ST:TNG Dharma play

I like to spot things in popular culture that echo Budist ideas and Star Trek I think contain many. I just happened to be watching this episode this evening and this scene struck me.

This, the bit in the turbolift, is often cast as a look at the wisdom of not interfering...and there is that aspect...but watching it this evening it struck me as much deeper than that...because in the episode Capt Picard did make choices and take action based on his vow (prime directive) to do no harm...and Dr Crusher represents well how hard it is when faced with deep suffering and yet you do have to respond even if it is supposed to be acting in Non-interference...and Capt Picard makes the good point that they are likely to never know the outcome of their choices...Maybe good, maybe bad....

Living by bodhisattva vows and the precepts can be described, and often is by the teachers I know, like this.