute law, but as a guideline for training the mind. It is not acceptable to hurt or harm any creature (big or small) out of antipathy, obsessive desire, or ignorance. This is what Five Precepts are mostly about, countering the Three Poisons.

For reference, the Three Poisons are three basic moods afflicting the mind, impairing one's judgement and goal-making abilities:

  1. Anger/Hate/Irritation/Aversion/Antipathy/Negativity
  2. Lust/Desire/Attraction/Obsession
  3. Ignorance/Confusion/Sloth/Torpor
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  • Most people use antibiotics out of desire to cure illness, or out of aversion towards the illness, so your answer seems to imply that using antibiotics to cure illness does produce bad kamma. Do I understand it correctly? – michau Nov 01 '15 at 11:27
  • No, you do not! – Andriy Volkov Nov 01 '15 at 12:35
  • Is it because the aversion is towards the illness, and not towards bacteria? Or for some other reason? I think the answer is a bit unclear. – michau Nov 01 '15 at 13:03