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**wmzeto** · 12-18-2011, 11:43 AM

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

Hi Maitreya;

Thanks for your kind response and the confession practice. I generally do a confession once a year at the main teaching and retreat center for my community. It's mainly for monks but lay people are allowed to attend most of it, except where (I think) monks confess specific violations of precepts...we have to leave the gompa. As I recall the language we use is similar to this. We do this for all three sets of vows (lay, bodhisatva, tantric).

I had written a rather lengthy response but then was running out of my office and accidentally deleted it. I think that you are doing a wonderful practice and I hope that it never becomes something that's formulaic and ritualistic rather than fresh and joyful. Being aware of unskillful actions is something to be joyful about (that was the subject matter of my response, actually). Recording the times you break precepts makes you more aware of what your mind is up to and should have the effect of reducing the time between breaking and awareness of breaking (because you're being more vigilant) to....eventually...zero...that is to say, you see yourself starting to engage in the conduct and through joyful effort born of aspiration to keep the precepts, you are able to stop it.

12-18-2011, 11:43 AM	#8
wmzeto Join Date Nov 2005 Posts 463 Senior Member	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 Hi Maitreya; Thanks for your kind response and the confession practice. I generally do a confession once a year at the main teaching and retreat center for my community. It's mainly for monks but lay people are allowed to attend most of it, except where (I think) monks confess specific violations of precepts...we have to leave the gompa. As I recall the language we use is similar to this. We do this for all three sets of vows (lay, bodhisatva, tantric). I had written a rather lengthy response but then was running out of my office and accidentally deleted it. I think that you are doing a wonderful practice and I hope that it never becomes something that's formulaic and ritualistic rather than fresh and joyful. Being aware of unskillful actions is something to be joyful about (that was the subject matter of my response, actually). Recording the times you break precepts makes you more aware of what your mind is up to and should have the effect of reducing the time between breaking and awareness of breaking (because you're being more vigilant) to....eventually...zero...that is to say, you see yourself starting to engage in the conduct and through joyful effort born of aspiration to keep the precepts, you are able to stop it.
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