Living by Vow - Upaya Zen Center | Meditation | Buddhism | Retreats | Buddhist ... · 2017-10-01 · From a Buddhist perspective, qualities such as non-judging, patience, trust, non-striving,

LivingbyVow(R.JoanHalifax)

gratitudetoDr.CyndaRushton

Respectcentraltoethicalframeworkforchaplaincy

(Beauchamp&Childress,2001)

• Meaningsofrespectrootedininternalbeliefsaboutthevalueofothers.• Respectextendedtoanotheranacknowledgmentofsharingacommon

destiny.• Feelingesteemforanother,anactthatrequiresasenseofauthenticity,

integrity,andself-knowledgeinordertoappreciateanother.• Whenrespectisdemonstratedthroughwords,deeds,behaviors,the

recipientcanexperienceworthiness:honoringtheirchoices,theirboundariesforprivacy,bytellingthetruth,keepingpromises,beingtrustworthy.

• Ethicalprinciplesofrespectfundamentaltocreatinganethicallygrounded,culturallysensitiverelationship.

• Respectincorporatesnotionsofself-respect,authenticity,integrity,autonomy,privacy,veracity(truthfulness),fidelity(keepingpromises).

•Respect:notaboutlikingsomeone,condoningdecisionsorbehaviorsofothers,avoidingconflict.

•Respectcanbechallengedwhenwefindourselvesinsituationswhereourvaluesconflict,wefindthepersonalityofthepersonoffensive,orwedonotagreewithother’sdecisions.

•Notionsofrespectbasedonasenseof�politicalcorrectness� areinsufficient.Sayingtherightwordswithoutsincerity,maskingourbiasesbyexertingourpowertoachievetheoutcomewedesire,orbehavinginwaysthatarecontrarytoourwordsunderminesourintegrityandtheintegrityofrelationshipswithothers.

•Whenothersareaggressiveorthreateningintheirinteractions,respectundermined.Normsofrespectarereciprocalandarerequiredinallinteractionsbetweenothers,aswellasamongtheinterdisciplinaryteams,andwithininstitutions.

MoralCharacter

Involves insight to perceive fundamental values: what one stands for

Engages moral sensitivity: to locate ethically salient features of situations

Engages moral attunement: empathy+ perspective taking

Involves character formation and conscience

Whatweoftenfaceaschaplains…..

WorkofAndrewJameton:

MoralUncertainty:occurswhenoneisunabletodefinethemoralproblemorisunsurewhatmoralprinciplesapply.

MoralConflict:occurswhentensionexistsbetweenmoralvaluesorprinciples,orthereisdisagreementaboutwhichmoralvaluesorprinciplesapplyoraboutthepropercourseofactiontopursueinasituation.

MoralDilemmas:occurwhentwoormoreclearmoralprinciplesapplybuttheysupportmutuallyinconsistentcoursesofaction.Theyofteninvolveunyieldingelements,graveharms,moralcrisis,tragicchoices.

MoralDistress:occurswhenoneknowsthe�right� thingtodobutisunabletoactuponit.Theinabilitytoactthreatensone�sintegrity.

MoralRemainder.Evenwhenanethicallypermissiblechoiceisprioritizedandactedupon,thereoftenareimportantethicalvaluesandprinciplesthatareleftunfulfilled

Whatdowewanttocultivate?……

MoralCharacter:

Moralsensitivity:abilitytoempathizewiththedistressofanother

Moraljudgment:discerningwhichactionismostethical

Moralmotivation:toputmoralvaluesaheadofothervalues

Moralcharacter:manifestingstrengthofconvictions

Moralaction:takingactionconsistentwithethics

JRRest,MoralDevelopment

EthicalLensesEthicalconflictsanddilemmascanbeapproachedthroughvariouslense.Theselensesilluminatevariousdimensionsoftheissue,providewaysofthinkingaboutitandofferwaystoresolvethem.

Consequentialist:It’stheconsequencesthatmatter.

Non-consequentialist:Duty-based:dutyirrespectiveofconsequences(Decisionsbasedonappealstounyieldingprinciples,suchastheTenCommandmentsinaChristiantraditionorarigidinterpretationofthepreceptsinBuddhism.)

Agent-centered:Virtue:WhatkindofpersonwillIbe?

Care-BasedEthics

Care-basedethics:inquiryintoanethicalissuebeginswithone’s moralexperience.

Encouragesconnectedness/relationships,enhancingattentiveness,meaningfulness,responsiveness,communication,moralaction.

Moraljudgmentsareemotional,contextual,basedonparticularcircumstancesratherthanapriorirulesandprinciples.

Narrativeisamethodforunderstandingthemoralsentimentsofindividualsbyfocusingonwhatitisliketoexperiencetheworldofcaringforaparticularindividual.

Livingethicallymeansthatweconsideralloftheabove,thatisconsequentiality,socialmorays,socialandenvironmentalresponsibility,justiceandcompassion,self-respectandrespectforothers.

FromaBuddhistperspective,qualitiessuchasnon-judging,patience,trust,non-striving,acceptance,lettinggoofexpectationsandoutcomes,andadoptinga�beginner’smind�cultivaterightaction.PreceptsareacoreaspectofBuddhismandarecongruentwithwhatitmeanstobasechaplaincyinanethicalperspective.

Threecoreaspectsofwhypreceptsareimportantinourworkaschaplains

• Connecttoourdeepestvalues• Connecttowhowereallyare:character• Supportusinactingwithasenseofalignmentwithourvaluesandintermsofmoralcharacter

FrompointofviewofBuddhism:

Three-foldTraining(Essenceof8-foldPath)Sila:PreceptsSamadhi:MeditationPrajna:Wisdom

Avisionofuniversalresponsibility:“Myreligioniskindness.”

HisHolinesstheDalaiLama

Roleofpracticeinethics:“Disciplineisanobediencetoawareness.”

CarlJung

SHILA(precepts):CoolandPeaceful6th Ancestor Huineng: “Do not disturb the mind.” Platform Sutra

• Precept:preisbefore,ceptishold:whatweholdtobetrue,whatwebringintothepresent,whatisnecessary

• Preceptsaregrammarofattitude,thoughtandactionofrealization

• Preceptsarefundamentallyaboutrelationship

Threeperspectivesontheprecepts• Theravada:literalkeepingoftheprecepts

• Mahayana:preceptskeptfromtheperspectiveofcompassion,howtheycanbehelpfulindailylife

• Buddhayana:preceptskeptonthebaseofemptinessornonduality;wisdombased

THREE TENETS(GlassmanRoshi)• Notknowing• Bearingwitness• Compassionateaction

Fivekindsofprecepts

Personalprecepts– Needtorecog personalprecepts,rulesweliveby– Takeinventoryofwhatwealreadyhave– Exploreandtestthem– Thesearevowsthatgiveourlivesstrengthofcharacter

Outerprecepts:– Fromrelig trainingandsocialconditioning,culturalexpectations

Practicalprecepts:– Helpingustoliveintheworld;customsandnormsthatconducetoconsiderationandsocialcooperation

• Egotamingprecepts:– Stayingawayfromcomparisons,innerandouterdirectedhate,destructiveness,attachment,confusion,fear,greed,ignorance,addiction:delusion

– Discoveringthattheegonotpractical– Strictnesswithourselves

• Preceptsofrealization:– Livingalargeridentity,realizingbuddha’smind,heart,andbody:• FourNobleTruths• Recognizingimpermanence,noself:vowsnottoharm,todesirefreedomfromsufferingforall,towishonlytobenefit,wishingforenlightenmentforall:BodhisattvasVow

Upaya’sPrecepts

VERSEOFATONEMENT:Allmyancienttwistedkarma,frombeginninglessgreed,hate,anddelusion,bornofbody,speech,andmind,Inowfullyatone.

THREEREFUGESInvitingallcreationsintothemandalaofmypracticeandvowingtoservethem,Itakerefugein:

Buddha,theawakenednatureofallbeingsDharma,theoceanofwisdomandcompassionSangha,theinterdependenceofallcreations

THETHREETENETSandTHREEPUREPRECEPTS: Takingrefugeandenteringthestreamofengagedpractice,Ivowto:

•First,donoharm:Ivownottoharmothersormyself,andtoliveinnot-knowingasthesourceofallmanifestations.

•Second,dogood:Ivowtobearwitnesstothejoysandpainofalllife,andclearlyseewhatis,withoutattachmentorjudgment.

•Third,dogoodforothers:Ivowtoinviteallhungryspiritsintomylife,andcommitmyenergyandlovetothehealingoftheearth,humanity,allbeings,includingmyself.

THETENPUREMINDPRACTICES:Endeavoringtoactualizemyvows,Iengageinthepracticesof:

1.RecognizingthatIamnotseparatefromallthatis:thisisthepracticeofNon-harming.Iwillnotleadaharmful

lifenorencourageotherstodoso,andIwillliveinharmonywithalllifeandtheenvironmentsustainingit.

2.BeingsatisfiedwithwhatIhave:thisisthepracticeof

Non-Stealing.Iwillnottakeanythingnotgiven,practicingcontentmentbyfreelygiving,askingfor,andacceptingwhatisneeded.

3.Encounteringallcreationswithrespectanddignity;this

isthepracticeofChasteConduct.Iwillgiveandacceptloveandfriendshipwithoutusingorclinging.

4.Listeningandspeakingtruthfullywithclarityandkindness:thisisthepracticeofNon-Lying.IwillcompassionatelyandconstructivelyspeakthetruthasIperceiveit,deceivingandharmingnoone.

5.Cultivatingamindthatseesclearly:thisisthepracticeofNotBeingDeluded.Iwillembraceallexperiencesdirectly,withoutthemanyintoxicantsofthisworld.

6.Realizingkindness:thisisthepracticeofNotTalkingAboutOthers’FaultsandErrors.Acceptingwhateachmomentoffers,IvowtorealizethatIamnotseparatefromanyaspectoflifeandwillabstainfromcriticizingothers,takingresponsibilityformyownlife.

7.Cultivatinghumility.ThisisthepracticeofNotElevatingMyselfandBlamingOthers.Iwillnotblameorjudgeothers,norcompetewithothersorcovetrecognition.Iwillholdallbeingsinequalregardandpracticeinclusiveness.

8.Beinggenerous:thisisthepracticeofNotBeingStingy.Iwillnotfosteramindofpovertyinothersormyself,andIwillusealltheingredientsofmylife,givingmybesteffortandacceptingtheresult.

9.Transformingsufferingintowisdom:thisisthepracticeofNotBeingAngry.Iwillnotharborresentment,rage,orrevenge,andIwillletangerteachme.

10.Honoringmylifeasasourceofcompassionandwisdom:thisisthepracticeofNotDisparagingtheThreeTreasures.Iwillrecognizethatallbeings,includingmyself,areexpressionsofoneness,diversity,andinterdependence.

The Five Irrevocable Directives from the Parliament of World Religions

Commitment to a Culture of Non-violence and Respect for Life.Commitment to a culture of solidarity and a just economic order.Commitment to a culture of tolerance and a life of truthfulness.Commitment to a Culture of Equal Rights and Partnership Between Men and Women.Commitment to a Culture of Sustainability and Care for the Earth.

Five Gatekeepers of Speech

• Is it true?• Is it kind?• Is it beneficial?• Is it necessary? • And is it the right time?

FOURGREATVOWS(BodhisattvaVows)

Creationsarenumberless-- Ivowtofreethem.Delusionsareinexhaustible-- Ivowtotransformthem.

Realityisboundless-- Ivowtoperceiveit.TheAwakenedWayisunsurpassable-- Ivowtoembodyit.

JennifervanBergen(DarkForcesandtheGameofMassDestruction):“Themoreinvestedweareinthepicturewehaveofourselvesasgoodpeople,theharderitcomestoseeourfaults.Thelesswelookatourfaults,themoreweblameothers.Themoreweblameothers,themoreragewewillelicitinthoseweblame.Themorewedothiswithoutallowingthoseweblametobeheard,the

closertomutualdestructionweare�

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