One Precept at a Time.
This practice asks us to ring the bell every hour as we study the Precepts. When the bell is rung then bow to the teaching. Make the effort to keep the teaching in awareness.
Just ONE teaching at a time. Study the list. You determine how you structure this practice.
There are THREE Refuges.
I will begin with the first of the three Refuges.
I take refuge in Buddha.
Pay close attention to the meaning of the word refuge. The above description is NOT as strong as it needs to be. Here is a stronger definition than the one above.
“I take refuge in awareness.”
In order to understand this statement we must bring our attention to the title of this first teaching; PAY ATTENTION to the PRECEPT above. The first definition is not clear; how on this earth and in this century can we understand the meaning of I take refuge in Buddha? We need to be able to define what this first precept means. We need to consider carefully the multiple meanings of the words. When we do not know what the word or words mean we fail to understand the depth and strength of the Precept.
Consider whether or not YOU are willing to take refuge. We might think of it as a SHELTER from misery & pain. REFUGE is a SHELTER of some sort that protects us from danger. It is a place of safety. Furthermore, it is pointing out that we are safe & sound from the three poisons; greed, hate, & delusion.
We benefit when we take seriously the Precepts as teachings that admonish and teach the Way.
Precepts are considered RULES of BEHAVIOR. They offer a moral direction to practice. The PRECEPTS help in daily life. This help strengthens when we practice throughout the day. Ringing a bell every hour, prostrating or bowing when that bell rings strengthens our practice.
Often, however, many just blow through them without a realization of their strength.
I take refuge in Buddha.
I take refuge in awareness.
Discern the morality of daily life by taking shelter in this teaching. It is a daily practice. Don’t give up.
Listen O Drop
Give yourself UP without regret.
And in exchange gain the ocean.
Listen O Drop
Bestow upon yourself this honor.
And in the arms of the sea, be secure.
Rumi
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FREE YOURSELF FROM GREED. HATRED. DELUSION
