Awakening Truth
Long Precepts and Ethical Guidelines
Adopted by the Ethics Committee, January 2024
Awakening Truth is a community based on these values: safety, respect, justice, equity, diversity, and belonging. These values allow us to bring all parts of our lives to our spiritual practice. Regularly affirming these precepts and guidelines supports our intention towards non-harm and our positive aspiration towards life-sustaining practices. For this reason, we use these long precepts and the ethical guidelines that are embedded within them.
- Honoring Life: Aware of the violence in the world and the power of nonviolent resistance, I stand in the presence of ancestors, the earth, and future generations and commit to refrain from causing harm. I cultivate compassion for each living being.
Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life, I commit to cultivating insight into how we are interconnected. I cultivate compassion and learn ways to reinforce the systems that support the lives of people, animals, plants, and minerals. I cultivate openness and non-attachment to views, considering their context. I commit to respecting the complexity of issues such as abortion, euthanasia, and doctor-assisted suicide and to work to transform violence, fanaticism, and dogmatism.
- Honoring Stewardship and Trustworthiness: Aware of the poverty and greed in the world and the abundance of the earth, I stand in the presence of ancestors, the earth, and future generations and commit to refrain from taking what is not given or to take more than I need.
I am determined not to steal and not to possess anything that belongs to others. Within my capacity, I share my time, energy, and material resources with others. I cultivate a life of simplicity, gratitude, and generosity.
Aware of the suffering caused by exploitation, social injustice, stealing, and oppression, I commit to practicing generosity in my thinking, speaking, and acting.
- Honoring Healthy Sexual Relations: Aware of the abuses and cruelty in the world, and the healing that is made possible with love, care, and respect, I stand in the presence of ancestors, the earth, and future generations and commit to refrain from creating harm with my sexuality. I cultivate respect for the erotic power of our bodies.
- Honoring Honesty: Aware of falsehood and deception in the world, and the power of living and speaking the truth, I stand in the presence of ancestors, the earth, and future generations and commit to refrain from false and divisive speech and harmful gossip. I cultivate the ability to listen and to practice clarity and integrity in my communications – through my words and actions.
Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful speech and the inability to listen to others, I commit to cultivating loving speech and compassionate listening. My speech is true and useful and I refrain from gossip. I hold in confidence what is explicitly told to me in confidence except where to do so would support the actions of a person causing harm to themselves or others. I speak up when remaining silent would cause harm to self or others and keep silent when words would likely cause harm. I cultivate communication that is clear, timely, wise, compassionate, and honest.
- Honoring Mindfulness: Aware of the many ways we are drawn away from mindful awareness and my responsibility to remain clear and awake, I stand in the presence of ancestors, the earth, and future generations and commit to refrain from misuse of all forms of intoxicants and from addictive behaviors that cause harm or loss of awareness. I cultivate right action and honor the health and well-being of my body, heart, mind, communities, and the planet.
Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful consumption, I commit to cultivating good health, both physical and mental, for myself, my family, and my society. I also commit to supporting teachers, leaders, facilitators, and community members who suffer from addictive behaviors that may harm the community.
