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**pIp83Uns** · 12-15-2011, 11:40 PM

Do you follow any system for paying attention to any particular precepts during the day, later that night? For example do you observe whether or not you gave way to anger during the day? Gave way to delusion? Do you count how many times you became aware you were violating any precept (if you did, in fact, violate any of them).

I more or less take the practice of the precepts moment by moment, reciting them morning and evening. I had not thought to keep a record of the number of times a precept was violated. I can see how such a practice would increase one's mindfulness and demonstrate one's progress, but I worry that it may unintentionally give rise to a sense of personal accomplishment or in the case of repeated failure a sense of self loathing. However, if the practice was strictly regarded as merely a training tool it might limit one's sense of personal accomplishment or self loathing and strengthen one's practice of the precepts.

I think I will start a practice of keeping track each and every day of how many times I violate the precepts. I will also in the evening instead of just reciting the precepts, I will conduct a confession of each violation before I recite the precepts. This could be done each morning as well if one had dreams that violated the precepts. I think this practice would be beneficial and deepen one's practice.

The form of the confession will be as follows:

Before an image of the Buddha or a Bodhisattva.

"I humbly bow before all the Buddhas and Bodhisattva's throughout all time and space. From (this morning/last night) until now, due to the defilements of greed, anger and delusion, having violated the precepts in mind, body or speech, I now confess them all: (At this point I would confess each violation and how many times it was violated). Having openly confessed and revealed all violations. I now humbly take up the practice the following precepts: (At this point I would recite the precepts). May the determination and mindfulness of all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas throughout all time and space be with me."

Thank you

12-15-2011, 11:40 PM	#4
pIp83Uns Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 530 Senior Member	Do you follow any system for paying attention to any particular precepts during the day, later that night? For example do you observe whether or not you gave way to anger during the day? Gave way to delusion? Do you count how many times you became aware you were violating any precept (if you did, in fact, violate any of them). I more or less take the practice of the precepts moment by moment, reciting them morning and evening. I had not thought to keep a record of the number of times a precept was violated. I can see how such a practice would increase one's mindfulness and demonstrate one's progress, but I worry that it may unintentionally give rise to a sense of personal accomplishment or in the case of repeated failure a sense of self loathing. However, if the practice was strictly regarded as merely a training tool it might limit one's sense of personal accomplishment or self loathing and strengthen one's practice of the precepts. I think I will start a practice of keeping track each and every day of how many times I violate the precepts. I will also in the evening instead of just reciting the precepts, I will conduct a confession of each violation before I recite the precepts. This could be done each morning as well if one had dreams that violated the precepts. I think this practice would be beneficial and deepen one's practice. The form of the confession will be as follows: Before an image of the Buddha or a Bodhisattva. "I humbly bow before all the Buddhas and Bodhisattva's throughout all time and space. From (this morning/last night) until now, due to the defilements of greed, anger and delusion, having violated the precepts in mind, body or speech, I now confess them all: (At this point I would confess each violation and how many times it was violated). Having openly confessed and revealed all violations. I now humbly take up the practice the following precepts: (At this point I would recite the precepts). May the determination and mindfulness of all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas throughout all time and space be with me." Thank you
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