Ever wonder what “ethical conduct” actually means in real life?
According to Venerable Thubten Lamsel (@sravastiabbey), it comes down to five very practical ways to stop being a jerk.
In Episode 44 of Vibe with Venerables, Venerable Lamsel explores the five lay precepts: not killing, not stealing, wise and kind sexual conduct, not lying, and not taking intoxicants.
This isn’t a lecture on rules. In this episode, you’ll discover
- Why ethical conduct is the foundation of the path to enlightenment.
- How the precepts bring freedom by removing the need to constantly debate what’s right.
- How each precept invites us to refrain from harm, cultivate wholesome qualities, and benefit both ourselves and others.
- What daily life is really like at Sravasti Abbey.
Along the way: a bug rescue gone sideways, the Dalai Lama teaching that changed her life, and the real difference between making a mistake and telling a lie.
Donation
This series is freely offered by Buddhism.net. If you’d like to show your appreciation and gratitude to the teaching Venerable, Venerable Chodron, and Sravasti Abbey, you may make a donation to Sravasti Abbey (https://sravastiabbey.org/donation/. We thank you for dāna, the practice of cultivating generosity.
Overview of the Series
Part 1: Higher Training in Ethical Conduct
We start with ethics, and keep coming back to it
Episode 43: Series Overview: Ethics, Concentration and Wisdom
Episode 44: The Five Buddhist Rules That Will Instantly Improve Your Life
Episode 45: Ten Non-Virtues: How Our Actions, Speech, and Thoughts Create Suffering
Episode 46: How to Deal with Anger: Buddhist Ways to Stay Calm
Part 2: Higher Training in Concentration
With a grounded ethical foundation, the monastics guided us into the art of meditation, showing us the prerequisites for deep concentration and how to avoid the trap of “rushing” our practice.
Episode 47: The Higher Training in Concentration Explained
Episode 48: Higher Training in Concentration: Why You Can’t Rush Samadhi
Episode 49: How to Prepare for Meditation: Six Preparatory Practices
Part 3: Higher Training in Wisdom
In the final stretch, we explored the ultimate goal of the path: developing the wisdom that frees us from cyclic existence by understanding the true nature of reality and the self.
Episode 50: The Three Types of Buddhist Wisdom: Hearing, Reflecting, and Meditating
