Truthfulness, Reflection, and Non-Harm in Real Decisions
This is where your practice becomes unmistakably real.
Use canonical reflection practices to make decisions: before, during, after action—tracking harm and intention.
Core Teachings
Key concepts with source texts
The Buddha teaches a simple audit cycle: reflect on actions and consequences, then adjust. This is training, not self-condemnation.
From the Source Texts
""Whenever you want to do a bodily action... reflect: would this lead to harm...?""
Commentary
This is operational ethics: intention + consequence awareness.
For 14 days, use MN 61’s reflection cycle on one domain: speech. Before speaking, ask harm? During, monitor. After, review and repair if needed.
Study Materials
Primary sources with guided reading
MN 61 — Rāhula instruction on reflection
Use as a daily checklist for speech/action.
Additional Resources
Grounds practice in relationships and responsibilities without moralistic fluff.
Write your thoughts before revealing answers
Consider these points:
- •Does it lead to avoidance or to correction?
- •Does it strengthen identity-story (‘I’m bad’) or weaken clinging (‘this was unskillful’)?
- •Does it reduce future harm?
Your Thoughts
Writing your thoughts first will deepen your understanding
Bridge notes help connect the resources and show how they relate to the learning outcome.
AI-generated notes synthesize the lesson outcome and resource summaries. Human-reviewed before publishing.
MN 61’s ethics method is primarily: