Solitary Angler on Autumn River Shen Zhou 15 c China
Three Pure Precepts
Avoiding harm
Doing good
Practicing continuously to help all beings
Ten Precepts
I vow not to kill, and to cherish all life.
I vow not to steal, and to respect that which belongs to others.
I vow not to misuse sexuality, and to be honest and respectful in relationships
I vow not to lie, and to speak the truth.
I vow not to misuse drugs or alcohol or anything that clouds the mind, and to keep the mind clear.
I vow not to gossip about others’ faults, and to be understanding and sympathetic.
I vow not to praise myself by criticizing others, and to overcome my own shortcomings.
I vow not to withhold spiritual or material aid, and to give freely when needed and not to be stingy.
I vow not to unleash anger, and to seek its source.
I vow not to speak ill of the Three Treasures (Awakening, Teachings, Community), but to cherish and uphold them.
Guidelines for Daily Life
In Zen practice, we also study ways of harmonious living, mindful living sometimes called “precepts.” These are not rules, but they offer guidance and challenge us to live a life with concern for others.
They are written in the form of “vow” and something to aspire to in our humanness. We try our best to live a life of “non-harming” and “doing good” in many ways. We are not always successful, but in the trying and the vow is where we find our heart of goodness.
We offer annual study of the precepts and optional Jukai (ceremony to commit to the precepts)