Do No Harm

To do no harm
requires skill.

To do good
requires skill.

To train the mind
requires skill.

Skill: Old English scele ‘knowledge’, from Old Norse skil ‘discernment, knowledge’.

To do no harm, to do good and to train the mind, we need knowledge.
What knowledge?
Knowledge of the mind and consciousness is right knowledge.

If we do not have knowledge,
we do harm.

We cannot do good
as we have not trained our mind.

We first have to train our mind to stop reacting in a habitual manner, to stop being distracted, and to be clear in an unbiased way. This comes from the quality of consciousness that controls the mind, through meditation.

There are Buddhist traditions that say, “Avoid wrong speech, malicious speech, harsh speech and gossip.” This is all well and good, but it can come over as evasive and non-committal – with a smile. 🙂 If we cannot deal with an awkward situation, we lack skill and compassion because we don’t have the knowledge and empathy to be of benefit to others. We cannot do good if we are cannot empathise.

If we are in the mud,
we must admit that we are muddy,
and see the need to wash the mud off.

Precepts are for others’ benefit,
rather than self-protection.