The teaching on Buddhist Ethics – shila, the discipline, or conduct – was given on the Guru Rinpoche day of the auspicious Saga Dawa month at Dharma Mati centre of Rigpa Berlin. Rinpoche is discussing the different levels of Buddhist teachings, and the discipline involved with each of them.
Rinpoche recommends the teaching on the 14 Root Samayas of Vajrayana, which he gave at Bodhicharya Berlin in 2018, as a further resource for those who wish to learn more on the ethics and vows at the Vajrayana level.
A SUMMARY
by Maggy Jones
“Ethics” is shila, right living – everyone benefits. The whole of Buddhist practice is contained in the 3 trainings shila, meditation, wisdom. Do not simply obey the rules, but understand their purpose. There are 10 Non-Virtuous Actions – 3 of body, 4 of speech and 3 of mind. Rinpoche explains these. Their opposites are the Virtuous Actions.
“Precepts” are the 3 types of vows,– Vinaya, Bodhisattva and Vajrayana. Rinpoche explains. Vinaya vows include the vows for monks and nuns. It is a personal discipline taken from choice. Precepts can be taken one or more at any time. Bodhisattva vow means actively doing the positive. Vajrayana has many individual methods to expose our Buddha Nature; it includes the Vinaya and the Bodhisattva. A broken vow can be purified; details vary. Q & A
Photos thanks to Conrad Harvey.