Buddhist Ethics - The Five Precepts

In introducing the topic of ethics last week I mentioned the 5 Precepts to which lay Buddhists adhere. There are different levels within each precept. For example, the first is not to kill. Breaking the precept at the root is to kill a human, but once you start to examine your behaviour to see if any of your actions, words or thoughts are harmful to others, you might also decide to avoid stepping on bugs or eating meat, or you might decide to take the fewest lives possible. I find it quite interesting that in western society we tend to evaluate the value of a life according to a hierarchy. Some westerners say they don't mind eating fish or chicken but won't touch larger more "sophisticated" animals like cows or pigs, for example. Others opt out of eating animals with a face, but are happy to munch on a muscle or a scallop. Buddhists on the other hand, tend not to apply this hierarchy and rather focus solely on taking as few lives as possible . Therefore they would rather kill one yak which can feed an entire village than kill the heap of fish necessary to feed the same village, as it would be necessary to end many more lives. I have heard it said that a bug's life is just as precious to that bug, as a cow's life is to a cow, as yours is to you. Some Buddhists advocate for eating a vegetarian diet. We will discuss that more next week.
The other four of the 5 Precepts similarly have different layers. The vow against intoxicants usually refers to alcohol and mind altering drugs of the non-prescription variety, but taken further it can mean abstaining from caffeine, sugar, television, or even friends and environments that do not support a calm mind. The precept to refrain from stealing has been explained to me as not taking what is not your own and has not been given. That means pens from work, or sugar packets from the cafe! The vow against lying is about refraining from saying that what is not true (even to the telemarketer on the phone who has interrupted your dinner!), but my teacher also points out that exaggeration is also included, such as embellishing a story to make it sound better or complaining that your partner NEVER does the dishes.  The precept regarding sexual misconduct refers to adultery, but if you look deeper you can also ask yourself if you use your body or sexuality in other ways which are harmful. My teacher includes abstaining from the use of pornography.

So how do these precepts relate to our relationship with food? I don't know about you but I am pretty sure that I am at least somewhat deceitful, at least to myself, in terms of what and how I eat. I may even polish off the last bit off my partner's chocolate, or "borrow" a few coins from my son's piggy bank for my morning caffeine when I am low on change. When it comes to intoxicants, I am pretty sure that my sweet treats or my "habit" for a strong cup of tea counts at some level. Perhaps there is something for us all to learn from these basic vows. As I mentioned last week, the basis for Buddhist ethics is examining weather a specific action could be harmful to other sentient beings and then choosing actions which are beneficial. I suspect that if we all did just that we might make some changes to our eating habits. In the modern era that might mean choosing organic, non-GMO, or local foods or to purchase items from farmers markets so that packaging is kept to a minimum. It may mean only eating enough to sustain us and donating extras to those in need.  At the very least I think it would mean that we would treat ourselves with compassion and choose foods that are not harmful to our own health. Choosing foods that make us feel our best might also help us to be more compassionate, loving and wise with others.

Want more? This is a link to a teaching by Venerable Thubten Chodron on Ethics. She discusses the 8 worldly concerns which we will discuss more in the coming weeks.  This one is about the Eightfold Path which Buddha prescribed. Again, we will get to that as well, before we finish with ethics. Stay tuned for more on ethics including; the Bodhisattva Vows, Monastic Vows, The Noble Eightfold Path, The Eight Worldly Concerns, Eating Meat (who does, who doesn't, why and how), Fasting, and more...as always I welcome your comments, questions, and additions. I look forward to hearing from you. Until then. Have a great week!

Practice: This week let's take a closer look at how our actions and thoughts in relation to food harm or help ourselves and others. Do a short breathing meditation to calm your mind and then spend some time contemplating the 5 precepts in relation to your own experience.

Metta,

Dharma Mama