III: Ethics

Mindfulness in Ethics and Behavior

  • The Five Mindfulness Ethical Trainings (Five Precepts in Buddhism)
    1. Knowing how deeply our lives intertwine, I undertake the training to protect life
    2. Knowing how deeply our lives intertwine, I undertake the training to take only what is offered to me
    3. Knowing how deeply our lives intertwine, I undertake the training to speak wisely
    4. Knowing how deeply our lives intertwine, I undertake the training to protect relationships and avoid harming through my sexual energy or actions
    5. Knowing how deeply our lives intertwine, I undertake the training to promote the clarity of my mind by being wise about my consumption patterns
  • Ethics and Mindfulness
    • Eightfold path in Buddhism; right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration
    • Foundations of spiritual practice in Buddhism: ethics and generosity
    • Practice impacts behavior, and behavior impacts practice.  Reciprocal relationship.
    • Living in alignment with our deepest values; living in integrity.
    • Noticing how self arises when we act out of line with our values.
    • Living as a manifestation of your deepest values elicits "bliss of blamelessness" (no remorse/blame when living in integrity, in align with values)
    • Discernment, not critical judgment of behavior.
    • Using the guidelines to foster our wisdom, compassion, connection, and awareness.
    • "Who" do you want to be in the world, and "How" do you want to be in the world?
    • Taking our mindfulness practice and putting it into action.
  • 1: Protect Life
    • Impact vs. intention
    • Precept: non-harming
    • Not killing intentionally, + avoiding intentional killing
    • Examine discomfort around killing, done by you or by someone else.  What arises?
  • 2: Generosity & Taking Only What is Offered Freely
    • Orienting toward generosity, toward self and others
    • Noting how generosity and stealing feel.  
      • If you steal: what arises?  What action can be taken if feeling does not sit right?
      • If you are generous: what arises?  How can this be fostered and supported?
    • Time: protect time for yourself and be careful about stealing time from self and others
  • 3: Wise Speech
    • Notice motivations and intentions behind speech (and actions)
    • Notice how speech sits in your body.
    • Instead of white lies, honest truths - "I am not able to come" is reasonable enough!
    • Honesty with yourself is so important.  Basis for honesty toward others.
    • Say no!  Do not try to please others above taking care of yourself; not sustainable, and not actually good for them (or you!)
  • 4: Wise Sexual Conduct
    • Cultivating responsibility to not harm through our sexuality/through our intimate connections.
      • Non-harm of others and self
    • Protecting our relationships
    • Living with integrity in all of the ways that we hold our sexuality/sexual energy
    • When confused if a choice is right for you: 
      • Does this have the potential to hurt you or someone else?
      • Precautionary principle: if "yes," don't do it!
        • "If it doesn't feel right, it isn't."
      • Ask, what are my intentions?
      • Gaining clarity in how we relate.
    • Presence with/in our sexual energy
    • Intimacy
      • Asking: am I present here?  Are there things that need healing here?  Does forgiveness play a role?  Should it?
      • Creating safety for ourselves within intimacy
      • Keeping the power in our intimacy
      • Protecting our intimacy with ourselves
      • Are we relating with others authentically or superficially?
    • Bliss of blamelessness: no remorse when we act in line with our values; salient in sexuality and intimacy
  • 5: Wise Consumption
    • Wisdom to avoid consuming that which clouds and confuses the mind, what prevents clear seeing, what gets in the way of our mindfulness.
    • ex: alcohol, drugs, food, media, technology
      • Addictions; impede connection.
    • Not losing self in consumption.
      • Fine to "check out" a little sometimes; all about who is in charge.  Skillful to take care of self, yet tipping point = when what we are consuming becomes in charge.  Notice, where is the control?
    • Notice: when do you choose to consume something rather than practice/sit with something that arises?
    • Notice urges.  Allow desire to move through you - every urge/impulse has a crest.  Get over hump!
    • Examining our relationships to that which we consume.
    • Asking: where do we lose our agency?
    • Examine: is this encouraging or discouraging connection?

  • Practices
    • Self-Observation
      • Observing behaviors and ethical challenges that arise over the course of your day/week.
      • Noticing areas that may feel uncomfortable or confusing.
      • Asking, "Where do I have to grow?"
      • *Aiming for better, not perfect.*
      • Orient to positives in our conduct, ways we act wisely and experience bliss of blamelessness, and notice the ways we'd like to improve.

Notes from MARC MAPS III: Ethics and Mindfulness, taught by Diana Winston, September 13, 2018 - October 18, 2018.

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