Bodhisattva ethical restraints 5-10

• Review of first four root bodhisattva precepts
• Teaching on the next six precepts
• Involving secular law enforcement when dealing with monastics
• Discussion regarding advanced directives and assisted suicide
• What exactly is a schism in the sangha?

Gomchen Lamrim 84: The Bodhisattva Ethical Restraints 5-10(download)

Contemplation points

Venerable Chodron continued giving commentary on the bodhisattva ethical code, which are the guidelines you follow when you “take the bodhisattva precepts.” Consider them one by one, in light of the commentary given. For each, consider the following:

1. In what situations have you seen yourself act this way in the past or under what conditions might it be easy to act this way in the future (it might help to consider how you’ve seen this negativity in the world)?
2. Which of the ten non-virtues is the precept keeping you from committing?
3. What are the antidotes that can be applied when you are tempted to act contrary to the precept?
4. Why is this precept so important to the bodhisattva path? How does breaking it harm yourself and others? How does keeping it benefit yourself and others?
5. Resolve to be mindful of the precept in your daily life.

Precepts covered this week:

Root Precept #5: Taking things belonging to a) Buddha, b) Dharma or c) Sangha.

Root Precept #6: Abandoning the holy Dharma by saying that texts which teach the three vehicles are not the Buddha’s word.

Root Precept #7: With anger a) depriving ordained ones of their robes, beating and imprisoning them, or b) causing them to lose their ordination even if they have impure morality, for example, by saying that being ordained is useless.

Root Precept #8: Committing any of the five extremely destructive actions: a) killing your mother, b) killing your father, c) killing an arhat, d) intentionally drawing blood from a Buddha, or e) causing schism in the Sangha community by supporting and spreading sectarian views.

Root Precept #9: Holding distorted views (which are contrary to the teachings of Buddha, such as denying the existence of the Three Jewels or the law of cause and effect, etc.)

Root Precept #10: Destroying a a) town, b) village, c) city, or d) large area by means such as fire, bombs, pollution, or black magic.