Speaking Deliberately

Sometimes practicing Right Speech is a real challenge  especially when confronted with difficult situations and  people who don’t practice speaking skillfully themselves.

It’s very easy to fall into speaking negatively, defensively, or simply complaining.      We don’t appreciate it when others critisize us,  but seem willing to point out the faults of others.

I catch myself behaving in this way and it is not something I am proud of.

I suppose as long as I am alive I will have the potential to stick a foot into my mouth.    However,  I’d like to cultivate my potential to speak more deliberately and  lovingly in those  sticky situations.

Wishing you all the best,

Greg

Not Rules. . but, Faultless Gifts

The precepts have been called the Five Faultless Gifts. In embracing them as precious gifts we see that the precepts are not harsh rules but incredible blessings; a means to find happiness and security. By adhering to the precepts we save ourselves from the suffering caused by our unskillful actions.

I can see this truth in my own life. In contemplating every problem I’ve faced, I now understand that I have been the cause of my own suffering. Those seeds of suffering were sown by mental and physical actions which did not adhere to the precepts.

By following the precepts we stop the cycle of suffering. We will still reap the consequences of past actions. However, we have the power to stop compounding this unsatisfactoriness. Furthermore, in living an ethical life we will build happiness, peace, and security for ourselves and those around us. This is the blameless life the Buddha taught of.

Verse of Atonement

All harmful acts, words and thoughts, ever committed by me since of old,

On account of beginningless greed, anger and ignorance,

Born of my body, mouth, and mind,

Now I atone for them all

Unskillfulness is Easy

Acting foolishly and making  mistakes  come far too easily.      However,  living  with the consequences of our unskillful actions makes for difficult practice.

Regret and guilt are useless to us,  we must forge on.   We must work dilligently to set things right.

The Ten Grave Precepts

The Ten Grave Precepts

1. Affirm life; Do not kill
2. Be giving; Do not steal
3. Honor the body; Do not misuse sexuality
4. Manifest truth; Do not lie
5. Proceed clearly; Do not cloud the mind
6. See the perfection; Do not speak of others
errors and faults
7. Realize self and other as one; Do not elevate the self and blame others
8. Give generously; Do not be withholding
9. Actualize harmony; Do not be angry
10. Experience the intimacy of things; Do not
defile the Three Treasures

Five Precepts and Commentary from the Pali Cannon

The Five Precepts:

1. I undertake the precept to refrain from destroying living creatures
2. I undertake the precept to refrain from taking that which is not given.
3. I undertake the precept to refrain from sexual misconduct.
4. I undertake the precept to refrain from incorrect speech
5. I undertake the precept to refrain from intoxicating drinks and drugs which lead to carelessness

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Five faultless gifts

“There are these five gifts, five great gifts — original, long-standing, traditional, ancient, unadulterated, unadulterated from the beginning — that are not open to suspicion, will never be open to suspicion, and are unfaulted by knowledgeable contemplatives & priests. Which five?

“There is the case where a disciple of the noble ones, abandoning the taking of life, abstains from taking life. In doing so, he gives freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, freedom from oppression to limitless numbers of beings. In giving freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, freedom from oppression to limitless numbers of beings, he gains a share in limitless freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, and freedom from oppression. This is the first gift, the first great gift — original, long-standing, traditional, ancient, unadulterated, unadulterated from the beginning — that is not open to suspicion, will never be open to suspicion, and is unfaulted by knowledgeable contemplatives & priests…

“Furthermore, abandoning taking what is not given (stealing), the disciple of the noble ones abstains from taking what is not given. In doing so, he gives freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, freedom from oppression to limitless numbers of beings. In giving freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, freedom from oppression to limitless numbers of beings, he gains a share in limitless freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, and freedom from oppression. This is the second gift…

“Furthermore, abandoning illicit sex, the disciple of the noble ones abstains from illicit sex. In doing so, he gives freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, freedom from oppression to limitless numbers of beings. In giving freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, freedom from oppression to limitless numbers of beings, he gains a share in limitless freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, and freedom from oppression. This is the third gift…

“Furthermore, abandoning lying, the disciple of the noble ones abstains from lying. In doing so, he gives freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, freedom from oppression to limitless numbers of beings. In giving freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, freedom from oppression to limitless numbers of beings, he gains a share in limitless freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, and freedom from oppression. This is the fourth gift…

“Furthermore, abandoning the use of intoxicants, the disciple of the noble ones abstains from taking intoxicants. In doing so, he gives freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, freedom from oppression to limitless numbers of beings. In giving freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, freedom from oppression to limitless numbers of beings, he gains a share in limitless freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, and freedom from oppression. This is the fifth gift, the fifth great gift — original, long-standing, traditional, ancient, unadulterated, unadulterated from the beginning — that is not open to suspicion, will never be open to suspicion, and is unfaulted by knowledgeable contemplatives & priests. And this is the eighth reward of merit, reward of skillfulness, nourishment of happiness, celestial, resulting in happiness, leading to heaven, leading to what is desirable, pleasurable, & appealing; to welfare & to happiness.”

— AN 8.39

Information from Access to Insight

Rethinking The Fith Precept

I’ve been rethinking my position regarding the precepts, specifically the fifth precept in which the Buddha suggests that we refrain from the consumption of intoxicants.

In truth I do enjoy having a drink, occasionally. But this experience is not an aide to my practice or a benefit to my life in general. In fact, it is merely the indulgence of a sensual pleasure. Therefore my earlier attempts to excuse my disregard for this precept were mistaken. Since mental clarity is a key factor on the Buddhist path, the partaking of alcohol or any drug has adverse consequences. Although , at most times I have been able to practice moderation I do believe that  the potential for abuse and other negative consequences are present. Therefore I will be returning to a conservative interpretation of this precept and others.

Practice is ever evolving and adjustments must be made according to our judgment.

The Buddhist path lies between ascetism and indulgence. However I must realize that the Middle Way is not always the middle of the road.

ANGER!!!

“Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.”

- The Buddha

It’s far to easy to be consumed by anger and ill will. However, one need not be a Bodhisattva in order to relinquish it. By focusing on our own well being we can conclude that the path of anger is not in our own best interest.

Acceptance is Realism

As we develop expectations we create tension between the fantasy we’ve created and the real experience of life.   Expectations can become delusions which bind us to suffering.    This is why we must practice acceptance of things just as they are. This is embracing life. Acceptance is not apathy but a realism firmly rooted in compassion and equanimity.

The Five Hindrances Live on Nourishment

Just as, monks, this body lives on nourishment, lives dependent on nourishment, does not live without nourishment — in the same way, monks, the five hindrances live on nourishment, depend on nourishment, do not live without nourishment.

— SN 46:2

Five Hindrances (nivarana)

1. Sensual Desire (kámacchanda)
2. Aversion or Ill-will (vyápáda)
3. Sleepiness – sloth (thina), torpor (middha), sluggishness
4. Restlessness - worry about the future, regret of the past, anxiety (uddhacca-kukkucca)
5. Doubt (skeptical doubt)(vicikicchá)