5 Buddhist Teachings All People Can Practice

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As Westerners have become increasingly interested in meditation and mindfulness practices, they have become more and more interested in the religions that are most often associated with meditation and mindfulness. Eastern spirituality has received unexpected attention from people who want to lower stress levels and learn to keep themselves in the present moment. Yoga classes have exploded and being or feeling “zen” has become accepted vernacular.

While some version of Hindu and Buddhist practices have become popular, their Western versions are often far removed from the original intent. Western yoga, for example, has completely missed the point of the practice. Unfortunately, not many people are willing or interested in learning about the rich spirituality behind many popular practices out of a misconception that learning about Eastern beliefs will somehow threaten their own religious convictions. This, however, could not be more false. Simply learning about another religion should not be enough to shake a person’s own faith. If it is, there were massive problems preexisting in the person’s faith. Learning about other faiths can actually strengthen your own. There are also many religious beliefs that span across multiple faiths such as the basic precepts of Buddhism. The five precepts are the fundamentals of Buddhism and form five Buddhist teachings that all people can practice without compromising their own faith.

Avoid Taking the Life of Beings

Almost every morality system on the planet has some denouncement of murder. For Wiccans, it is “harm none.” For Hindus, it is ahimsa or “non-injury.” For Christians, it is “thou shalt not kill.” For Buddhists, it is the first precept, “avoid taking the life of beings.” While Christians, Jews and Muslims often think of a proscription against killing as directed solely at the murder of fellow humans, Buddhists, Jains and some Hindus and Pagans take the refusal to take life even further. These people refuse to take lives other than just human life. They are often vegetarians in order to avoid killing animals. Some Jains are known for taking the proscription against killing to extraordinary levels and wear veils to avoid inhaling bugs. Some stop eating altogether to avoid killing plants.

The merits of vegetarianism are a separate argument, but this Buddhist call for compassion can be extended past merely refusing to commit murder. To practice this, stop killing unnecessarily. Squashing the brown recluse spider that got into a toddler’s room is understandable. The spider could do serious harm to the child and even to the adult. Stepping on the wolf spider that was sitting on a garden rock, however, is unnecessary. It is not a dangerous creature, and it was in its natural environment. Put this precept into practice by considering if killing even the smallest creature is really necessary or if there is a better path.

Avoid Taking Things Not Given

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In addition to forbidding murder, most religions forbid theft. Buddhism, once again, goes further with its requirements of adherents. Buddhists are not just forbidden from stealing. They are forbidden from taking anything that is not freely given to them. This includes not just things that are stolen. It also includes things that are “found” or given out of a sense of compulsion.

Buddhists know how easy it is for someone to “find” something that they want. They might stumble across something that they want and take it since they found it even if there is no proof that it does not belong to someone else. They might also watch something they want and wait for the moment they can claim it looked abandoned even if it was only left alone for a few minutes. Rather than worry about whether or not these count as stealing, Buddhists simply do not take that which was not willingly given rather than worry about the fuzzy grey areas of whether or not something was really abandoned or found.

Avoid Sensual Misconduct

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Prohibitions against various sex acts is a common theme in religion. Buddhism is no different in this regard. Buddhists also have sexual taboos, but like with the other precepts, Buddhists do not limit themselves to what many others would consider traditional taboos. Buddhists forbid adultery, rape and incest just like almost every other religion. Buddhism, however, also proscribes excess of any of the senses. Excessive sex is prohibited, but so are other ways of overwhelming the senses. Some interpretations of the third precept state that all sorts of sensual desire should be carefully controlled. This would mean that, for example, strong perfumes or colognes should not be worn to avoid overwhelming the sense of smell and that a person should not overwhelm their sense of taste by eating too much chocolate.

The third precept is largely concerned with cultivating stillness, simplicity and contentment. As such, this teaching is commonly associated with meditation.

Refrain From False Speech

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Lying is generally frowned upon. Just about every religion agrees that lying is not ethical or moral at all. Buddhism, once again, agrees with this common idea. Buddhists are forbidden from engaging in false speech. While this is normally interpreted as a prohibition against lying or bearing false witness, false speech can also be interpreted to cover a wider variety of forms of speech. “False speech” could technically include hyperbole and exaggeration as well. While most Buddhists would not see anything unethical in a person declaring that they hadn’t seen their friend “in forever,” they might disapprove of someone telling their friends that their car is nicer than it really is or that their house is larger than it is in reality. This sort of exaggeration is often harmless, but it can be a slippery slope. Harmless exaggerations and white lies can also build into larger lies if a person keeps trying to cover for the exaggeration. Rather than admit that their car is an old model, someone might claim their new car is in the shop. This is where what would normally be harmless exaggeration becomes something more dangerous as a person builds up lies in an effort to sustain another lie.

Refrain From Intoxicating Substances

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Buddhism forbids its adherents from using intoxicating substances. This can include drugs, tobacco and alcohol. It is also the precept on which most other religions are somewhat divided and that Buddhists are arguably the worst at keeping. Some religions, such as Islam, forbid adherents from drinking alcohol. Others, such as Christianity, allow it as long as a person does not drink to excess.

Almost everyone is aware that intoxicating substances of any kind are not good for them. That does not, of course, stop people from using them and making fools of themselves. Buddhists, however, are not merely concerned with a sullied reputation. Intoxicating substances by their very nature distort a person’s consciousness. This makes it more difficult for them to perceive reality as it is, a central theme in Buddhism. In addition to wrecking a person’s health, any addiction that forms is a selfish desire that is tied to this world, both of which are to be avoided in Buddhism.

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The five basic precepts of Buddhism urge basic morality. They call for compassion, control and ethical treatment of both other people and creatures. These fundamental beliefs are found in almost every morality system on the planet and form the basis for civil interactions. As such, these teachings can be practiced by people of any and every faith without causing conflict with preexisting religious convictions. After all, “thou shalt not kill,” “harm none” and “avoid taking life” all mean the same thing. There is more overlap between faiths than many people seem to realize, and that should not be a scary discovery but a cause for celebration that we truly are more alike than different.