The Fourteen Precepts of Interbeing: Fourteen Guidelines for Engaged Buddhism  by Thich Nhat Hanh 
 
1. Do not be idolatrous about or bound to any doctrine, theory, 
or ideology, even Buddhist ones, Buddhist systems of thought 
are guiding means; they are not absolute truth.
 
 
2. Do not think that the knowledge that you presently possess is
changeless, absolute truth.  Avoid being narrow-minded and 
bound to present views.  Learn and practice nonattachement fromviews in order to be open to receive others' viewpoints.  Truth is found in life and not merely in conceptual knowledge.  Be ready to 
learn throughout your entire life and to observe reality in yourself
and in the world at all times. 
 
 
3.  Do not force others, including children, by any means whatsoever
to adopt your views, whether by authority, threat, money, propaganda,
or even education.  However, through compassionate dialogue, help
others renounce fanaticism and narrowness. 
 
 
4.  Do not avoid contact with suffering or close your eyes before suffering. 
Do not lose awareness of the existence of suffering in the life of the 
world.  Find ways to be with those who are suffering, including personal
contact, visits, images and sounds.  By such means, awaken yourself
and others to the reality of suffering in the world. 
 
 
5.  Do not accumulate wealth while millions are hungry.  Do not
take as the aim of your life fame, profit, wealth, or sensual  pleasure.
Live simply and share time, energy and material resources with 
those who are in need. 
 
 
6.  Do not maintain anger or hatred.  Learn to penetrate and transform 
them when they are still seeds in your consciousness.  As soon as they 
arise, turn your attention to your breath in order to see and understand the
nature of your anger and hatred and the nature of the persons who have
caused your anger and hatred. 
 
 
7.   Do not lose yourself in dispersion and in your surroundings. 
Practice mindful breathing to come back to what is happening
in the present moment.  Be in touch with what is wondrous,
refreshing, and healing both inside and around you. Plant seeds
of joy, peace and understanding in yourself in order to facilitate the 
work of transformation in the depths of your consciousness. 
 
 
8. Do not utter words that can create discord and can cause the com-
munity to break.  Make every effort to reconcile and resolve all
conflicts, however small. 
 
 
9. Do not say untruthful things for the sake of personal interest or to 
impress people.  Do not utter words that cause division and 
hatred.  Do not spread news that you do not know to be certain. 
Do not criticize or condemn things of which you are not sure. 
Always speak truthfully and constructively.  Hae the courage to 
speak out about situations of injustice, even when doing so may
threaten your own safety. 
 
 
10.  Do not use the Buddhist community for personal gain
or profit or transform your community into a political party. A
religious community, however, should take a clear stand against 
oppression and injustice and should strive to change the situation
without engaging in partisan conflicts. 
 
 
11.  Do not live with a vocation that is harmful to humans and 
nature.  do not invest in companies that deprive others of their
chance to live.  Select a vocation that helps realize your ideal 
of compassion. 
 
 
12.  Do not kill.  Do not let others kill.  Find whatever means 
possible to protect life and prevent war. 
 
 
13.  Possess nothing that should belong to others.  Respect the
property of others, but prevent others from profiting from human
suffering or the suffering of other species of the Earth. 

 
14.  Do not mistreat your body.  Learn to handle it with respect. 
Do not look on your body as only an instrument.  Preserver vital
energies (sexual, breath, spirit) for the realization of the Way. 
(For brothers and sisters who are not monks and nuns:) 
Sexual expression should not take place without love and a
long-term commitment.  In sexual relationships, be aware of 
future suffering that may be caused.  To preserve the happiness
of others, respect the rights and commitments of others.  Be 
fully aware of the responsibility of bringing new lives into the world. 
Meditate on the world into which you are bringing new beings.