Ethical Principles of Buddha Dharma
While living in Thailand for over 23 years and studying and practicing Buddhist principles in teaching, counseling and in doing business, I have found the ethical principles of Buddha Dharma, to be most helpful. Some of these principles are: Karawat See-The Four Precepts for all relationships; The Four Noble Truths-Ariyagot See; The Eightfold Path-Mak Mee Ong Paat; The Kalama Sutta-The Buddha’s Charter of Free Inquiry; The 5 Precepts-Hah Sin; The 9 Eyes of Wisdom-Vipassana Gow and many more.
** Responsibility - As a fasting counselor, Nutritionist and Iridologist for 17 years one of the most important first steps in receiving clients/students is to make it clear that in them coming to me, each person needs to take responsibility for him/herself in what they bring to their program/sessions—including past life karma, physical, mental and emotional proclivities—also, their attitude in how they receive the information invested during the week, and how they act on it when they complete their week.
In practicing Buddhist Ethics, I find it necessary to make the condition at the beginnning, middle and end that I am not a doctor, a therapist nor am I a healer, psychic or worker of miracles; that I provide knowledge with as much honesty as possible, from books, experience and intuition; that I do the absolute best I can to do no harm and to guide the client/student into him/herself, gently holding the mirror up to look within; while gently shifting their mind and heart to unravel their issues with wisdom and insight—I always address a client’s higher consciousness, never the pessimistic, negative, defeated attitudes. In addition I may also use the astro-natal chart to bring more clarity to the process of transformation.
It is absolutely necessary not to ever take advantage of a client’s praise and gratitude for my work, as something to use for my ego. It is all about giving the power to the client/student not owning it.
It may happen that someone comes to participate in our fasting program who has a less than obvious way of depending on me for their healing. Once I notice this, I immediately make it clear that they have come to the “center” of where we meet: them with their karmic health issues and me with my knowledge, experience and intuition. We each have our responsibility to do our part the best we can.
Their responsibility is to see and accept themselves, be motivated to cleanse, let go and heal. My part is to assist that process. They can’t take my responsibility and I can’t take theirs. There is no chance for them to take advantage of me, to move me past my boundaries and for me to take advantage of them. We need to have an agreement. I prefer an agreement over a disclaimer. An agreement of each of our responsibilities furthers the integrity, trust and friendship of our relationship. The agreement often includes The Four Noble Truths and The Eightfold Path, which help us each take responsibility for ourselves. Here stated:
The Four Noble Truths – Ariyasat See
- The First Noble Truth/Tuk – Knowing that all living beings suffer. Pain is universal.
- The Second Noble Truth/Tuk Ka Ni Rot — Suffering (as distinct from pain) arises from attachments
- The Third Noble Truth/Tuk Ka Sa Moo Thai – That after discovering the cause or origin of suffering, one can put an end to it—suffering ceases when attachments are surrendered.
- The Fourth Noble Truth/Mak — Attachments can be surrendered and suffering can end by practicing the The Eightfold Path.
The Eightfold Path/Mak Mee Ong Paat - The Eightfold Way is a list of eight parts of one path. The path is a guide to a happy, honest, harmless and joyful life –
Right Intention/Saa Ma Thit Thi - Right Direction/Sam Ma Sang Goo Pa - Right Speech/Sam Ma Wa Ja - Right Action/Sam Ma Gam Man - - Right Livlihood/Sam Ma Chee Wa - Right Effort/Sam Ma Wa Ya Ma - Right Mindfulness/Sam Ma Sa Dti - Right Meditation/Sam Ma Sa Ma Thi
The parts are often broken into three groups, of which make them more practical for daily use:
Wisdom
Right Intention
The lightbulb goes on in your head and you “know”what is true.
Right Direction
Knowing determines which direction to go in—it is quite clear.
Meditation
Right Effort
Putting a determined energy into good ventures.
Right Mindfulness
Being present now—there is no other reality.
Right Meditation
Being present allows the mind to be empty and focused on breath.
Morality
Right Speech
Speaking only the truth, never lying or swearing or screaming.
Right Action
Behaving selflessly, constructively, and harmlessly to all living things (including yourself).
Right Livlihood
Choosing a livelihood that permits you to follow the path toward liberation and enlightenment.
** Clear The Space - I feel quite strongly that all therapists should begin their sessions with a short meditation, to clear the atmosphere and aura of the office/room from any conflicting or unnesseary energies. Working in a space that is devoid of karma—a common emptiness is most helpful, encouraging the most peaceful envirnment for both client and practitioner.
** Loving Service - First, and formost I am a human being, and a woman, who offers a human-divine service. There are 4 precepts from the Theravada Buddhist tradition, that go with this service and any service of human relations. These precepts are called Karawat See in the Pali language, and I use them in every relationship I have. They are:
1. Love/Metta—All living beings are created and live by the laws of love
2. Kindness/ Garuna—To give Love with kindness and grace
3. Empathy and Compassion/Mutita—Any care offerings need these two virtues
4. Equanimity/Ubeca—An attitude of even mindedness—knowing when enough care is enough
** Encouraging Wisdom and Insight In Self-Healing - Second, I am a teacher and will always host a client as a student. I teach the path toward inner awareness through utilizing the Kalama Sutta-teaching people how to investigate and see things as they are and that truth is implied in all straight thinking. From deep focus on truth one’s inner wisdom is capable of examination and analysis attaining right vision—wisdom and insight ascend the limits of following social, political and cultural protocols that condition and prevent healing. These principles are expressed through the different therapies I offer: Nutrition, Fasting, Iridology and now Astrology .
On my website the statement of education is emphasized. As stated above, any dependence on me for a person’s healing, I try to screen at the beginning, then the person doesn’t walk away with having their expectations unfulfilled. Having expectations is common these days, as many people look for the full package for their healing experience: practitioner, formulas, comforting activities and venue.
Here, on the resort island of Koh Samui, resorts compete with the intention to provide the “perfect-healing” venue, with all of the perks that go with it—using the word healing a number of times in their ads and on their websites, it is expected by the client to “receive” what they pay for, as is true in any service.
Those from around the world, who are seeking medical tourism, are looking for medical technologies that are less expensive than what is available in their own countries. Medical tourism in less developed countries has become big business for the spa-resort industry, located in tropical paradises. As tourists come with a limited amount of time and budget to get the job done efficiently, the desire to be healed in a tropical paradise is encouraging a growing market.
Here in Thailand, all of the people who offer medical and healing services—including myself—need to be extremely clear in what we offer, completely honest and good at what we do… Those who are truly good at their craft are as honest as they are good—they don’t exploit or take advantage of their clients. On the other hand, some resorts, too big to fail, do, while compensating real healing for fluff..
If you live in a city a doctor knows that he/she has you coming from 5 to maybe 20 visits. They often times would like you to be dependent on them as long as possible. Here on Koh Samui, practitioners know they have you for a few visits, little over a week or two… They need to have their program deeply and personally designed for each client’s individual needs to be empowered to their own healing abilities.
** Buddhist Economics – Payment is spiritual substance of which is provided for the service offered. Going beyond boundaries of time is sometimes necessary—when money can’t be the most essential issue in ere of when loving counsel is needed …When our love for life, health, self-healing and doing good are the same, money follows.
Time and energy are encapsulated in love for the care I give to each person. For me and my work—whatever I offer—the goal is to overcome human suffering and help empower each person to take full responsibility for their physical, mental and spiritual health while on their path to enlightenment.
In working with human health problems, each person’s relationship with money must find a meeting point of where economics connects with education and ethics. In finding this meeting point, we may have found one of the most necessary remedies for the value and outcome of our service.
In Buddhist Ethics we practice The Eightfold Path, one part of the path is Right Livelihood. This factor has great implications referring to Buddhist Economics in doing business. Its importance is capable of solving a most crucial problem facing humanity today: our relationship with money…
Again, here, I leave you with The Eightfold Path:
Right Intention
Right Direction
Right Livlihood
Right Action
Right Effort
Right Mindfulness
Right Meditation
There are a number of other Buddhist principles I use as well but they will be for the next blog post.
Today’s saying:
