Ever told a small lie just to keep things smooth? Ever stayed quiet while someone trashed a person you know is decent? 🤔
In Ep 45 of Vibe with Venerables, Venerable Thubten Samten (@sravastiabbey) presents these as examples of the ten non-virtues—a Buddhist roadmap identifying actions that plant negative karma and obstruct our spiritual path. The uncomfortable part? How ordinary they are. From lying, harsh speech, and idle talk to covetousness, ill will, and wrong views, Venerable Santan breaks down how these non-virtues arise and, more importantly, how we can begin to abandon them.
In this episode:
- Learn what exactly the Ten Non-Virtues are.
- How mindfulness and introspective awareness are essential for moral discipline.
- Intention matters: our motivation defines the karmic weight of an act.
- How to begin the purification process.
- How to distinguish between regret vs. guilt.
Stay for the Q&A, including whether it is ever okay to lie to save a life.
Useful Links
Prostration to the 35 Buddhas: https://thubtenchodron.org/2000/01/purification-visualization-prostration-thirty-five-buddhas/
Purification practice using Four Opponent Powers
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
