Waking Up to What We Do: Buddhist Ethics as a Practice of Liberation

Buddhist precepts originated as rules to govern monastic communities and later broadened to guide lay students in cultivating wisdom and compassion in their thoughts, words, and deeds. This lecture will discuss the central ethical guidelines of Buddhism, and describe the liberating effects that are possible when we practice them in our daily interactions. Drawing on Diane Eshin Rizzetto's book Waking Up to What You Do, we will explore the precepts not as commandments by which we judge ourselves, but as basic human values. The precepts can help us to discern the reality of each situation and to take appropriate action. Join us for this evening of teaching, stories, and practice, and discover how the more we choose not to act from self interest at the expense of others, the easier it is to find inner peace and ease.