Domain of “kāveyyaṁ”
All types of poems or only non-dhamma poems.
Need confirmation whether right or wrong.
Link to poems with dhamma as the basis.
Vipassana Anubhava
vipassana, insight, buddhism, non-self, impermanence, suffering
The Buddha praised Vaṅgīsa for his poetry about the Triple Gem, so, presumably poems about Dhamma are allowed. And, anyway, this is in DN 1’s list of wrong livelihood for a monk. Poetry is not wrong livelihood for lay people. And even for the monks, I’m not aware of any Vinaya rule against poetry… except, of course, for poetry written to woo a woman, etc.
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Poetry and other artistic works rooted in greed, hatred, and delusion are unskillful.
Poetry and other artistic works rooted in non-greed, non-hatred, and non-delusion are skillful.
Laypeople may create skillful artistic works with themes beyond those directly related to the Dhamma and may rightly make a livelihood from them.
Monks may create skillful artistic works inspired by the Dhamma, but they should not make a livelihood from such activity, nor should they become negligent regarding more essential duties.
About the dangers of unskillful forms of artistic expression, see SN42.2 Tālapuṭa Sutta.
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