The Six Perfections, or Paramitas, are guides for practitioners on the Bodhisattva path. By developing these qualities, we can transcend our concept of self and reach the other shore – Enlightenment. The Six Paramitas, or transcendent Perfections, are generosity, ethical conduct, patience, diligence, meditation, and wisdom.

The word Sila is commonly translated as Ethical Discipline. In Buddhism, ethical discipline is usually defined in terms of the monastic regulations (vinaya) and/or the precepts.

When discussing the precepts, it is important to understand that unlike other religions, Mahayana Buddhism (and Zen especially) does not legislate morality for us. Rather, it sees ethical conduct as the natural expression of an Awakened mind. Anyone who tells you that they live the precepts all the time is either enlightened or deluded. So, it’s more helpful if we view the precepts as descriptions of enlightening activity, rather than proscriptions or commandments on our conduct.

Following the precepts should never be viewed through a lens of good or bad, holy or sinful, but rather in terms of ignorance vs. wisdom. Then as we begin to recognize the limitations of our own realization/awakening, we can then use these ethical guidelines as tools to help us attune ourselves to our compassionate, Awakened heart/mind.

Outside of religion, I think most sociologists would agree that morality is not absolute but varies relative to the cultures and situations (and times) that we find ourselves living in. The principles that we find in the precepts such as affirming life, acting generously, and embodying compassion can be applied in all contexts, regardless of the current moral conditions.

Regardless of our personal opinions on karma, we should realize that all of our actions have consequences and that we cannot evade the responsibility for the effects of our conduct. The precepts can then become signposts to show us whether or not we are living in integrity with ourselves.

In Hollow Bones, Jun Po has given us 11 precepts, which we commit to following at our Jukai ceremony. A description of each precept can be found on Page 33 of the Hollow Bones Sutra book.

1. Affirm Life
2. Act Generously
3. Be Loving
4. Manifest Truth
5. Respect Clarity
6. Honor Silence
7. Celebrate Others
8. Be Giving
9. Embody Compassion
10. Steward the Earth
11. Manifest this Way

So this month, I invite you to revisit the precepts. Examine your own life through their words.

What do they mean to you?
How will/do you live them?
When are you living in integrity with the Precepts? When are you not?

As Jun Po writes in the Sutra Book, “After the taking of sincere precepts or vows, we will be amazed to find that it was only our doubt, our lack of invincible true faith and our lack of unalterable true commitment that obscured our clear vision of compassionate Awakened Heart Mind. These doubts acted like the dark clouds that block the bright sun from our view. We have now been informed, educated, empowered, initiated and set firmly upon the path. Our Awakened Mind, our ‘true woman or man of no rank,’ has always been here waiting for us. Right here …within us!”

Come, come, whoever you are.
Wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving.
Ours is not a caravan of despair.
Come, it does not matter if you’ve broken your vow a thousand times.
Still, come, and yet again come!
-Rumi

For further exploration

Hollow Bones Zen Sutra Book

How to Practice Sila without Calculation – Norma Fischer (Lion’s Roar, subscription needed)

Sila Paramita – Being a Good Non-Person – Norman Fischer podcast (1:00:24)

Ethics: In Order to Help – Master Dae An

Buddhism and Morality – Barbara O’Brien

Pocket Paramis: Ethical Conduct – Tricycle Magazine