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Portland Buddhist Priory


Meditation and the Sixteen Buddhist Precepts  

Serene Reflection Meditation
(Soto Zen) unfolds a means
to know and live from the Unborn,
the Buddha Nature within
ourselves and all things.

Everyone has intuitive knowledge
of the Buddha Nature: meditation
is not a means to an end, but a
harmonization of oneself with
the source of compassion, love,
and wisdom that resides naturally
within.

Meditation is the foundation of Buddhist religious practice.

Hand in hand with meditation practice goes the living of the Preceptual life:
within interactions and service to others as well as within the inner practice of cleansing the heart.
                                 

The Precepts are not commandments.
As a description of enlightened action, they serve as guidelines for daily activities.

These guidelines are not imposed, but taken on voluntarily by anyone who chooses.

Preceptual living is a foundation of freedom wherein
meditation grows in depth and fully blossoms.

The Three Refuges               

               (the Source of the teaching)

               (the Buddhist teaching)

      (those who share and practice the teaching)
The Three Pure Precepts
In refraining from that which causes confusion and suffering, it becomes apparent that the Truth shines of itself.
Look up.
Doing good arises naturally from ceasing from evil.
Generosity of spirit benefits all beings.
The Ten Great Precepts
These guidelines and safeguards serve as a touchstone for daily practice.  
Each time a person reads and reflects on the Precepts, there is an opportunity to deepen training, and recognize any arising of grasping attitudes.
The precepts are often listed in this shortened form:

The longer translation of this vow starts with the phrase,
"I will do my best to live in such a way that
I will :
Do not kill
.....learn to honor and respect all life.
Do not steal .....cultivate respect for others' property.
Do not covet .....learn to relinquish craving and grasping.
Do not say that which is untrue .....cultivate that which respects Truth, and speak accordingly
Do not sell the wine of delusion .....learn to relinquish any form of intoxicating delusion
Do not speak against others ......nurture respect for all beings and avoid gossip and frivolous speech.
Do not be proud of myself or devalue others ......relinquish the mental habits of judgements and opinions.
Do not be miserly in giving either Dharma or wealth   ......nurture the practice of charity, generosity and selflessness.
Do not be angry  ...... learn to relinquish impatience, aversion, anger, disgust or  hatred when it arises
Do not debase the Three Treasures ......nurture reverence and respect for That which benefits all living things."