Ten Preceptions (a.k.a. Be Nice)

Note: This was written for my second “taking of the precepts,” also called a Jukai ceremony. Some don’t do windows (glass and Microsoft). I don’t do assignments, so instead, I’m giving one pithy personal example for each of the precepts, as stated by the San Francisco Zen Center.

1. A disciple of Buddha does not kill but rather cultivates and encourages life. 

Gentle

Adults often tell 

kids what to do. 

When I took my 2 year old Nate 

to the park,

I let him lead 

and I just followed. 

Life and freedom 

feel interwoven. 

When Nate was the leader—

the explorer—

he became his own

person. 

He stood up

straight, and said,

“Grandpa, come follow 

me around the park.”

2. A disciple of Buddha does not take what is not given but rather cultivates and encourages generosity. 

Giver

I tore up the postage stamp 

that was not cancelled—

After rationalizing

many justifications. 

The use of the stamp 

had not been given 

to me. 

Though a nominal sum,

it was like a (single) vote 

in an election. 

One vote doesn’t matter 

until it joins 

another. And then 

we have, or have not, a post offices,

morgues, and bad karma.

Smiling equals generosity. 

suggesting to others:

something is right 

and see this joy in life.

I rarely say “no.”

I don’t see myself 

separated from others. 

I’ve been feeding chickens

and, against my vegan ethics,

ate a few of their eggs. 

Only for science,

was my excuse.

I felt my heart

open to them 

when I held two warm, 

recently minted,

and well-constructed

eggs in my hand. 

I cared about those chicks,

visiting them

between

feeding time. 

Were they ok? 

Did they have water? 

Was their gate latched

to keep out the coyote?

The neighbors’ garden hose 

and sprayer were leaking.

So I repaired them. 

“It needed to be done,”

said Mother Theresa,

and “Yes, I like to fix things,”

said Rube Goldberg.

Even things should 

not suffer, even if 

they are “inanimate.” 

3. A disciple of Buddha does not misuse sexuality but rather cultivates and encourages open and honest relationships. 

Desire

Sexuality is a force 

that drives us.

I thrive on open 

and honest relationships. 

When I’m opening up,

others tend to do that.

I’m challenged to moderate 

distance between myself 

and others. 

When should I speak

or not?

Linda was reading 

when I woke up 

this morning. Do I 

interrupt her and 

say good morning?

Does she know 

I’m feeling that? 

So I haven’t talked to her, 

realizing that she needs space 

after watching 

two-year old Nate

for four days. 

Sexuality is really 

connection and non-connection

for me. It is finding the space

between us.

4. A disciple of Buddha does not lie but rather cultivates and encourages truthful communication. 

Deceit

I lie. And

not only at night

in my bed.

It is another dance,

knowing when to talk

and when to shut up.

I read the book

on Honest. You’d

think that would have 

been enough.

How much truth

do you want? 

How much can

our relationship

sustain?

What should I overlook,

even when I can’?

When I ask,

should I tell the truth?

You say yes,

and (soon) regret it.

Is that why, T.S. Eliot, 

“the women come and go

talking of Michelangelo”?

5. A disciple of Buddha does not intoxicate self or others but rather cultivates and encourages clarity. 

Meth

My intoxicant is distraction… 

on the Internet, on Earth. 

Not saying no. 

Believing that I have unlimited time. 

Others appear to

have great focus. 

It takes me too long 

to finish things—

“driven to distraction.”

6. A disciple of Buddha does not slander others but rather cultivates and encourages respectful speech. 

Slander

I slander in my mind and in conversation.

And I did not know it. 

Am I supporting life? 

Yes, no lie here. 

But do I speak a belief 

as if it is the truth?

Usually.

Sometimes thinking that

the end justifies the means.

And even sometimes,

as I’m doing it,

I wish I wasn’t.

I just slandered my chicken friends,

calling them lazy,

because, 

after laying 13 eggs in two days,

they are taking a deserved

break. 

See, I used their 

human shortcomings, 

as justification,

for my slanderous tongue.

7. A disciple of Buddha does not praise self at the expense of others but rather cultivates and encourages self and others to abide in their awakened nature. 

Humble

I wonder when I bragged a little, 

telling how I was once this or that.

As I said it, I wondered

if I should have said,

what I did.

I wondered, too,

 if saying something

I had done 

would accomplish the end

in my mind?

If so, does that justify it?

Hardly.

8. A disciple of Buddha is not possessive of anything but rather cultivates and encourages mutual support. 

Mine!

What do I own that was only mine?

Shouldn’t Iacknowledge 

where it came from?

Is it really mine 

when I depend on you

to protect it 

and be with it 

and invent it 

and…?

I say “my computer.” Ha. 

What did I do 

to help it 

come into my world?

9. A disciple of Buddha does not harbor ill-will but rather cultivates and encourages lovingkindness and understanding. 

Spite

Somedays I feel like pinching people,

for no reason except I felt pinched

yesterday or the day before.

I know it is silly, 

because pinching will never

break the pattern.

Smiling would be 

a whole lot better.

Stop pinching 

even if it seems warranted.

As humans are precious, 

pinching is never warranted…

even if it is so easy

when the target appears 

to beg for it.

10. A disciple of Buddha does not abuse the Three Treasures but rather cultivates and encourages awakening, the path and teaching of awakening and the community that takes refuge in awakening. 

Nurturing

As he said we need

to take care of things,

he put his holy book

into a puddle of soda.

I felt wounded, 

wanting to snatch

the book away,

and save her

from that 

indelible stain.

++++++++++

Personal Spiritual Ancestors:

Note: I have no idea what spiritual means, but I’ll try.

People who gave me broken machines to take apart so could figure out how they worked.

My grandpa, who let me fix stuff and who believed in me.

My grandma, who told me continually about her brother the rabbi… and whose love of music inspired me to do art.

My neighbors who went to church and had a stained glass window in their living room (in the wall with electric lights behind).

My first art teacher, Robert Erickson, who recognized something in me and gave me permission to break rules.

A philosophy teacher Joseph Agassi who let us explore and be scholars instead of students.

Two art teachers in college (and many others), Peter Bodnar and Art Sinsabaugh, who believed in me.

My Rin Tin Tin dog, Blackbeard, who found me and stuck around for ten years.

Kids and Grandkids, Josh, Melissa Jasper, Dash, Charlie and Nate, who taught me so much, esp. that other people, even kids, are there own people.

My wife, Linda, who calmly stuck around, told me the truth, and made everything she touched turn beautiful. 

Hans, Francois, and Susan, who have been friends for most of my life, who were there over and over again.

Carl Jerome, my first Zen/Chan teacher, who tried so hard to move me from my discursive mind to my wisdom-heart.

Countless sentients who gave me so much, and were around at just the right time, challenging me so much.