Last Monday we didn’t have the time to discuss Dogen’s “To study the self” reading and how to practice with pleasure and rapture. We will return to that on another Monday night. This Monday we’ll focus on the Second Paramita, Ethics, and explore the most significant reason Buddha advocated ethical behavior as a prerequisite to a genuine meditation practice.
The Perfection of Ethics (Sila Paramita)
This paramita is the enlightened quality of virtuous and ethical behavior, morality, self-discipline, impeccability, personal integrity, honor, and harmlessness. The essence of this paramita is that through our love and compassion we do not harm others; we are virtuous and harmless in our thoughts, speech, and actions. This practice of ethical conduct is the very foundation for progressing in any practice of meditation and for attaining all higher realizations on the path. Our practice of generosity must always be supported by our practice of ethics; this ensures the lasting results of our generosity. We should perfect our conduct by eliminating harmful behavior and following the Bodhisattva precepts. We abstain from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, divisive speech, harsh speech, gossip, greed, malice, and wrong views. Following these precepts or guidelines is not meant to be a burden or a restriction of our freedom. We follow these precepts so we can enjoy greater freedom, happiness, and security in our lives, because through our virtuous behavior we are no longer creating suffering for ourselves and others. We must realize that unethical behavior is the cause of suffering and unhappiness. If we give even the slightest consideration to the advantages of cultivating ethical behavior and the disadvantages of unethical behavior, we will certainly develop enthusiasm for this practice of ethics. Practicing the perfection of ethics, we become free of negativity, we cause no harm to others by our actions or our speech. When our commitment is strong in the practice of ethics we are not carrying any underlying sense of guilt or remorse for our actions; we have nothing to hide.
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