The Purpose Of The Temple Rules

Question: I was just reading the Temple Rules for the first time. I’m a little confused and overwhelmed by them. Are they for everyday life? Or literally for when you are in an actual temple? I’m not a very good rule follower! All thoughts are welcome!

Kathy Park JDPSN: Good question. The Temple Rules were created hundreds of years ago by the renowned Zen Master Pai Chang in China for Zen practicing communities, and they have been useful ever since. They do apply to actual temple or Zen center life and how we practice, but the bone of the teaching in each of the guidelines points to our own attitude, speech, and actions in daily life, regardless of whether we live in a Zen center or not. Some rules may seem outdated or not applicable, but overall, they point to a set of guidelines that, when we know how to use them, can be of great benefit to ourselves and all beings. Keeping or not keeping rules is really based on our intention, our direction. Why do that? Any rule, if we attach to it or if we keep it for one person’s selfish reason, may not be so good. But if guidelines can be useful for a community to create harmony and give direction, it’s possible that it can help everyone to practice better. That is why precepts and temple rules evolved in the Buddhist tradition over time, to support the diverse sangha to practice more skillfully with a foundation of ethics for community life. Due to COVID-19, many of us are isolated, but still we have the connection of family, friends, and community all around us. Through these relationships we can see our own karma and develop compassion and wisdom for ourselves and others. We can reflect on these teachings and see how they might also work in our daily life.

From Online Sangha Q&A
Primary Point Fall 2020, Volume 37, Number 3