user23947: Recently I’ve been come to realize that over the course of my life, I’ve probably taken the lives of so many insects unintentionally or even intentionally. It’s come to the point that I feel guilty going for a walk, going for a run or even for a drive, because it’s inevitable that a tiny creature will die because of me. It’s causing me some distress and I don’t know how to rationalise these thoughts.
Is there any way I can stop feeling guilty?
Has anyone else felt the same?

user13375: Your guilt doesn’t do you any good and is just another ego trip. Your guilt isn’t helping any of those insects either. By just breathing you are killing countless sentient beings. That is the nature of samsara.
Instead of feeling guilty - which is a negative emotion involved with ego - you could instead feel regret for any intentional killing you’ve done in the past and resolve to no longer kill with intent or malice. That would be healthy and not involve a big ego trip.
Let go of your useless guilt and tell your ego to give it a rest and simply do your best to not intentionally harm sentient beings. Develop compassion for yourself and then stop the ego trip which is just causing you to suffer while not helping anyone or anything.
I’d say try and develop a sense of wisdom that will laugh at your silly ego and the oh-so-heavy shenanigans it is playing with useless guilt.
BTW, I was once on that exact same ego trip and when I told my teacher he gave me a big hearty belly laugh full of compassion and basically told me what I told you above :)

23947: <p>Recently I’ve been come to realize that over the course of my life, I’ve probably taken the lives of so many insects unintentionally or even intentionally. It’s come to the point that I feel guilty going for a walk, going for a run or even for a drive, because it’s inevitable that a tiny creature will die because of me. It’s causing me some distress and I don’t know how to rationalise these thoughts.</p>
<p>Is there any way I can stop feeling guilty?</p>
<p>Has anyone else felt the same?</p>
 13375: <p>Your guilt doesn’t do you any good and is just another ego trip. Your guilt isn’t helping any of those insects either. By just breathing you are killing countless sentient beings. That is the nature of samsara.</p>
<p>Instead of feeling guilty - which is a negative emotion involved with ego - you could instead feel regret for any intentional killing you’ve done in the past and resolve to no longer kill with intent or malice. That would be healthy and not involve a big ego trip.</p>
<p>Let go of your useless guilt and tell your ego to give it a rest and simply do your best to not intentionally harm sentient beings. Develop compassion for yourself and then stop the ego trip which is just causing you to suffer while not helping anyone or anything.</p>
<p>I’d say try and develop a sense of wisdom that will laugh at your silly ego and the oh-so-heavy shenanigans it is playing with useless guilt.</p>
<p>BTW, I was once on that exact same ego trip and when I told my teacher he gave me a big hearty belly laugh full of compassion and basically told me what I told you above :)</p>
