user17272: A question to those of you who’ve spent some time in academia: is academic research right livelihood?
Given that it requires one to engage in thinking for the entire duration of one’s working hours, could it actually be a hindrance on the eightfold path?

user5250: I haven't spent time working as an academic, but right livelihood is expressed as avoiding work dealing with weapons, human beings, poisons, meat and intoxicants. So as long as your work does not cause harm you should be ok. The fact that you are thinking is not an impediment, there is no job that does not require thinking, and thinking is never a hindrance. Arahants think. 

user151: It's not nessasarily wrong livelihood  but the achedemic will have less suffering and more wellbeing when the  thoughts and the studying are not being clung to.
Thinking isn't nessasarily wrong. It's just that, conceptually speaking, thinking  can lead to bias or wrong view if one isn't mindful.

17272: <p>A question to those of you who’ve spent some time in academia: is academic research right livelihood?</p>

<p>Given that it requires one to engage in thinking for the entire duration of one’s working hours, could it actually be a hindrance on the eightfold path?</p>
 5250: <p>I haven't spent time working as an academic, but right livelihood is expressed as avoiding work dealing with weapons, human beings, poisons, meat and intoxicants. So as long as your work does not cause harm you should be ok. The fact that you are thinking is not an impediment, there is no job that does not require thinking, and thinking is never a hindrance. Arahants think. </p>
 151: <p>It's not nessasarily wrong livelihood  but the achedemic will have less suffering and more wellbeing when the  thoughts and the studying are not being clung to.</p>

<p>Thinking isn't nessasarily wrong. It's just that, conceptually speaking, thinking  can lead to bias or wrong view if one isn't mindful.</p>
