The importance of ethical conduct
25 Following in the Buddha's Footsteps
Venerable Thubten Chodron 
Volume 4 Following in the Buddha's Footsteps 
Oct 11, 2024 Part of an ongoing series of teachings based on the book Following in the Buddha's Footsteps, the fourth volume in The Library of Wisdom and Compassion series by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Venerable Thubten Chodron.
- Explanation of ethical codes or precepts
- Taking and keeping precepts
- How three higher training reduce and eliminate different levels of afflictions
- Refrain from doing harm
- Purifying negative karma and generating virtuous karma
- Pratimoksha, Bodhisattvas and Vajrayana ethical codes
- Pratimoksha or individual liberation ethical codes
- Five precepts for male and female lay followers
- Eight one day precepts
- Purpose of the specific precepts
25 The Importance of Ethical Conduct (download)
Contemplation points
- Why do we distinguish between a “vow” and a “precept?” What is the difference between them that is important for us to remember in our practice?
- How does ethical conduct (decreasing untamed states of mind and increasing beneficial ones) contribute to other practices on the path like concentration and wisdom?
- What are the three levels of ethical code and what does each focus on eliminating? Why are they taken in a particular order?
- If you’ve been living in precepts, have they made you more aware of your physical, verbal, and mental actions? How have they worked in your mind? How have they helped you? Spend some time contemplating the benefits of living in precepts.
- Consider each of the eight one-day precepts. What is the purpose behind each? What mental states are they helping us to counter?
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.
