Friday, April 6, 2012

Bodhisattvas in an election year - Case Five

The Bodhisattva Precepts include the following 6th Precept, 
I VOW TO ABSTAIN FROM SPEAKING OF THE ERRORS AND FAULTS OF OTHERS 
and 7th Precept,  
I VOW NOT TO ELEVATE MYSELF OR PUT DOWN OTHERS. 


Is it possible to be a candidate in this election year and maintain these precepts? 


Please reflect on this. Please notice what the candidates do, those you like, those you dislike, and those you are neither committed to or against.


And of course, there is the 4th Precept, I VOW TO PRACTICE TELLING THE TRUTH.


Reflecting on candidates is one thing; another thing is to reflect upon our own life practice, and how we maintain or do not maintain these precepts throughout our life, in action, speech and thoughts. 


And when we notice that we are not maintaining these precepts, not maintaining this life that we are, what practice efforts are called for? What practice efforts do we make? And what supports us in this life practice?


(c) 2012 Elihu Genmyo Smith