Asked about my preference regarding the behavior of politicians, I wrote that my hope is that political candidates and politicians would hew close to the Bodhisattva precepts.
Is it possible? I hope so.
Is it possible for me, for all of us, to hew close to the Bodhisattva precepts in our behavior? I hope so - and do my best.
Are my hopes an impossible dream?
Then this is a good dream to have.
Below is a version of the Bodhisattva precepts (from "Everything is the Way").
THE 3 PURE PRECEPTS:
1ST - TO BE NON-HARMING, TO CEASE ALL HARMFUL ACTIONS.
2ND - TO
DO GOOD.
3RD - TO
DO GOOD FOR OTHERS, TO SERVE ALL EXISTENCE
THE
10 GRAVE PRECEPTS:
1ST - TO PRACTICE NON-KILLING.
2ND
- TO PRACTICE NON-STEALING.
3RD
- TO PRACTICE NOT BEING GREEDY, NOT MISUSING SEXUALITY.
4TH
- TO PRACTICE TELLING THE TRUTH.
5TH
- TO BE AWARE OF MY WAYS OF CLOUDING THE TRUTH BY MY IGNORANCE.
6TH
- TO ABSTAIN FROM SPEAKING OF THE ERRORS AND FAULTS OF OTHERS.
7TH
- NOT TO ELEVATE MYSELF OR PUT DOWN OTHERS.
8TH
- TO BE GENEROUS.
9TH
- NOT TO INDULGE IN SELF-CENTERED ANGER.
1OTH
- NOT TO SPEAK ILL OF THE THREE TREASURES, THE TRUTH, THE TEACHING
AND THOSE WHO PRACTICE THE TEACHING.
