Keeping Precepts your experience

Casual conversation between friends. Anything goes (almost).
Post Reply
User avatar
LastLegend
Posts: 5408
Joined: Sat Mar 19, 2011 3:46 pm
Location: Northern Virginia

Keeping Precepts your experience

Post by LastLegend »

I am here to express my confusion.

I have come to a conclusion either from my personal experience or excessive thinking. I don't know. :lol: Some people believe that precepts are uncomfortably restrictive that they bind and chain us. I find precepts liberating though they might be uncomfortable at times. But I not am sure. I think maybe I feel that way because I just completely threw or emptied out some of my desires that kept me binding. Maybe they will come back who knows. It's trying to quit smoking, instead just quit and empty out a desire to smoke. Will it work? I don't know. We will see how strong my Dharma strength is. :mrgreen:

What's your experience with keeping precepts?
It’s eye blinking.
User avatar
Mkoll
Posts: 1118
Joined: Mon May 26, 2014 5:53 am
Location: Texas

Re: Keeping Precepts your experience

Post by Mkoll »

Well since you brought it up indirectly, I'll talk about my experience with the fifth. I used to drink and use drugs regularly but haven't touched them (except some caffeine from coffee/tea/chocolate) since I started following that precept. Having been away from drink and drugs long enough, I'm able to see them in a light that I never could have had I continued using them: I don't see myself ever going back to drinking or using in this life and hopefully future ones. It's quite liberating, actually.

I hope you can quit for long enough to get to a similar point as well.
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
User avatar
Kaccāni
Posts: 1083
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2014 1:03 pm
Location: Germany
Contact:

Re: Keeping Precepts your experience

Post by Kaccāni »

I see various perspectives on precepts.

1. As a guide for oneself. In that situation, the behavior which the precept indicates is still a "desire". However one which is at times difficult to keep, along the lines of "I wish to view myself as able to comply to that, but I observe myself in fact deviating." But well, that kind of precept is "want".

2. As a means of protection. In that situation, the behavior, which the precept indicates, can usually be done in safe environments, but is difficult to keep up in "contested" situations. Then precepts are an easy way to shorten discussions. "Why don't you do XXX?" "I've taken a vow." Period. You can see that with many book religions.

3. As a means of communication. In that situation, the beavior, which the precept indicates, is already there, and no problem, hardly any matter what. The precept then merely describes behavior.

4. As a tradition. In that situation, the ritual of taking them creates some sort of bond, where the only thing that matters is that it's those precepts which have been there since a couple thousand years.

And I'm sure there are many more.

My personal opinion is, that precepts should only be taken when the corresponding behavior already comes natural to oneself. As a means of communication, or maybe tradition. Otherwise it is a matter of desire. Either you will behave in a certain way, or you won't. Only the future will show. If you need a vow to do it, your actions are based on emotions that are connected to the vow (or breaking it). In my eyes that's doomed to fail should you not be able to live up to your expectations. You may end up conditioning yourself upon fear of breaking a vow. But kicking out those expectations is one of the problems to begin with, so those emotions lose their grip.

I guess it's the same as with anything: Not making too much of an issue out of keeping or breaking someting.

Best wishes
Gwenn
Shush! I'm doing nose-picking practice!
User avatar
LastLegend
Posts: 5408
Joined: Sat Mar 19, 2011 3:46 pm
Location: Northern Virginia

Re: Keeping Precepts your experience

Post by LastLegend »

Sometimes it's a matter of recognizing the suffering that ones behavior bring. It is a sacrifice we have to make in order to feel better for example. Not to mention unwholesome behavior will bring negative karmic effects. At this point, it's a matter of conviction.
It’s eye blinking.
User avatar
明安 Myoan
Former staff member
Posts: 2855
Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2012 7:11 am
Location: Portland, OR

Re: Keeping Precepts your experience

Post by 明安 Myoan »

Precepts are very difficult for some people.
Namu Amida Butsu
Malcolm
Posts: 42974
Joined: Thu Nov 11, 2010 2:19 am

Re: Keeping Precepts your experience

Post by Malcolm »

duckfiasco wrote:Precepts are very difficult for some people.
Most people can refrain from taking life, lying and stealing.

Sexual misconduct and drinking alcohol, that is a little harder.
User avatar
Challenge23
Posts: 181
Joined: Mon Jan 23, 2012 6:36 pm

Re: Keeping Precepts your experience

Post by Challenge23 »

Well, for me, it depends on the precept.

Not killing for me is fairly easy, though I still thoughtlessly kill insects from time to time and am not vegan. So it's good but not really good.

Not stealing is also fairly easy, though I can be forgetful and sometimes take something from a friend and don't ask them first(though when I realize it I promptly return it). So it also is good but not really good.

Not lying gets a little harder. Silence and/or changing the subject is not the appropriate response(at least as far as the person asking) when someone whose art is hideous asks what you think about it. So, pretty ok. Not really good.

Sexual misconduct is either really hard or pretty easy depending on which definition you use. I define it as being faithful to my significant other, always having 100% consent, and not having sex anywhere unethical(like an altar or something) which for me isn't all that hard. There are other interpretations(not having any sexual activity at all, eliminating all non-procreative sex, etc.) which are immensely harder. So for that one, I'll call it somewhat ok.

As far as no intoxicants..I suck at that. A whole lot. Not "alcoholic/Snoop Lion/Keith Richards" bad but "I can distinguish various types of wine via taste/average jam band fan" bad.
IN THIS BOOK IT IS SPOKEN OF THE SEPHIROTH & THE PATHS, OF SPIRITS & CONJURATIONS, OF GODS, SPHERES, PLANES & MANY OTHER THINGS WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT EXIST. IT IS IMMATERIAL WHETHER THEY EXIST OR NOT. BY DOING CERTAIN THINGS CERTAIN RESULTS FOLLOW; STUDENTS ARE MOST EARNESTLY WARNED AGAINST ATTRIBUTING OBJECTIVE REALITY OR PHILOSOPHICAL VALIDITY TO ANY OF THEM.

Wagner, Eric; Wilson, Robert Anton (2004-12-01). An Insider's Guide to Robert Anton Wilson (Kindle Locations 1626-1629). New Falcon Publications. Kindle Edition., quoting from Alister Crowley
User avatar
Kaccāni
Posts: 1083
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2014 1:03 pm
Location: Germany
Contact:

Re: Keeping Precepts your experience

Post by Kaccāni »

The true precept is not conscious of itself as a precept, and therefore is a true precept.
Shush! I'm doing nose-picking practice!
User avatar
garudha
Posts: 718
Joined: Fri Feb 07, 2014 4:33 am
Location: UK

Re: Keeping Precepts your experience

Post by garudha »

Gwenn Dana wrote:The true precept is not conscious of itself as a precept, and therefore is a true precept.
A truly dead cat is not conscious of itself as a dead cat, and therefore is a truly dead cat.

...But what about the cat which knows itself not :yinyang:

Image
smoking cat by Malkavian-Psyblood @ http://malkavian-psyblood.deviantart.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Rakz
Posts: 1381
Joined: Tue Jan 12, 2010 8:04 am

Re: Keeping Precepts your experience

Post by Rakz »

Very tough to follow when living in amoral western society.
User avatar
Johnny Dangerous
Global Moderator
Posts: 17089
Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2012 10:58 pm
Location: Olympia WA
Contact:

Re: Keeping Precepts your experience

Post by Johnny Dangerous »

I was able to quit drinking and smoking dope for the first time in my life after taking refuge and taking my precepts. I was already ready, but I feel like that made it stick. I do over consume caffeine.

Lying is the most iffy for me, because there are times where you do things like embellish in a seemingly meaningless story that can slip past you. I'm happily married so sexual conduct (at least as defined in the most basic sense) is not a huge problem. That said, I have big issues with overabundance of sexual energy, and I imagine i'd be "at risk" here if I was younger and had a different lifestyle than I do.

I have never had a problem with not intentionally killing, long before taking my precepts I had a real soft spot for animals, and i'd see my friends using things like those electric fly swatters, or friends burning bugs as a kid.. and think WTF to myself, killing stuff for fun or convenience especially has always bothered me quite strongly.

Stealing is one of those areas..f "grey area" things related to property use, things like use of digital resources, things like borrowing stuff with no real intention to return etc. that really come down to just trying to be more mindful. When I was younger, I used to have some crazy ideas that it was ok to steal from the greedy or corrupt..which of course I don't think anymore.

Anyway, it's not about never messing up, but constantly righting the ship and being mindful, if you go around thinking " oh i'll never follow them perfectly" you'll just develop some kind of neuroses..I really don't think the teachings are meant to be used like that..no matter what vehicle you're riding on. Personally I don't think the basic 5 precepts are all that hard, they are a sort of bare minimum of ethical behavior really, even the (minor) Vajrayana commitments and practice I have I consider much more challenging so far.
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when afflicted by disease

Meditate upon Bodhicitta when sad

Meditate upon Bodhicitta when suffering occurs

Meditate upon Bodhicitta when you are scared

-Khunu Lama
User avatar
Ayu
Global Moderator
Posts: 13254
Joined: Mon Oct 29, 2012 8:25 am
Location: Europe

Re: Keeping Precepts your experience

Post by Ayu »

Yes, I also observe the precepts as a big help instead of just saying: "I would be better if I did..."
It is a matter of the unconcious mind - determination originates there. And there it can be destroyed again also. That's why I'm quite careful with engaging in talking too much about it. Sorry, :shrug:

But once determined, it is no problem anymore for me how other people do. It is just a matter between me and me. ;)
For examle, my band, they accept and love me as a non-drinker and a non-smoker - while they get high on some weeds and alcohol every rehearsal. It's their habit. But it doesn't touch me. I sit between them with my bottle of water or applejuice.
I know why. Because alcohol harms me, I'm determined not to take it.
:smile: But when the bass player describes the taste of this certain wine, i don't listen really. My mind doesn't follow. Otherwise it would be hard or impossible for me to hold the precept.

I think the precepts are a great help, because I don't want to do these bad deeds anyhow. If I had or had not the precepts, I have to abandon bad habits anyhow.
Post Reply

Return to “Lounge”