| Precept | Key | Prohibition | Aspiration | Inspiration |
| Not to lead a harmful life nor to encourage others to do so | Gratitude | Not killing | To live in harmony with all life and the environment which sustains it | There is no separate self |
| Not to take that which is not given | Generosity | Not stealing | To freely give, ask for, and accept what is needed | There is no scarcity of resources |
| Not to commit or participate in unchaste conduct | Love | Not lusting | To give and accept affection and friendship without clinging | There is no scarcity of love |
| Not to tell lies nor practice believing the fantasies of authority | Honesty | Not lying | To see and act in accordance with what is | There is no need to hide the truth |
| Not to use intoxicating drinks or narcotics nor assist others to do so | Awareness | Not clouding | To embrace all experience directly | There is no need to hide from the truth |
| Not to publish other people's faults | Kindness | Not blaming or criticizing | To acknowledge responsibility for everything in my life | There are no victims or perpetrators |
| Not to extol oneself and slander others | Humility | Not competing or coveting | To give my best effort and accept the results | There are no winners or losers |
| Not to be avaricious in bestowal of the teachings | Piety | Not apostatizing or denying spiritual responsibility | To live an openly spiritual life | There is nothing in my life which is not part of my spiritual training |
| Not to be angry | Acceptance | Not to rage, resent, or revenge | To see everything as an opportunity | There are no mistakes |
| Not to speak ill of this religion or any other | Tolerance | Not persecuting or assuming spiritual authority | To encourage others to lead a spiritual life, in their own way | There is nothing in anyone else's life which is not appropriate to their spiritual training |
from In Process: A Journal of Spiritual Practice, quoted in Turning Toward Happiness: Conversations with a Zen Teacher and Her Students.
Back to: Word index
This page last revised Sun Jan 28 00:11:25 EST 2001 by leaf