1/14/17 (#1); 1/16/17 (#2) 1/17/17 (#3/#4) 1/18/17 (#4/#5/conclusion)

The Five Precepts: A Reflection

By

Mitchell William Pennell

A few years ago when I was still working on the Initiate Program, I found a pocket sized book of the teachings of Buddha and purchased it as a sort of meditation exercise.  The book contained many, many writings on Buddhism; including myths, parables, and tenets.  Somewhere in the middle of the book I found a writing of ‘The Five Precepts” translated by a man named Gil Fronsdel.

I used these teachings as a beginner guide of such in meditation and mindfulness.  I wanted to take a few minutes and share the thoughts I’ve had on these 5 precepts and, having studied some more Buddhism and currently studying Taoism, I wanted to reflect on these little ideas and share my thoughts.

All of these tenets ask for a “conscious decision on behave of the practitioner; For the most part this is a promise to be a better person, to follow ones’ inner self and to train oneself to be the very best themselves. Each of these can be a vow to stand against the many ideas that hinder ones’ growth spiritually and emotionally and, as they talk to basic human behavior and ideas, there’s a timeless quality to these (and other Buddhist) writings.  I will do my best to simply present a personal reflection and short paragraph to all five where in some could become pages upon pages of essays in their own right.

This is a self-assigned paper.

The Five Precepts

I: For the purposes of training I vow to refrain from taking life.

II: For the purposes of training I vow to refrain from taking what is not given.

III: For the purposes of training I vow to refrain from sexual misconduct.

IV: For the purposes of training I vow to refrain from false speech.

V: For the purposes of training I vow to refrain from intoxicants which lead to carelessness,

These five precepts are a vehicle of happiness, a vehicle of good fortune, a vehicle for liberation.

Let our virtue therefore be purified and shine forth.

Taken at face value these can be applied to almost any field of study, any theological endeavor, martial arts training, ethical inquiry, or any real action where clear-headedness is necessary and personal growth is desired; to that end I’ve even been thinking of adding them into the student handbook of my Martial Arts School (removing the one about sexual misconduct as I’m sure to get complaints from parents and don’t wish to be preaching any possible theology so as not to offend students of faiths other than my own.)

As a path for spiritual, emotional and even physical purification; these 5 little ideas can reap great personal benefits; and with that, so begins my reflection.

I: FOR THE PURPOSES OF TRAINING I VOW TO REFRAIN FROM TAKING LIFE

This like many things in Buddhism is pretty straight forward.  To truly benefit ones’ spiritual growth and be a trusted member of the global society we live in; as well as to reflect the passive and internal journey of Buddhists.

To practice the path to enlightenment and follow the 4 noble truths; being able to make a conscious effort to not take life is pretty important. Most people are good and able to not have to worry about a situation where they’d be faced with the moral dilemma of taking life; but even within the most righteous and even the benign personality there’s a small chance where people have to meditate on their actions.

Within everyone is the capability to do awful things; to war and fight and take life; within everyone is a “yang” or dark side that tells us to indulge in our vices. Now indulging in a little extra chocolate now and then, to smoke cigarettes, or drink alcohol in moderation, to “Sin”; to act on these tendencies is not always a life-and-death act; and often don’t have extreme earth shattering consequences.

But what I feel this is taking about could be stated that taking life is never the goal or first action. To actively TRY to find situations where one can take the life of another. To remain mindful when physical or emotional altercation occur and to seek other avenues then simply killing the other person is what’s advised here.

In martial arts training the idea of taking life is always in the background. I teach survival training and self-defense geared towards escape where disabling or injuring the attacker may be necessary; but there’ always that idea in the background of “If my life was truly in danger, could I kill the attacking individual?”

After many years and achieving two black belts, I am very well trained and do have the knowledge on how to end someone’s life but would do EVERYTHING ELSE BEFORE resorting to that action unless those options were unavailable to me.  Ending another persons’ life should never be the first actions or goals of any individual. And to learn the Path and walk the Path; to vow to actively decide to not take another persons’ life is a very important psychological and theological promise. By actively promising not to take life; forces open our minds to other alternatives for dangerous or even benign situations that bother us.

I could honestly talk about this vow for pages and pages; weighing the pros and cons; talking endlessly about situational decisions, I could quote Gandhi and Martin Luther King and other intellectuals that spoke on the virtues of non-violence but for the purposes of this exercise I am going to try to self-manage and not get on too many rants.

Precept TWO: FOR THE PURPOSES OF TRAINING, I VOW TO REFRAIN FROM TAKING WHAT IS NOT GIVEN

This again has a material/practical, psychological/spiritual, and emotional meaning(s) and like the previous one and the next three, pages upon pages could be written with this line as a starting off point.

All of these vows ask for a conscious decision on the practitioner’s part; like I wrote before; and each are geared towards teaching some sort of virtue or ideal behavior.

To take what is not given, to steal, can be applied to and create images of losing ones’ Physical possessions; but the idea of not taking what is not given freely can also be seen as a deep spiritual idea.

Within a popular theology there’s a teaching about Coveting; coveting your neighbors’ possessions; spouses; or ideas creates a void within oneself.  To always be looking at the grass on the other side you lose the ability to see the amazing things you have or the amazing abilities you possess and thus rob yourself of spiritual, and emotional growth.

When one stops seeing the beauty of their own worth; or try to possess others; they become embittered and negative. These negative people bring down everyone around them without even trying and add to the basic discourse of the world around them. This must be consciously fought against within oneself. The very best way is to see the world as it truly is; as Taoism teaches; And find the beauty within oneself and your place in this world.

III: For the purposes of training I vow to refrain from sexual misconduct

Sexual misconduct in this term means mainly to refrain from cheating on ones’ spouse or significant other. Sexual misconduct could also include acts such as rape, molestation, and even coveting (similar to above idea but geared towards sexual possession of another person.)

To honor ones’ commitments is a basic avenue for religious teachings and vows taken upon marriage as well as promises made between partners. To honor ones’ spouse; as in to treat them with dignity, support, and compassion in all things as a true partnership built on trust is a basic spiritual ideal of the ages. In honoring your partner, you honor yourself and the value you place on that shared commitment.

IV: For the purposes of training I vow to refrain from false speech.

False speech; or lying is a sin in every religion I’ve ever studied; whether mentioned or not based on dogma; and is the antithesis of basic human ethics.  False speech poisons the well of trust. The people caught lying can be as numerous as stars in the sky; even in recent 90s politics ending in the impeachment of a well and scholarly president.  In recent politics it seems lying is actually the only consistency within the next president which is a scary state of affairs globally, but any way.

The purpose of refraining from false speech embodied purity of ones’ ethics, and ones’ greater selves. We don’t pollute our ethics or spiritual essence by demeaning our words -with along with our actions – is the only truly personal legacy we can leave.

V: For the purposes of training I vow to refrain from intoxicants which lead to carelessness,

This is in part with spoiling ourselves; previously with false speech degrading our character, sexual misconduct distracting our higher selves to our baser selves; stealing possessions and taking life. Now we get to the last precept.

To refrain from intoxication; to refrain from actually poisoning our bodies to the point of inebriation and getting black out drunk leads to a carelessness well beyond common sense.  The Buddha taught a middle way between excess and absence, a balance within all things- physical, mental, and spiritual- a middle way that can cut through the haze of attachments to sex, alcohol, money, prestige; and a life in destitute for the sake of self-flegration.  A middle path; veering away from possession, intoxication, lying and taking life unnecessarily.  This middle path; empowered by these 5 precepts can truly liberate us from the burdens of complacency and the distraction of attachment.

And with that; we come to the last line:

These five precepts are a vehicle of happiness, a vehicle of good fortune, a vehicle for liberation.

Let our virtue therefore be purified and shine forth.

I pray that the liberation from these faults; these 5 precepts of Buddhism that need to be reflected and meditated on; and encouraged to grow within us can shine forth and positively change the small bit of the world around us.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my reflection. MTFBWYA

-Sensei Mitchell William Pennell

REFLECTION ON:
THE PARABLE OF THE LUTE
(From “Teachings of the Buddha” edited by Jack Kornfield; copy write 1993; adapted from the Anguttara Nikaya; Translated by Nyanaponika Thera)

(No Copywrite infringement intended)

(*Note this will probably read as more “Journal Entry” then “Essay”; If those of you who read this wish to put in your two cents or comment, please please please send me a PM. No replies necessary; Thanks)

Once the Blessed One lived near Rajagaha on Vulture Peak. At this time while the venerable Sona lived alone and secluded in the Cool Forest, this thought occurred to him:

“Of those disciples of the Blessed One who are energetic, I am one. Yet, my mind has not found freedom.”

Now the Blessed One, perceiving in his own mind the venerable Sona’s thoughts, left Vulture Peak, and, as speedily as a strong man might stretch his bent arm or bend his stretched arm, he appeared in the Cool Forest before the venerable Sona. And he said to the venerable Sona:

“Sona did not this thought arise in your mind: ‘Of those disciples of the Blessed One who are energetic, I am one. Yet, my mind has not found freedom.’?”

“Yes, Lord”

“Tell me, Sona, in earlier days were you not skilled in playing string music on a lute?”

“Yes, Lord.”

“And tell me, Sona, when the strings of your lute were too taut, was then your lute tuneful and easily playable?”

“Certainly Not, O Lord.”

“And when the strings of your lute were too loose, was then your lute tuneful and easily playable?”

“Certainly Not, O Lord.”

“But when, Sona, the strings of your lute were neither too taut nor too loose, but adjusted to an even pitch, did your lute then have a wonderful sound and was it easily playable?”

“Certainly, O Lord.”

“Similarly, Sona, if energy is applied too strongly, it will lead to restlessness, and if energy is too lax it will lead to lassitude. Therefore, Sona, keep your energy in balance and balance the Spiritual Faculties and in this way focus your attention.”

“Yes, O Lord.” Replied the venerable Sona in assent.

Afterwards the venerable Sona kept his energy balanced, balanced the Spiritual Faculties and in this way focused his attention. And the venerable Sona, living alone and secluded, diligent, ardent and resolute, soon realized here and now, through his own direct knowledge, that unequaled goal of the holy life.

As this is a meditation, or record of a meditation; there might me a bit of rambling. To those of you who wish this was better edited, I apologize for the inconvenience.

I found this today while looking through my pocket size book of Buddhist teachings, and it seemed that it resonated with my life a bit and I felt compelled to write a reflection upon this teaching.

As most of you know, or can guess from my screen name, I am a martial artist and Karate instructor (in training). I’m painstakingly slowly working through “The Book” by Alan Watts, and I am currently training towards my black belt as well as recently started researching and training in Wing Chun. (*which, when combined with my CNA job, takes up the majority of my free time.)

I find myself lately feeling very out of balance; as though I am spread very thin. I barely have time to relax or breathe it seems. When I’m not working, I’m training, when I’m not training, I’m researching Wing Chun, or working on my novel, or working on the initiate program. I find myself more often then not feeling like I have spent all summer (* and all year or even many years) just “existing” instead of living. And I’m unable to figure out a way to change.

When I was reading this earlier today I had an “Ah Ha/ Eureka” moment where I realized the above fact, and now I feel this overwhelming desire to change it. But feel I lack the proper plan to do so.

My own history would teach me that I spend a lot of my time “settling” instead of overcoming, or reaching for the stars as it were. I seem to attract the most damaged, emotionally manipulative, and distant women in the world and what results is nothing short of a bipolar rollercoaster. While the tattered remains of my romantic entanglements are the most prevalent example; it is not the only one in my life. Needless to say this pattern can be found in my school life, my childhood, and my own search for spiritual growth and understanding.

I’m far too forgiving; I’ve recently started reconnecting with old friends and, disconnecting myself from those in my past who have harmed me and I feel that I will have some success, but I still FEEL this undercurrent of push and pull; these outdated modes of seeing the world and I can’t forget them or remove them. I feel too much and not enough.

The parable of the Lute teaches that one must be flexible; not too rigid because that can result in the “strings breaking”; symbolic of some sort of destruction or ending in ones life; but one must not be too lose because then there can be no sound produced when struck; thus not being too complacent or wishy-washy. One must walk the balanced path, the middle way, the way that like the Lute; creates a harmonious tone/life when struck.

I too wish to walk a balanced life, a balanced routine; a balanced diet; a balanced demeanor and a more positive outlook on life. I think life would be quite beautiful if I could breathe again. I’m entirely sure how to end this entry; I don’t want to make a huge declaration or mission statement because that seems to “forced” or fake; I don’t wish to make promises to myself because that wasn’t really the goal of this either. I think I will just end it with a desire and a quote. I look forward to the day when I will feel the way the following quote describes.

“When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky.” –Buddha

8/26/2013
8:15 PM-9:25 PM