Which Is More ‘Allowable’ For Consuming?

Oct. 17 | 第三食肉[轻]戒：若佛子，故食肉，一切肉不得食。夫食肉者，断大慈悲佛性种子，一切众生见而舍去。是故一切菩萨，不得食一切众生肉。食肉得无量罪。若故食者，犯轻垢罪。 – 释迦牟尼佛 （梵网经菩萨戒本） [The]...

Does Blood Donation Break Any Precept?

Oct. 17 | Question: Does blood donation break any Buddhist precept? Answer: Voluntary donation of blood does not break any precept at all. In fact, it upholds the spirit of the First Precept, as not only is there no killing, there is its opposite – the...

Why We Should Ask & Answer Dharma Queries Well

Jul. 4 | Ask well to be answered well. Ask better to be answered better. – Stonepeace In the last line of ‘[The] Twenty-Third [Light] Precept [Against] Arrogant [And] Biased Speaking [Of The Dharma]’ (第二十三憍慢僻说[轻]戒) in the ‘Brahmā...

The Buddha’s Admonition Against Not Severing Lust

Nov. 16 | All not ready for sudden enlightenment should walk the gradual path to it now. – Stonepeace | Books 大佛顶首楞严经: 四种决定清净明诲章: 断淫篇 The Great Buddha’s Crown’s Foremost Śūraṅgama Sūtra: Section On Four Kinds...

Does Smoking Break The Fifth Precept?

Aug. 24 | The best way to curb negative habits is to cultivate positive habits. – Stonepeace | Books It is Buddhist general knowledge, that the Fifth Precept for beginner Buddhists is to abstain from consumption of intoxicants. The usual definition of intoxicants...

Why Avoidance Of Alcohol Is So Important

Aug. 18 | The only way to prove you are not addicted, is to kick the habit now. – Stonepeace | Books In the basic Five Precepts, which are moral guidelines for beginner Buddhists, is the Fifth Precept against the drinking of alcoholic beverages. Avoidance...

The Egoless ‘Everest’ Vs An Everest Of Ego?

Jun. 1 | This review of the ‘Everest’ movie could prove not so predictable, perhaps not unlike the weather conditions up this highest peak. It was written not so much to celebrate the human spirit, but as a reflection on the dangers of unchecked ego....

How To Increase & Decrease Gun Violence

Oct. 20 | 若佛子， 不得贩卖 刀仗弓箭… – 梵网经: 第三十二损害众生戒 （释迦牟尼佛） If [as] Buddhas’ [Bodhisattva] disciples, [they] must not sell knives and staves, bows and arrows [i.e. all weapons]… – Brahmā...

Can I Use Wine In Cooking Or As A Tonic?

Jul. 7 | Question: The fifth of the Five Precepts is to abstain from consuming intoxicants as they can cause loss of mindfulness (that leads to breaking of other precepts) and unhealthy addiction. However, what about the usage of small amounts of wine or alcohol...

Does Being Angry Break Any Buddhist Precept?

Feb. 24 | As featured in the June 2018 issue of ‘For You Information’ Anger at another’s true mistake which already harms you creates another true mistake, which further harms you. – Stonepeace | Books Does having anger break any of the...

Can I Walk Away After An Accident?

Mar. 21 | Question: If I have broken something in a shop accidentally and no one knows about it, can I simply walk away? If I do so, would I be breaking any precept? Answer: You should pay for it. If not, the second precept against stealing and the fourth precept...

Does Investment In Animal Trade Break The First Precept?

Mar. 30 | Question: I try to observe ‘no killing’ whenever I can,  even though I did not take up the precept via a formal ceremony and am not a vegetarian. However, I have investment in the fishery business. Does this make me ‘break’ my...

Should You Harm Others To Clear Their Bad Karma?

Nov. 15 | Just as no one is destined to harm you, you are not destined to harm anyone. – Stonepeace A mobster, who was supposedly also a ‘devout Buddhist’, when asked how he could do nasty things to people, replied that he simply expressed their...