RIGHT LIVING
Undertaking the Commitment to Abstain from Misbehaving Among Sensual Pleasures
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Sensual misconduct is
unhealthy. Refraining from sensual misconduct is healthy. (MN 9)
Abandoning sensual misconduct, one abstains from misbehaving among
sensual pleasures. (MN 41) One practices thus: “Others may engage in
sensual misconduct, but I will abstain from sensual misconduct.” (MN 8)
Communities are of two kinds: those to be cultivated and those not to be
cultivated. Such communities as cause, in one who cultivates them,
unhealthy states to increase and healthy states to diminish, such
communities are not to be cultivated. But such communities as cause, in
one who cultivates them, unhealthy states to diminish and healthy states
to increase, such communities are to be cultivated. (MN 114)
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Collective
relationships are as important to examine as personal relationships.
Just as the kinds of friends we keep affect our own development so also
the communities we are part of make a difference in what qualities are
supported in us. It is so easy to fall into sensual misconduct; we are
being encouraged here to attend carefully to the larger social forces
with which we regularly interact. It makes a difference in who we
become.
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Reflect upon
the various communities you inhabit and assess truthfully whether they
are healthy or unhealthy groups. The criteria are pretty
straightforward: Do healthy states of mind increase or decrease when you
hang out with this crowd? Do unhealthy states increase or decrease? It
is important to ensure that the relationships we cultivate are helping
us grow in a positive direction and that we are not being led astray by
our peers.
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Tomorrow: Developing Unarisen Healthy States
One week from today: Abstaining from Intoxication
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