For all of May we are looking at some of the precepts of the Tiep Hien Buddhist Order to see what they might have to say to us, especially about process values. [1]

The ninth  precept of Tiep Hien Buddhism is:         

9. Do not say untruthful things for the sake of personal interest or to impress people. Do not utter words that cause division or hatred. Do not spread news that you do not know to be certain. Do not criticize or condemn things that you are not sure of. Always speak truthfully and constructively. Have the courage to speak out about situations of injustice, even when doing so may threaten your own safety.

For those of you who are comparing and contrasting the Fourteen Precepts to the Ten Commandments, this is completely analogous to the (coincidentally) ninth Commandment,

9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

Except it is much more sweeping in scope. Remember that the Ten Commandments are one of those approximate systems of thought. This precept enlarges and expands a simple practice to a way of thinking about truth. And that is what this whole blog is about. Especially look back at April 21, where we spoke about science and the March for Science. I couldn’t make the Niantic March for Science. I was giving a friend a ride home from a Hospice Volunteer Appreciation Brunch. Friends trump marches every time.

And how we treat one another in process trumps how we treat evidence and inference every time. In the case of this precept, they go hand in hand. Do not lie, cheat, or divide, or use debate or propaganda, to get your own way. Use the best approximation of truth that you can find to help all balance the real forces, cope with the real constraints, and find the solutions that use natural laws to bring harmony to how we live, work, and succeed together.


[1] In his book Being Peace, Buddhist Monk Thich Nhat Hahn shares the Fourteen Precepts of the Tiep Hien Buddhist Order. Tiep Hien is a particularly Vietnamese order of Buddhism that Hanh thinks might find resonance with some Americans.
 

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