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**triardwonvada** · 06-20-2012, 01:04 PM

Maybe, but that's not how the Buddha phrased the precepts. Why concern oneself so much with making exceptions? Live your life however you wish to live it - just don't try to change the Buddha's teachings to fit your preferences.

Yes, the addition of "unless absolutely necessary" seems redundant.

If one understands the Buddhas teaching on causality and Kamma then one is going to be be careful when making decisions on how to act mindful of the results.

The precepts are commonly translated "I undertake the rule of training..." rather than "I vow to obey the commandment..." I'm not sure whether this is because the former is a more accurate translation, or is an interpretation.

There have been times I've chosen to break the spirit or the letter of the precepts and I think the most important point of the Buddhas teaching is that I must take full responsibility for those choices and the causal/kammic results.

So I think it's primarily about taking personal responsibility, but if in doubt follow the guidelines.

06-20-2012, 01:04 PM	#17
triardwonvada Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 448 Senior Member	Maybe, but that's not how the Buddha phrased the precepts. Why concern oneself so much with making exceptions? Live your life however you wish to live it - just don't try to change the Buddha's teachings to fit your preferences. Yes, the addition of "unless absolutely necessary" seems redundant. If one understands the Buddhas teaching on causality and Kamma then one is going to be be careful when making decisions on how to act mindful of the results. The precepts are commonly translated "I undertake the rule of training..." rather than "I vow to obey the commandment..." I'm not sure whether this is because the former is a more accurate translation, or is an interpretation. There have been times I've chosen to break the spirit or the letter of the precepts and I think the most important point of the Buddhas teaching is that I must take full responsibility for those choices and the causal/kammic results. So I think it's primarily about taking personal responsibility, but if in doubt follow the guidelines.
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