Definition
Reading: kai / Sanskrit: śīla
戒 (Sila) is what a person follows voluntarily when they decide to practice Buddhism. 戒 (Sila) is read as "Kai" in Japanese.On the other hand, the rules given by others are called Vinaya (律)
Q&A
- Q: Why is Sila talked about so little in Japanese Zen today?
- A: Because Zen is consumed today in the context of common values.
People easily accept the message "Let's relax with Zazen." However, the teachings of Sila—such as controlling one's life through "not killing" or "not drinking"—are hard for people in a consumer society to accept.
Also, in the current Japanese Buddhist do not live the traditional monastic life with strict rules. Instead, Buddhism often functions as a "regular service" rather than a religion.
However, if you only look for the "branches and leaves" like meditation without the "roots" of Sila, you cannot find true peace. The original position of Buddhism is this: real stability of the mind comes only when you settle the foundation of your life through Sila.
