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One of the eight precepts, seats or beds?

shanyinshanyin Novice YoginSault Ontario Veteran
edited July 2010 in Buddhism Basics
Hi all. One of the eight precepts is either no high seats or no comfy beds. I've heard both as a 'translation'. Which is it?

I'm getting kind of tired of seeing different translations and stuff. It's getting a bit annoying don't ask why lol.

Comments

  • GuyCGuyC Veteran
    edited July 2010
    Hi Shanyin,

    There is the letter of the precepts and there is the spirit of the precepts. Best to ask a Pali scholar if you want an accurate answer about the letter of the precepts. In my opinion, the spirit of this particular precept is "not to indulge in sleep" (and I know that some monks agree with this). This means sleeping enough for your body's requirements.

    In my opinion, whether or not you sleep on the floor is not the main point. If you have a bad back, for example, sleeping on the floor is not going to do you any good and you'd probably be closer to the Middle Way if you were to sleep on a bed. If you are comfortable on the floor then go ahead and sleep on the floor if that's what you want to do.

    The training precept about high seats I believe is not part of the eight precepts but only part of the ten precepts. This is so that novices remain humble and don't take a higher seat than someone else (especially more senior monks).

    The eight precepts are for anyone who wants to focus on their meditation practice. The ten precepts are for those who want to become monks.

    That's my understanding, anyway. I may be wrong.

    With Metta,

    Guy
  • shanyinshanyin Novice Yogin Sault Ontario Veteran
    edited July 2010
    Thanks always helpful. Perhaps the spirit of the precept about beds is not to indulge in sleep and to help one could avoid beds.
  • shenpennangwashenpennangwa
    edited July 2010
    shanyin wrote: »
    Thanks always helpful. Perhaps the spirit of the precept about beds is not to indulge in sleep and to help one could avoid beds.
    The precept has nothing to do with indulging in sleep.
    Its a cultural thing. High seats and beds were honorific positions and using them while observing the precepts would be to indulge the ego.
  • shanyinshanyin Novice Yogin Sault Ontario Veteran
    edited July 2010
    Ahh I see. That would make sense because I went on a my first retreat last year and the monk had a bed.

    I have heard of Buddhists sleeping on the floor but I don't know much about it.
  • shenpennangwashenpennangwa
    edited July 2010
    shanyin wrote: »
    Ahh I see. That would make sense because I went on a my first retreat last year and the monk had a bed.

    I have heard of Buddhists sleeping on the floor but I don't know much about it.

    If a Buddhist intentionally sleeps on the floor I would say they are indulging in spiritual materialism and undue asceticism.
    Its like putting together a nice clean shrine so house guests can see it and think what a devoted student you must be.
  • shanyinshanyin Novice Yogin Sault Ontario Veteran
    edited July 2010
    You make sense. Chogyam Trungpa coined that phrase.. am I correct? (spiritual materialism). I'd like to pick up that book.
  • shenpennangwashenpennangwa
    edited July 2010
    shanyin wrote: »
    You make sense. Chogyam Trungpa coined that phrase.. am I correct? (spiritual materialism). I'd like to pick up that book.
    He did, his books are pretty good for an intro to some of the main concepts in TB and are relevant to other traditions as well.
    Not as great as a lot of people seem to think but useful at the beginning and easy to read.
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