Precepts

Precepts is a precious and powerful practice that purifies negative karma and produces positive karma, or good fortune for our future. It functions to improve our familiarity with the practice of moral discipline, deepen our compassion, and make our human life meaningful.

This practice is traditionally done at daybreak on the 15th of every month. It takes the form of a short Sadhana of prayers and meditations, which, in general is guided. This takes place at 6.30am at the Centre.

When we take the eight Mahayana precepts, we explicitly promise to abstain for twenty-four hours from eight actions:

• Killing
• Stealing
• Sexual activity
• Lying
• Taking intoxicants
• Eating after lunch
• Sitting on high or luxurious thrones or seats
• Wearing ornaments, perfume, etc, and singing and dancing, etc.

These eight, however, are merely symbolic, for in reality we promise to abstain from all non-virtuous actions for twenty-four hours.

Taking and keeping these precepts is a special purification practice. Buddha realized that all living beings’ suffering comes from their previous negative karma, and so he taught special practices to purify it.

Everyone is welcome to attend this early morning session and participate in this very meaningful day. It is recommended to treat this day like a special spiritual day of retreat where, even if we have many things to do, we mentally focus on making every activity meaningful and refrain from meaningless, ordinary activities that often clutter our day and mind.

If you are new to this practice please contact our Resident Teacher for more information: rt@meditateincalgary.org

Precepts is offered only at the Centre. It is not offered online.