Observe these two, no matter what.

Dormice photo by Miroslav Hlavko

          Ethologists use naturalistic observation to study animals. Focusing on behavior patterns, they are interested in the responses that are triggered by the conditions in the animal’s environment. These scientists compile an ethogram, or activity catalog, of a species throughout its life cycle. For each behavior pattern noted, ethologists ask, “How does this impact the animal’s chance of survival and ability to reproduce?” Though staying alive and procreation may be the primary focus of wild animals, the two vows of slogan forty-three asks us to redirect our concerns to encompass more than just self-preservation. The vow of refuge shapes the choices we make through following the example and teachings of Buddha while drawing on the support of our spiritual community. The vow of the bodhisattva shapes our relationships through our commitment to be of beneficial service to others. These two promises give us a reason to stay grounded in reality rather than trying to escape it, which is what waking up is all about.

All vows are included in this one commitment: to be committed to paying attention to our lives, to be honest about what is going on and unflinchingly realistic about how we are behaving and thinking. ~ Norman Fischer

For more information on slogan forty-three, go here.