Send us Fan Mail The Five Buddhist precepts may sound straightforward, even familiar: don’t kill, steal, lie, engage in inappropriate sexual conduct, or use intoxicants. But there is more to these standards of behavior than what you read on the surface. I explore how the precepts invite us to pay attention to what sustains or diminishes life, how we treat others, and the many ways we distract ourselves from what is true. The precepts, as I was trained, are not permanent vows of perfection, but daily commitments we can consciously review and renew. I also look at the three stages of ground, path, and fruition to understand what constitutes breaking a precept. Highlights: The Five Precepts:Refraining from killing as a commitment to preserving life force in ourselves, others, and the situations we encounter.Learning not to take what has not been offeredPracticing truthfulness by pausing to examine what we actually know before we speak.Looking beyond obvious sexual misconduct to consider the ways we take advantage of others for our own satisfaction.Recognizing intoxication in its many forms, from alcohol and drugs to compulsive scrolling and attachment to our own opinions.A daily commitment: the precepts are renewed each day, rather than treated as permanent vows that leave no room for human complexity.Ground, path, and fruition: Exploring the three stages that must come together to break a precept.Podcast After Party Music A tribute to Magic Sam, the influential blues guitarist, and his instrumental track Looking Good from West Side Soul. Watch this episode on video If you’d like to watch the podcast, the video version is here. New Online Workshop on The Five Buddha Families Join Kevin Townley for Full Fathom Five: The Buddha Families & Creative Expression, a 4–hour workshop on November 14th at 11am et. Kevin will guide you through the Five Buddha Families and how the difficulties or confusion states that we might experience can actually fuel our creativity. There will be time to work on artmaking in real time. Learn more and register here. My new book is now available - in print, e-book, and in audio formats Inexplicable Magic: Meditation for Mystics, is available for purchase. Explore the spiritual path through 7 principles which run counter to conventional wisdom on mindfulness. Learn more and buy your copy here. If you enjoyed this episode: Please rate, review, and share it with a friend who’s curious about mindfulness, spiritual commitment, or the Buddhist path. For more on Buddhist teachings and how our humanity isn’t necessarily in our way, sign up for my free weekly newsletter or join the Open Heart Project sangha for more connection with community and with me. If this podcast has been meaningful to you, it would be great if you would subscribe, give it a five star rating and share it with a friend. To join or learn more about The Open Heart Project please visit openheartproject.com. Thoughts? Email us at info@susanpiver.com Produced by Citizens of Sound Music by: Derek O'Brien ©Open Heart Project
