The Heart of Being: Moral and Ethical Teachings of Zen Buddhism

The Buddhist Precepts are the vows taken as an initiation into Buddhism and reflect the Buddha's teachings on a wide range of social and moral issues. In The Heart of Being acclaimed Zen master John Daido Loori provides a modern interpretation of these precepts and explains the traditional precept ceremony, known as jukai. He also offers commentary on Master Dogen's own instructions about the precepts and discusses the ethical significance of these vows both within the context of formal Zen training and as guidelines for living an enlightened life. This is an important text not only for those studying Buddhism but for all of us struggling to navigate the dilemmas of our modern lives. As Daido Loori demonstrates, the Buddha's teachings can serve as a true moral compass to wise, compassionate, and "right" action.