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Bodhisattva ethical restraints: Auxiliary vows 4-5

Bodhisattva ethical restraints: Auxiliary vows 4-5

Part of a series of talks on the bodhisattva ethical restraints. The talks from January 3 through March 1, 2012, are concurrent with the 2011-2012 Vajrasattva Winter Retreat at Sravasti Abbey.

  • Auxiliary vows 1-7 are to eliminate obstacles to the far-reaching practice of generosity and obstacles to the ethical discipline of gathering virtuous actions. Abandon:
    • 4. Not answering sincerely asked questions that you are capable of answering.

    • 5. Not accepting invitations from others out of anger, pride, or other negative thoughts.

  • Examples of situations where not following the third and fourth precepts do not constitute a misdeed
  • Monastery conduct
  • Situations where it’s appropriate not to accept invitations (as explained in the fifth auxiliary precept)

Venerable Thubten Chodron

Venerable Chodron emphasizes the practical application of Buddha’s teachings in our daily lives and is especially skilled at explaining them in ways easily understood and practiced by Westerners. She is well known for her warm, humorous, and lucid teachings. She was ordained as a Buddhist nun in 1977 by Kyabje Ling Rinpoche in Dharamsala, India, and in 1986 she received bhikshuni (full) ordination in Taiwan. Read her full bio.