Commitments for Contemplative Living

We might consider living by a set of commitments that gently shape both our inner life and our way of being in the world. At their foundation is non-harming: a quiet inclination to refrain from killing, lying, stealing, harmful speech, and sexual misconduct. From this, compassion can naturally unfold, extending equal regard to all and opening into forgiveness.

We may find ourselves drawn toward spiritual growth through silence, solitude, simplicity, and contemplation. Humility can take root as a willingness to remain teachable, grateful, and lightly held in our views. Mindfulness, practiced in meditation and daily life, can gradually align thought, word, and deed.

We can gently guard the quality of our attention and, where possible, offer ourselves in service to others.

Over time, there may be a loosening of craving, aversion, and ignorance through watchfulness and non-attachment, along with a gradual refinement of our sense of truth. Our way of living may come to reflect these values through diet, care for the environment, and clarity of awareness.

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Dr. Jay Forrest

Jay N. Forrest (D.Min.) is a Neoplatonic Buddhist philosopher trained in Zen and Vipassanā, with advanced Buddhist studies at Harvard, Princeton, UVA, Naropa, Columbia, and Universiteit Leiden. He is a certified meditation teacher and the author of over a dozen books on Buddhist philosophy and contemplative practice.