Tag: buddhism

Because the fifth Buddhist precept specifically says, “I am determined not to use alcohol or any other intoxicant or to ingest foods or other items that contain toxins …” I chose not to take this precept. I have a sweet tooth. I drink. I watch trash TV sometimes and knew this is a vow I would break from time to time.

The fourth precept I’m writing about for this series is on refraining from wrong speech.

Recovery Dharma is a world-wide program used at Souls Center in Spokane, a ‘spiritual classroom’ created by founder Julia Hayes. Souls Center is a community of women seeking spiritual empowerment through meetings and workshops.

I didn’t really date in high school, or even college, so I didn’t have to deal with the same temptations my peers did. I was frightened by what my faith community had taught me about sex and romance, so gladly avoided it. I was also in the closet until my 20s.

Buddhist saints are often described as maternally compassionate, with the endless patience of a mother who feeds, cleans and cares for children around the clock. In fact, the Theravada branch of Buddhism holds mothers in such high esteem that two men among the Buddha’s chief disciples, Sariputta and Mogallana, are said to be “like the mother giving birth” and “the nurse raising a child.”

Geshe Dadul Namgyal, an esteemed Buddhist scholar, joined the Abbey as the first male resident teacher. He joins abbess and founder Ven. Thubten Chodron and author Ven. Sangye Khadro as a senior teacher guiding and instructing the monastery’s now 20 monastics.

Sravasti Abbey is holding a retreat for young adults aged 18–29 to explore the faith of Buddhism.  The retreat, which is in its 17th year, is June 9–15 at 692 Country Ln., Newport, Washington and the costs are by donation.