Various Precepts Paths in the Zen Reformation School
Level One: Basic Five Lay Practitioner's Precepts
Color: Sky Blue - represents open sky, emptiness, complete open-mindedness, pure potential, receptiveness, "beginner's mind" first step on the Path.
Season: Emptiness, timelessness, infinity.
Prerequisites: Approximately 6 months active practice with the Sangha or previously have taken
the 5 Precepts in another Buddhist Sangha and have spent at least 3 months practicing with our
Zen Reformation Sangha.
Required Readings:
1. For a Future to Be Possible: Commentaries on the Five Mindfulness Trainings by Thich Nhat
Hanh
2. The Compass of Zen by Zen Master Seung Sahn
Suggested Reading:
1. Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki
2. The Heart of the the Buddha's Teachings by Thich Naht Hanh
Expectations: Live the 5 Precepts to the best of your ability, continue your practice, encourage
others, help welcome others to the group when new people attend. Help set up and tear down
before and after practice sessions.
At this first step we take a formal vows in front of friends, family and the Sangha showing our
desire to join the Sangha and the Buddhist path.
We take the Three Refuges:
1. I take Refuge in the Buddha, the One Who shows us the way in this life.
2. I take Refuge in the Dharma, the way of understanding and of love.
3. I take Refuge in the Sangha, the community that lives in harmony and awareness.
We then take the Five Precepts:
Traditionally these are:
1. I undertake the precept to refrain from destroying living creatures. (Basically, not killing.)
2. I undertake the precept to refrain from taking that which is not given. (Basically, not stealing.)
3. I undertake the precept to refrain from sexual misconduct.
4. I undertake the precept to refrain from incorrect speech. (Basically, not lying.)
5. I undertake the precept to refrain from intoxicating drinks and drugs which lead to
carelessness.
We at the Zen Reformation like the more in depth and positively viewed precepts as developed
by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh and use these as what we recite and try our best to live by.
First Precept
Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life, I vow to cultivate compassion and learn
ways to protect the lives of all sentient beings. I am determined not to kill, not to let others kill,
and not to condone any act of killing in the world, in my thinking, and in my way of life.
Second Precept
Aware of the suffering caused by exploitation, social injustice, stealing, and oppression, I vow to
cultivate loving kindness and learn ways to work for the well-being of all sentient beings. I vow
to practice generosity by sharing my time, energy, and material resources with those who are in
real need. I am determined not to steal and not to possess anything that should belong to
others. I will respect the property of others, but I will prevent others from profiting from human
suffering or the suffering of other species on Earth.
Third Precept
Aware of the suffering caused by sexual misconduct, I vow to cultivate responsibility and learn
ways to protect the safety and integrity of individuals, couples, families, and society. I am
determined not to engage in sexual relations without love and a long-term commitment. To
preserve the happiness of myself and others, I am determined to respect my commitments and
the commitments of others. I will do everything in my power to protect children from sexual
abuse and to prevent couples and families from being broken by sexual misconduct.
Fourth Precept
Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful speech and the inability to listen to others, I vow to
cultivate loving speech and deep listening in order to bring joy and happiness to others and
relieve others of their suffering. Knowing that words can create happiness or suffering, I vow to
learn to speak truthfully, with words that inspire self-confidence, joy, and hope. I am determined
not to spread news that I do not know to be certain and not to criticize or condemn things of
which I am not sure. I will refrain from uttering words that can cause division or discord, or that
can cause the family or the community to break. I will make all efforts to reconcile and resolve
all conflicts, however small.
Fifth Precept
Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful consumption, I vow to cultivate good health, both
physical and mental, for myself, my family and my society, by practicing mindful eating, drinking,
and consuming. I vow to ingest only items that preserve peace, well-being, and joy in my body,
in my consciousness, and in the collective body and consciousness of my family and society. I
am determined not to use alcohol or any other intoxicant, or to ingest foods or other items that
contain toxins, such as certain websites, TV programs, music, books, films, and conversations.
I am aware that to damage my body or my consciousness with these poisons is to betray my
ancestors, my parents, my society, and future generations. I will work to transform violence,
fear, anger, and confusion in myself and in society by practicing a diet for myself and for society.
I understand that a proper diet is crucial for self-transformation and for the transformation of
society.
For Higher Ordained Precepts information, please contact Rev. Song Do Sunim
Level One: Basic Five Lay Practitioner's Precepts
Color: Sky Blue - represents open sky, emptiness, complete open-mindedness, pure potential, receptiveness, "beginner's mind" first step on the Path.
Season: Emptiness, timelessness, infinity.
Prerequisites: Approximately 6 months active practice with the Sangha or previously have taken
the 5 Precepts in another Buddhist Sangha and have spent at least 3 months practicing with our
Zen Reformation Sangha.
Required Readings:
1. For a Future to Be Possible: Commentaries on the Five Mindfulness Trainings by Thich Nhat
Hanh
2. The Compass of Zen by Zen Master Seung Sahn
Suggested Reading:
1. Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki
2. The Heart of the the Buddha's Teachings by Thich Naht Hanh
Expectations: Live the 5 Precepts to the best of your ability, continue your practice, encourage
others, help welcome others to the group when new people attend. Help set up and tear down
before and after practice sessions.
At this first step we take a formal vows in front of friends, family and the Sangha showing our
desire to join the Sangha and the Buddhist path.
We take the Three Refuges:
1. I take Refuge in the Buddha, the One Who shows us the way in this life.
2. I take Refuge in the Dharma, the way of understanding and of love.
3. I take Refuge in the Sangha, the community that lives in harmony and awareness.
We then take the Five Precepts:
Traditionally these are:
1. I undertake the precept to refrain from destroying living creatures. (Basically, not killing.)
2. I undertake the precept to refrain from taking that which is not given. (Basically, not stealing.)
3. I undertake the precept to refrain from sexual misconduct.
4. I undertake the precept to refrain from incorrect speech. (Basically, not lying.)
5. I undertake the precept to refrain from intoxicating drinks and drugs which lead to
carelessness.
We at the Zen Reformation like the more in depth and positively viewed precepts as developed
by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh and use these as what we recite and try our best to live by.
First Precept
Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life, I vow to cultivate compassion and learn
ways to protect the lives of all sentient beings. I am determined not to kill, not to let others kill,
and not to condone any act of killing in the world, in my thinking, and in my way of life.
Second Precept
Aware of the suffering caused by exploitation, social injustice, stealing, and oppression, I vow to
cultivate loving kindness and learn ways to work for the well-being of all sentient beings. I vow
to practice generosity by sharing my time, energy, and material resources with those who are in
real need. I am determined not to steal and not to possess anything that should belong to
others. I will respect the property of others, but I will prevent others from profiting from human
suffering or the suffering of other species on Earth.
Third Precept
Aware of the suffering caused by sexual misconduct, I vow to cultivate responsibility and learn
ways to protect the safety and integrity of individuals, couples, families, and society. I am
determined not to engage in sexual relations without love and a long-term commitment. To
preserve the happiness of myself and others, I am determined to respect my commitments and
the commitments of others. I will do everything in my power to protect children from sexual
abuse and to prevent couples and families from being broken by sexual misconduct.
Fourth Precept
Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful speech and the inability to listen to others, I vow to
cultivate loving speech and deep listening in order to bring joy and happiness to others and
relieve others of their suffering. Knowing that words can create happiness or suffering, I vow to
learn to speak truthfully, with words that inspire self-confidence, joy, and hope. I am determined
not to spread news that I do not know to be certain and not to criticize or condemn things of
which I am not sure. I will refrain from uttering words that can cause division or discord, or that
can cause the family or the community to break. I will make all efforts to reconcile and resolve
all conflicts, however small.
Fifth Precept
Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful consumption, I vow to cultivate good health, both
physical and mental, for myself, my family and my society, by practicing mindful eating, drinking,
and consuming. I vow to ingest only items that preserve peace, well-being, and joy in my body,
in my consciousness, and in the collective body and consciousness of my family and society. I
am determined not to use alcohol or any other intoxicant, or to ingest foods or other items that
contain toxins, such as certain websites, TV programs, music, books, films, and conversations.
I am aware that to damage my body or my consciousness with these poisons is to betray my
ancestors, my parents, my society, and future generations. I will work to transform violence,
fear, anger, and confusion in myself and in society by practicing a diet for myself and for society.
I understand that a proper diet is crucial for self-transformation and for the transformation of
society.
For Higher Ordained Precepts information, please contact Rev. Song Do Sunim