Founder's Principles
Freezing to death, we do not scheme.
Starving to death, we do not beg.
Dying of poverty, we ask for nothing.
According with conditions, we do not change.
Not changing, we accord with conditions.
We adhere firmly to our three great principles.
We renounce our lives to do the Buddha's work.
We take the responsibility to mold our own destinies.
We rectify our lives as the Sangha's work.
Encountering specific matters,
we understand the principles.
Understanding the principles,
we apply them in specific matters.
We carry on the single pulse of the Patriarchs’
mind-transmission
Ask yourself: Do I fight?
Ask yourself: Am I greedy?
Ask yourself: Do I seek?
Ask yourself: Am I selfish?
Ask yourself: Do I Pursue personal advantage?
Ask yourself:: Do I lie?
Ask yourself: Do I eat only a one meal a day?
Ask yourself:: Do I always wear may precept-sash?
These form the tradition of the Sagely City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, and no one can change them.