This talk was given as a part of the series "Where Rubber Meets the Road: A Series on Mindful Living." Most of us come to the Buddhist practice because of meditation, and not for the precepts. In our Western culture, we have an antipathy to ethical practices. It sounds to us that ethics is about right and wrong, and rules of conduct that involve judgment. However, ethical practices according to the Buddhist understanding is an investigation to the cessation of suffering. In the Buddha's teaching of the Four Noble Truths, the fourth truth is the path that leads to the cessation of suffering. Three of the Eightfold Paths -- right speech, right action, and right livelihood -- deal with ethical practices. It's the way we live off the cushion; the way we live in interaction with other people. Notice that sila is a growth out of the Eightfold Paths, and the Eightfold Paths is the way of being without suffering. Notice also that sila consists of forms of practices, just like meditation, instead of commandments. So in our ethical practices, we ask ourselves, "What is the best action in the circumstances? What can I say or do that won't enhance suffering?" We investigate in our hearts in terms of understanding dukkha and the end of dukkha.

This series of talks provides insight and practical advice as to how to take the wonderful and serene mind that we develop during our meditation practice into our daily lives, into our relationships with others. Sometimes, the deepest grooves in our minds are only stimulated in our relationships to others. Defilements and habits of the mind, such as greed, anger and delusion, arise in ways that they don't in other situations. Fortunately, these daily life encounters offer us opportunities to practice, to see ourselves more clearly, and to become more free. This is the liberating power of awareness and mindfulness.

In this talk Tony Bernhard discusses our relationship with consumerism and how our consumer culture cultures craving by creating a sense of lack and how we assume or accumulate our identities by purchasing. The idea is to see clearly just how we relate to this society we live in and to the kinds of things it inspires us to do. He discusses how important seeing how embedded we are in this consumerist culture is and that we cannot possibly be free if we cannot see clearly. He discusses right livelihood in terms of constructing a lifestyle and way to live in this world that attenuates the suffering of the world and others.

Viewing our relationship to others, the world - are we projecting our dissatisfaction onto the world. Our state of mind affects how we view the world. What is the difference between loneliness and solitude - our state of mind. What are we willing to set aside for the Dhamma - our opinions, taking sides, clinging to our beliefs… Using the five precepts as practices to guide us in our relationships. Our wisdom is acted out in our behavior Can we give up what we want to do to do to think of what others would like. Can we give up our clinging, can we give up being right? Do our opinions enhance our suffering or reduce it? Rather can we bring Metta to all our relationships.