Episode 88 - Impeccable with your body

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Moral discipline is the foundation of the spiritual path in Buddhism. Virtue means something that creates happiness or inner peace (good karma). When we determine that an action is virtuous or non-virtuous, it doesn’t imply judgment or that a person is good or bad, but rather that the action will either bring happiness or suffering in the future. Virtue creates the experience of freedom from guilt, and this helps us continue to develop spiritually through joy and confidence toward inner peace, wisdom, and liberation.  </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Non-virtuous actions of body include killing, stealing and sexual misconduct. These also form the first three of the Pratimoksha Vows, vows taken by lay followers of Buddha (those who are not monks or nuns). Monks and nuns have lots more vows to take! A virtuous life is not a set of rules or a burdensome duty. A virtuous life is a source of happiness, and the sacrifice of non-virtuous pleasures enables us to experience more satisfying ones. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Pratimoksha Vows </span></p> <ol> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Refrain from killing</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Refrain from stealing</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Refrain from sexual misconduct</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Refrain from lying</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Refrain from becoming intoxicated </span></li> </ol> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Whether an action is virtuous or non-virtuous depends on a combination of: </span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">the mental state, including intention, that the action arises from </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">the effects on those to whom the action is di