Subject

04 Apr Subject

Posted at 06: 17h in Subject, Ethics, Six Perfections by

(Skt. la ; Tib. , tsultrim , Wyl. thul khrims ), literally, “acting appropriately”. The purpose of discipline is to simplify our lives. Discipline is a way of being that leads to positive and happy states of mind. It is the first of the three training sessions and the second of the six paramitas.

 

The means of maintaining discipline

Patrul Rinpoche says:

"The means to maintain discipline are:

  • Consciousness, which is meticulous attention to what should be adopted and what should be avoided;
  • Mindfulness, which means not forgetting what should be adopted and abandoned;
  • And surveillance, which involves [continuously] checking the status of your body, speech and mind.

First, through the mindfulness, you don't lose sight of what should be adopted or abandoned. So secondly, because you are checking the status of body, speech and mind with surveillance , you recognize any occasions when you are tempted to avoid something virtuous or to get involved in something negative. Right now, because of your quality of conscience, you remember the benefits of virtuous actions and do them, or remember the flaws of negative behavior and harmful actions and avoid them.”

 

Subdivisions

Chokyi Drakpa says:

"Discipline is divided into the discipline of avoiding negative actions, the discipline of taking positive actions, and the discipline of bringing benefits to beings:

  • The first type of discipline means that you give up even the smallest harmful act of body, speech, or mind.
  • The second means that you strive to practice virtue as much as you can, starting with the tiniest of positive acts. Be sure to embrace these acts with proper preparation, main part, and conclusion.
  • Thirdly, bringing benefits to beings means working for the welfare of others through the four ways to attract disciples, once the time has come for you to do so, and when you are free from any selfish motives. For beginners, it is more important to train the mind in the first two types of discipline with the bodhicitta motivation of wanting to benefit others”.

Alternative Translations

  • Ethics
  • moral conduct, moral discipline, morality 
  • Code of conduct
  • right way to live
  • good conduct

 

Simple translation: here