Why bad things happen to good people... (Click image for video)

I resolve not to steal.

Instead, I will only take something

when I have permission from the owner.  

Envision forgetting your book in a busy restaurant and returning an hour later to find your book right where you left it. Imagine working for a company knowing you’re paid a fair wage. Or living with someone who doesn’t verbally abuse you. Or visiting a national park untouched by vandalism.

Stealing is taking something without the owner’s permission. So we wouldn’t assume that an abandoned book is for the taking.

But stealing is not only about taking physical objects. We wouldn’t take advantage of others or disregard their right to feel safe. We wouldn’t orchestrate a YouTube minute of fame by taking videos of us destroying public property, or worse. When we resolve not to steal, we respect an individual’s property.

But we go further because we also respect and, thus, do not readily help ourselves to their time, feelings, and peace of mind.

Don’t judge others... (Click image for video)

I resolve not to kill. 

Instead, I will respect and 

have compassion for all beings.  

The first vow of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva is to respect all Buddhas. Understanding that all beings have Buddha-nature and are future Buddhas, we also strive to respect all beings. Bodhisattvas vow to help all sentient beings.

We also should strive to have compassion for others, for we know too well that all beings suffer. That all beings fear violence and death. As our understanding and our respect and compassion for beings grow, we resolve not to take the life of any living being.

And yet, almost immediately, we fail.

How can we not take the life of other beings when our very existence entails killing?

Eating, breathing—our very existence—involves killing. Even so, we do have choices. Consume meat and dairy, or eat a plant-based diet? Walk on grass and step on an unseen ant, or use a walkway? Whack that spider or catch and release? We really do have choices.

We just need to make the right ones.