The Buddhist version of "moral discipline" - "a virtuous determination to abandon any non-virtuous action. For example, if by seeing the disadvantages of killing, stealing, or sexual misconduct we make a firm decision to refrain from such actions, this is moral discipline. Similarly, the determination to refrain from lying, divisive speech, hurtful speech, idle gossip, covetousness, malice, and holding wrong views is also moral discipline."
I would not describe myself as a scold, a prude, a moral authority. I am pretty much in the mode of "different strokes, for different folks." You know, "go along, get along."
Hell, my heroes as young boy were folks like Hunter S. Thompson, Charles Bukowski & Keith Richards. Eventhough I was raised by Nuns, which is pretty much like being raised by wolves, from an early age, I was pretty much in the "sex, drugs & r&r camp." Looking for adventure at every turn, and sometimes finding misadventure.
Still, if I am honest with myself, I do think I have stuck pretty much to a baked-in moral discipline. Maybe, despite my best efforts, some of that Christian, Jesus talk actually stuck. I mean, at least, I lean that way. Lie, cheat & steal? Well, sure. Shit happens, right?! Moral transgressions? Only rarely & usually I felt guilty afterwards. For sure, I never killed anyone. At least, I don't think so. So yeah, pretty much, I think of myself as basically a good person, or a person doing my best to be, to do good. Moral discipline is definitely in my kit-bag, and well, fuck it, there's nothing wrong with it, I mean, fuck, Damn the Torpedoes, Lean to the Light, and let the chips fall where they may...
