Life Principles
- 1.
Do What is Best for All (Dhamma)
Align your thoughts, words, and actions with the natural law (Dhamma) and what serves the greater good for all beings, not just for personal gain.
Understand that everything is interconnected. In every situation, strive for actions that create harmony, benefit others, and reflect the universal principles of compassion and non-harming.
- 2.
Everything is Impermanent (Anicca)
Everything—thoughts, emotions, sensations, relationships, and life itself—is in a constant state of flux.
Cultivate a deep understanding of impermanence and use it as a tool for letting go of attachments. Recognize that all forms of suffering come from clinging to impermanent things. Observe without attachment and respond to life with equanimity.
- 3.
Cultivate Self-Honesty and Non-Self (Anatta)
Practice radical self-honesty by recognizing the transient and impermanent nature of the "self." There is no permanent self to cling to—only passing experiences, sensations, and identities.
Reflect deeply on your habits, motivations, and actions without judgment. Let go of egoic tendencies that cause suffering. Embrace the understanding that you are constantly evolving, and so is everyone around you.
- 4.
Take Full Responsibility for Your Actions (Karma)
You alone are responsible for the consequences of your actions. Your thoughts and actions create karma, shaping your present and future experiences.
Live with awareness of how your actions affect yourself, others, and the world. When you realize you have made a mistake, correct it with humility and wisdom. Take full responsibility for your relationships, environment, and personal growth.
- 5.
Practice Equanimity in All Situations (Upekkhā)
Cultivate mental and emotional balance, remaining unmoved by both pleasure and pain, success and failure.
Observe your thoughts and sensations without reacting. Maintain calmness in the face of difficulties and avoid craving when things are going well. This is the foundation of true freedom from suffering.
- 6.
Investigate Everything and Keep What is Useful (Wisdom)
Constantly investigate your thoughts, feelings, experiences, and beliefs. Keep what is wise, truthful, and beneficial for personal and collective growth.
Be a lifelong learner. Question your assumptions and discard what no longer serves your highest potential. Embrace wisdom through experiential learning rather than relying solely on intellectual understanding.
- 7.
Develop Compassion by Giving as You Would Like to Receive (Metta)
Treat others with the same compassion and kindness you would like to receive. Your actions should not cause harm to others, but rather uplift and support them.
Practice *Metta* (loving-kindness) in thought and action. Recognize their pain, just as you recognize your own, and help ease their suffering whenever possible.
- 8.
Strengthen Self-Awareness through Mindfulness of Sensations (Vedana)
The body and mind are constantly generating sensations that reflect our internal states. Awareness of these sensations is key to understanding and mastering our reactions.
Observe the sensations of your body, knowing that they are impermanent. Use mindfulness to recognize cravings and aversions, and remain equanimous. This self-awareness will help you avoid reactive patterns of behavior.
- 9.
Live a Moral Life (Sīla) as the Foundation of Wisdom
Ethical living is the bedrock of a peaceful mind. Without moral conduct, you cannot develop deep insight or wisdom.
Abide by basic moral principles: refrain from harming others, avoid dishonesty, practice non-stealing, maintain sexual integrity, and abstain from intoxicants that cloud your mind. Moral discipline clears the path for wisdom and insight.
- 10.
Nurture Your Body as a Temple of Awareness
Your physical body is an integral part of your spiritual and mental well-being. By nurturing it, you create a strong foundation for self-awareness and inner peace.
Take care of your body with mindful eating, exercise, and rest. Listen to its needs without becoming overly attached to it. View your body as a vehicle for spiritual growth rather than an object of indulgence.
- 11.
Purify the Mind through Mindfulness and Non-Reaction
Your mind is naturally conditioned by past experiences and emotional reactions. Purification comes when you observe without reacting, allowing mental impurities to dissolve.
Engage in daily meditation, focusing on the breath and body sensations without reacting to them. By doing so, you weaken old habit patterns of craving and aversion, gradually purifying the mind.
- 12.
Honor All Life in All Forms
All forms of life deserve respect and compassion. By honoring life, you align yourself with the principles of interconnectedness and non-harm.
Expand your awareness to include not just humans but animals, plants, and the environment. Live in a way that minimizes harm to all life forms, and strive to create a world that honors and preserves life in all its expressions.
- 13.
Be Patient and Forgiving with Yourself and Others
Both you and the people around you are on a journey of growth and self-transformation. Mistakes and setbacks are inevitable.
Cultivate patience with your own learning process and the growth of others. Practice self-forgiveness when you fall short of your ideals and extend the same compassion to others.
- 14.
Practice Detachment, Not Indifference
Detachment means not clinging to outcomes or experiences, but it does not mean being indifferent or apathetic.
Engage fully in life while understanding that nothing is permanent. Do your best in every situation without becoming attached to the results, knowing that they will come and go like everything else.
- 15.
Strive for Peace through Insight and Experience (Paṇṇā)
True peace comes not from external circumstances, but from insight into the true nature of reality—impermanence, suffering, and non-self.
Regularly reflect on the lessons learned through meditation and daily life. Develop wisdom through experience, not just intellectual knowledge. Let insight guide your decisions and actions toward lasting peace.