“When I am not clear what road to take, I might ask myself: ‘What would Buddha do?’ This is not to ask the impossible of myself. Rather, it is a reminder that the seeds of freedom are already in me. My vows water those seeds, and this seemingly innocent question has helped me to avoid quite a bit of harm.
“I crafted this version, which is greatly simplified from the original Five Precepts of Buddhism, but still covers a lot of ground.
“Knowing how deeply our lives interwine, I vow:
1. To not harm and to revere all life.
2. To not steal and to practice generosity.
3. To avoid sexual misconduct and to practice respect, love and commitment.
4. To avoid harmful speech and to speak truthfully and constructively.
5. To avoid intoxicants and to cultivate a sober and clear mind.”
From: Standing At the Edge: Finding Freedom Where Fear and Courage Meet by Joan Halifax
Roshi Joan Halifax PhD is a Buddhist teacher, Zen Monk and Anthropologist who explores the edges of human experience and writes incredibly compelling books about the intersection of spirituality, psychology and human consciousness.
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