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Nov-02-2026
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Wisdom from Chinese Literary and Buddhist Classics

365 Days for Travelers

11/1: THE FIVE PRECEPTS AND THE FIVE CONSTANT VIRTUES

Venerable Master Hsing Yun (1927 - , Fo Guang Shan)
English translation: Hsin-Yu Huang and Linda Tsui

The Five Precepts in Buddhism and the Five Constant Virtues in Confucianism have some points in common. The Five Constant Virtues are benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and integrity. They can be correlated with the Five Precepts in the following manner:

To refrain from killing is benevolence;
To refrain from stealing is righteousness;
To refrain from sexual misconduct is propriety;
To refrain from lying is integrity;
To refrain from consuming intoxicants is wisdom.

The Five Precepts and the Ten Wholesome Actions* help us develop a sound character. Learning from the conduct of those sages who have benefited humanity helps us to elevate our morality. The bodhisattvas’ wisdom of emptiness helps us to understand our mind and see our nature. That which stems from a compassionate mind, does not violate secular law, and is in line with the spirit of benefitting all living beings, is the sustenance that fuels the fulfilment of our human character and attainment of enlightenment.

── from Renjian Fojiao De Jie Ding Hui
(Practicing and Learning Humanistic Buddhism)
* Refers to not killing, not stealing, not committing adultery, not lying, not speaking harshly, not speaking divisively, not speaking idly, not being greedy, not being angry, and not having wrong views.

What's New?

NOVEMBER

Humble Table, Wise Fare

INSPIRATION


Recorded by Leann Moore        

Do not use only what you know
to feel everything around you;
be like the universe
to accept all things.

Dharma Instruments

Venerable Master Hsing Yun grants voices to the objects of daily monastic life to tell their stories in this collection of first-person narratives.

Sutra of the Month

The Heart Sutra is a short sutra, commonly chanted individually or in groups, that contains the core teachings on prajnaparamita, or the “perfection of wisdom.” The sutra is short, at only 260 Chinese characters. Included is an English translation of the sutra’s meaning, followed by the Chinese characters and their pronunciation

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