Thinking about the Precepts

[Gregor]

Recently returning to practice I have been reading and thinking a great deal about the precepts and Buddhist ethics.

It's a complicated subject to tackle and makes for a lifetime of work.

I remember Jundo telling me in 2008 that the Precepts were something I had my whole life to work on. He was right.

I recently came across the below on page 18 of Kosho Uchiyama's "Opening the Hand of Thought" While not specifically about the precepts I think it really points towards how we need to think about our intentions and behaviors. Hopefully it helps give some clarity on what is "right action" :

" You musn't forget vowing. By "vow" I mean you must work and function toward settling everything around you. This should be your life posture well as the foundation for all your activities. It is essential to live with the conviction that you are creating history for the next generation."

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When in doubt about what action to take I want to ask myself what history do I want to be creating for my children.

Or as Elvis Costello sang, "Everyday I Write the Book".

If everything I did was written down for the next generation to read what do I want it to say?

Sorry to run long,

Gasho,

Greg
ST

[Suuko]

Is this way of thinking somehow linked to the Japanese culture of living with honor as well?

The precept of not causing harm through speech has served me many times, especially when the emotions and hurt reached their peak. However, the precepts take care of each other most of the time when we're consistent with Zazen.

Gassho,
Sat today,
Guish.

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[Bion]

Is this way of thinking somehow linked to the Japanese culture of living with honor as well?

The precept of not causing harm through speech has served me many times, especially when the emotions and hurt reached their peak. However, the precepts take care of each other most of the time when we're consistent with Zazen.

Gassho,
Sat today,
Guish.

Sent from my PAR-LX1M using Tapatalk

I think that the perfect example of precepts upheld is during zazen, but that does not mean it will automatically spill over into our daily lives. There are many examples of so called teachers, who sat plenty zazen and then did plenty of wrong things. So, my approach is to learn from zazen, but then consciously and purposely find and create ways to apply those precepts. “Just sitting” accomplishes itself during sitting and just doing good accomplish itself while we do good. [emoji3526]

Sorry for running a bit long

[emoji1374]SatToday

[Kokuu]

You musn't forget vowing. By "vow" I mean you must work and function toward settling everything around you. This should be your life posture well as the foundation for all your activities. It is essential to live with the conviction that you are creating history for the next generation.

Hi Greg

I tend to think of both karma and the precepts in terms of dependent origination. Everything is the product of many intermerging causes and actions but it is up to us what we will contribute to that mix. We can either choose to contribute unhelpful actions or vow to uphold the precepts and work to gently and gradually make life a little better for all.

Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday/lah-