[Buddha-l] Do's and don't's

[Joy Vriens]

Buddhists have a great capacity to adapt and can be very creative. Take 
Thich Nath Hanh for instance in For a Future to be possible 
(*http://tinyurl.com/bvole9c*). The five precepts (pañcaśīla) that some 
Westerners interpret narrowly and negatively as simple "Thou shall nots" 
are presented positively as the Five wonderful mindfulness trainings 
that come with a sense of reponsability. Protecting life, practising 
generosity etc.

Or e.g. Phra Brahmagunabhorn in his booklet Path to Peace
http://www.icundv.com/vesak2011/book/the%20path%20ENG%20NEW.pdf

"A Borderless Mind & World through Appropriate Education

Today, I wished to take this opportunity to speak by focusing on the 
causes to be solved, the principles to be put into practice, but 
procedures were not mentioned. The most important thing is the 
understanding and acceptance of people into humanity; after this, 
everything is subjected to the individual capability to develop based on 
those principles. We should:

1. Solving problems arising from craving, pride, and false view - 
particularly from craving and pride. There should be focused measures or 
rules laid down to balance or lessen any restrictions or limitation of 
fairness, disadvantages, or deepening of false view that express 
narrow-minded behavior and hindrances.

2. Being freed from the influence of five forms of stinginess, here, 
again defined in religious terminology:
* Avasa-macchariya: stinginess as to dwelling
* Labha-macchariya: stinginess as to gain
* Kula-macchariya: stinginess as to family
* Vanna-macchariya: stinginess as to recognition; caste or class 
discrimination
* Dhamma-macchariya: stinginess as to knowledge or mental achievements

There is a pressing need to fully comprehend and develop humans to 
remove narrow-minded behavior by applying corrective social action with 
agreement-based wisdom.

3. Additionally, the three universal principles must be created in order 
to be planted as seeds to grow in human minds, for the following are 
universal truths:

1) The universal human being: look at humans as human
2) Universal loving kindness: given to all
3) Rules and universal truth: without division, all have equal rights 
and justice

If humans respect the same ideals together and adhere to the three 
universalities, there will be no further separation and only unity. When 
mental separations or barriers have fallen, other frontiers can be 
eliminated. However, there is no solution if human mentality pervades in 
wicked separation although humanity has already transformed positively.
Finally, humans have told themselves that there is no external 
separation - that we live in a borderless world; in fact, only humans 
still have mental barriers or separation. It will be difficult for the 
humans to progress into humanity. To make the minds of humans to be 
borderless: morality, concentration and wisdom - should all be 
encouraged and developed for humans to develop humanity towards 
overcoming conflict, to be freed from trouble with another, and strive 
without burdens towards - leading to the peace and happiness of the world.

I deliver Dhamma principles to all, my good people - in particular to my 
teachers who were the most important group in laying the foundations in 
this matter. As I told you, to be freed from defiling hindrances and 
barriers - truly higher education must be implemented. Thus, teachers 
would be the masters of this subject, to create peace and happiness - we 
would be pleased if they could do this. The achievements through 
education would bring about peace and happiness both inside and outside, 
into the world and society, as well as in humanity’s mind. We wish you 
all be able to do what we have suggested and delivered, beginning from 
the comprehension of principles, accepting them, and finally the 
implementation of the mentioned principles. I wish you all prosperity in 
peace, to be full of internal and external happiness, pervading in all 
directions towards universal peace and happiness. "

Those are far from being the only ones. They may be dreamers, but they 
are not the only ones.