Tricycle Daily Dharma December 23, 2012

The Purpose of Precepts The Buddhist precepts are not intended to force us into a particular way of behaving but to encourage us to reflect on our motivations and actions. Since the aim of a Buddhist life is to diminish suffering, Buddhist ethics are rooted in compassion and wisdom. We attend to our own suffering and the suffering of others, and we understand that our intentions and actions have consequences. - Martine Batchelor, “The Buddhist Precepts: An Introduction”