Everyday Buddhism: Making Everyday Better
Religion & Spirituality:Buddhism
In this episode I'll talk about my uneasy relationship with the 5 Precepts. Do they produce more questions—and more confusion—than answers? Do they cause more suffering than they prevent? I'll explore how, if looked at as rules and "thou shall not's", they set up barriers between Right View and the Dharma I believe the Buddha taught. And they can also separate people from each other and themselves, if they feel like failures.
When we work with the precepts, we do so with the understanding that "self" and "other" are delusions. There is nothing external to us acting as an authority. Clearing up ignorance is what alleviates suffering. This requires working with ourselves on a very deep and intimate level—honestly evaluating our own motivations and thinking deeply about how our actions will affect others.
Don't look "out there" for permission or an authority who will reward or punish us for breaking the "rules." This concept of ethics in the 5 Precepts is not one based on a transactional experience, but is firmly anchored in the non-dual perspective central to Buddhist philosophy.
Everyday Buddhism 30 - The Buddha Sat Right Here with Dena Moes
Everyday Buddhism 29 - Right Speech is Right Listening
Everyday Buddhism 28 - June Weddings, Relationships, and Perfection?
Everyday Buddhism 27 - Right Mindfulness and Meditation
Everyday Buddhism 26 - Why Sangha? Bringing Buddhism to Life
Everyday Buddhism 25 - Pureland Buddhism with Satya Robyn
Everyday Buddhism 24 - Appreciating Life Through Death Meditation
Everyday Buddhism 23 - Japanese Psychology and Buddhism with Gregg Krech
Everyday Buddhism 22 - Release Your Cows
Everyday Buddhism 21 - Tibetan Buddhism: There is Only One Dharma
Everyday Buddhism 20 - A Bright Dawn: Conversation with Rev. Koyo Kubose
Everyday Buddhism 19 - Bodhi Day Special: The Grace of Light
Everyday Buddhism 17 - Radically Happy: Conversation with Phakchok Rinpoche and Erric Solomon
Everyday Buddhism 16 - Simple Awareness and the Many Forms of Meditation
Everyday Buddhism 15 - A Buddha Belongs to the World
Everyday Buddhism 14 - Protesting? What's in Your Mind?
Everyday Buddhism 13 - Right Effort: Joyful Balance
Everyday Buddhism 12 - MORE Koans: Bringing Them Into the Everyday
Everyday Buddhism 11 - Koans: Reaching the Limit of Thought
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