The Ten Virtues

“The Master said, ‘A true gentleman is one who has set his heart upon the Way. A fellow who is ashamed merely of shabby clothing or modest meals is not even worth conversing with.’” – Kǒngzǐ

This page is consistently updated as Jiayan philosophy continues to evolve.

The Ten Virtues are those behaviors, qualities, and attitudes that align one’s life with Ji. Their practice leads to eudaimonia (happiness, welfare, and flourishing on both an individual and society-wide scale) and freedom from dukkha (commonly translated as suffering, unease, and unsatisfactoriness). When one acts according to the Ten Virtues, they live in accordance with Nature. The Ten Virtues are grounded by mettā-karuṇā (universal and compassionate love), the underlying virtue.

Each Virtue is symbolically represented by a non-human animal, serving as a reminder that humans are not above other creatures in their capacity for virtue and that such behaviors are interwoven in the very fabric of Reality itself.

1. Wisdom

Cultivate the ability to distinguish between skillful and unskillful mindsets.
Recognize the primary roots of internal suffering in craving, illusion, delusion.
Value education, reflection, and sincere inquiry in the pursuit of the betterment of all beings.
Appreciate art and creativity as a reflection of truth and beauty, and as a tool for personal growth, social change, and deepening understanding of oneself, others, and Ji.

Consonants: right view (Buddhism)

2. Right Intention

See that your motives arise from compassion, sincerity, and goodwill toward oneself and others.
Carefully examine one’s actions to ensure one’s intents are honest rather than deceptive or rooted in self-interest.
Let intention guide one’s conduct toward harmony over conflict.
Seek to promote trust, cooperation, and fellowship in one’s personal relationships and community at large.

Consonants: niyyah (Islam); Great Commandment (Christianity)

3. Right Speech

Speak truthfully, kindly, and with purpose.
Refrain from lying, divisive speech, idle chatter, and harmful gossip.
Use humor to lift spirits and bring others together, rather than diminishing others.
Call out wrong view, delusion, and ignorance wherever it may lie, recognizing the need to mend division.

4. Right Action

Respect the inherent dignity and value of all by refraining from harm through violence, cruelty, and exploitation in all its forms.
Act with integrity, restraint, and respect for all beings, including oneself, recognizing the interconnectedness of all.
Seek to embody metta-karuna in one’s personal relationships by upholding commitments and practicing responsibility.
Protect the vulnerable and repair harm, whether systemic or personal, whenever possible.

Consonants: ahimsa (Jainism, Hinduism, Buddhism)

5. Moderation

Practice balance in appetite, desire, and personal habits.
Avoid excess, luxury, and harmful indulgence for such things cultivate ignorance of the interdependence of all beings.
Cultivate contentment in simplicity and steadiness in turbulent times.

Consonants: Middle Way (Buddhism); wasat (Islam); zhōngyōng (Confucianism); temperance (Christianity)

6. Right Livelihood

Engage in work that supports well-being rather than causing harm to beings, the world, and the universe.
Avoid professions rooted in deceit, exploitation, or destruction.
Honor the craftsmanship, effort, and care that goes into all forms of labor.

7. Courage

Face adversity with resilience, dignity, and resolve, for struggle serves as a means of growth and transformation.
Stand firm in compassion and principle, even in the midst of fear.
Resist oppression, injustice, and wrongdoing head-on, rather than leaving such things in the hands of others.

Consonants: fortitude (Stoicism, Christianity); vīrya (Buddhism)

8. Right Effort

Actively strive to abandon unwholesome habits while nurturing virtuous thoughts, words, and actions.
Practice constancy and perseverance on the long, arduous path to alignment.
Let effort be joyful, grounded in care rather than obligation.

9. Justice

Act to uphold fairness, compassion, and impartiality in recognition of the interconnectedness of all.
Advocate for social, economic, and ecological harmony.
In one’s work, words, and deeds, seek to repair harm and uplift the vulnerable.
In light of the oneness of all things, view generosity and acts of justice not as charity, but a duty to the world.

Consonants: tzedakah (Judaism)

10. Equanimity

Cultivate mindfulness and awareness of the present moment in all conditions.
Accept impermanence as an inexorable aspect of the universe, viewing it with grace rather than anxiety.
Find peace in the unfolding of each moment; the universe, made up as it is of occasions of experience, presents new opportunities and creative possibilities with each second, each breath, and each thought.

Consonants: ziran (Taoism); upekkhā (Buddhism)