Satisfied Buddhist - Domo Geshe Rinpoche

We shouldn’t mistrust the world if we are in skillful harmony with society’s organization…. but with the additional requirement that we adapt that imposed structure into our own life by exercising personal values. Laws preventing us from carrying out each and every personal desire can limit the boundaries of personal freedom to do anything we want. That implies that there are certain levels of o ur idea of total freedom that we cannot explore. Of course, we can all agree that everyone should follow certain rules and there needs to be a balance between personal needs and the needs and freedoms of others. Therefore, we avoid impinging on the freedom of others by voluntarily limiting the full expression of our own freedom. Out of my modifying personal values mentioned earlier come my own choices, such as who I might vote for to represent me in political office or on a committee. Perhaps I will vote for someone who thinks like me and who also cares about the needs of others. On the othe...

Be kind! Among the ten non-virtues is harmful speech. This vow to avoid it is implicit in refuge/bodhichitta vows; to make effort to become enlightened so that we can become capable of benefiting all living beings. Therefor it violates our Buddhist refuge vows to use harmful speech. Vows in general, are meant to help keep us from harming oth ers and ourselves. They are not there to cramp our style. It is said that the vows taken to avoid harmful speech are broken like pouring rain for the unawakened, so don’t feel too guilty if you slip. By working hard to get it down to a small rain shower, you are doing well. Some, who work at it very carefully, rarely use harmful speech. ~Domo Geshe Rinpoche ~~~ ""Eine der zehn nicht-tugendhaften Handlungen ist schädliche Rede. Das Gelübde sie zu vermeiden ist im Zufluchts- und Bodhichittagelübde mit eingeschlossen; sich anzustrengen, die Erleuchtung zu erlangen, damit wir fähig werden allen lebenden Wesen zu nutzen. De...