Rich Interpretations

Make Rich Interpretations Of Your Sacred Compound Self

All photos by Zetong Li, Pexels.com.

Key Assertions For This Substack:

Make rich interpretations of your sacred compound self.

Rich interpretations, which agree with reason, occur after careful observation, analysis.

Accepting false claims of separation diminishes one’s integrity.

A good life comes to those who follow Buddhism’s Ten Good Precepts: do not kill, do not steal, do not engage in improper sexual conduct, do not lie, do not backbite, do not speak evil words, do not speak frivolously, do not be greedy, do not have anger, and do not have views that mess up your karma.

The making of interpretations means to come to an understanding, an explanation, and a knowing. I shall define “rich interpretations” as something other than beliefs. Rich interpretations occur after careful observations and analysis. They agree with reason.

It is important to distinguish between believing and knowing. In this book, I shall present very few beliefs. All will be labeled as such. Even matters of faith need not here be followed out of conjecture, because they come from the words of old sages, or because the subject matter is handed down through the generations. Faith can have a basis in reason. Revered texts such as the Bible are used here because, being tested over time, they have proven to be useful to people.

Interpreting the world richly, as described above, is a way to add to one’s sense of oneness. Conversely, being duped to accept false claims separates you from the truth and, therefore, diminishes your integrity. The next waypoint helps one guard against such false assertions.

HumaNatureConnect Activity

Interpreting Your Compound Self

For this activity, write down in your journal how well you adhere to Buddhism’s Ten Good Precepts:

— three that are physical: 1) not killing, 2) not stealing, and 3) not engaging in improper sexual conduct;

— four that are verbal: 4) not lying, 5) not backbiting (talking negatively about someone secretly), 6) not speaking evil words, 7) not speaking frivolously; and

— three that are mental: 8) not being greedy, 9) having no anger, and 10) not having deviant views (those that would mess up your karma).”