Discipline

Discipline includes accepting the precepts, committing to undertake positive deeds, and vowing to benefit other sentient beings.

If we do not restrain and modify our body, speech, and mind, we will simply follow our habit of self-attachment and may become too disengaged, so that our mind will go astray. As a result, our body, speech, and mind will start creating negative karma, the result of which we will have to bear in the future. Just as a container needs to be washed first, then clean things can be put in it, so these negative habits of our body, speech, and mind must first be controlled and only then will positive, beautiful, kind, and moral principles arise. In order to benefit all sentient beings, so that they may attain perfect liberation, Bodhisattvas take and maintain vows. Through these vows and restraining their body, speech, and mind, they are able to gain the skills to meticulously choose or reject cause and effect and ensure that their path to liberation in Mahayana makes continuous progress.

This chapter is part of: Introduction Course - Part 2: Bodhichitta