Moral Compass

"Having calibrated one’s compass..." - Walking the Wakeful Path Home

The Eight Renunications in Asheyana Secular Buddhism are a training to help orient one's moral compass to pointing in a forward direction, towards home.

Morality in Asheyana is regarded as general advice for functioning in human society well enough to get along with others while proceeding along the path.

Morality in Asheyana is not regarded as divine orders to be followed upon threat of vindictive cosmic pain. Asheyana does not assert a Sky Daddy that will rain down violent rage or an Earth Mommy that will quake with hellish doom if you break the rules laid out.

Morality in Asheyana is also not regarded as a reflection of objective truths. Objective truth is not asserted in Asheyana, but known as the core beliefs underpinning a human society and serving as a common ground of operation between people within that society.

Having committed to practicing the Eight Renunciations, gradually over time, one may begin to see the following benefits:

1. 'Giving up taking life,' one develops a respect for and appreciation of all life--one's own and that of other people and beings, without bias.
   
   

2. 'Giving up taking things of material value not offered to you freely,' one develops a respect for and appreciation of the boundaries of property and possessions--one's own and that of other people and beings, without bias.
    

3. 'Giving up taking things of socially intimate value not offered to you consensually,' one develops a respect for and appreciation of group and individual, social and intimate boundaries--one's own and that of other people and beings, without bias.
   
   

4. 'Giving up false and harmful speech,' one develops a respect for and appreciation of precision and accuracy of speech balanced in content and tone.
    

5. 'Giving up relying upon intoxicants,' one develops a respect for and appreciation of the naked experience of one's own vibrant lifeforce.
   
   

6. 'Giving up unhealthy habits of subsistence,' one develops a respect for and appreciation of investment to engage in a meaningful life.
   
   

7. 'Giving up relying upon material wealth to fulfill your spiritual needs,' one develops a respect for and appreciation of fulfilling material needs with material means, fulfilling spiritual needs with spiritual means, and a natural balance between the two.
      

8. 'Giving up arriving late and unprepared,' one develops a respect for and appreciation of timeliness, auspiciousness, and a natural balance between the two.
   
   

Over time infused with practice of these commitments, one's moral compass gradually becomes more and more refined to pointing in a forward direction, towards home.

May these words inspire perseverance in practicing the Eight Renunciations in preparation for the return journey home. May it be of benefit.