Mercy

Uphold precepts, but be merciful.

Gradually absorb, until there is no need for law.

Gain wisdom beyond right and wrong.

There was a young priest who returned to the community of his birth. Instead of  the neighborhood he knew as a boy, the community was now predominantly  homosexual.

He was uncertain:

On one hand, he had to serve the people. On the  other hand, his sect forbade homosexuality and condemned it as a grave wrong. It  would seem that whatever he did, he would be a hypocrite. He eventually decided  to accept all who came to him but still uphold the doctrines of his sect.

He saw his  most important duty as mercy, and so he was able to help others without truly violating his precepts. When there are contradictions between beliefs, one must  resolve them in favor of what one judges to be the higher principle.

We should not sell our ideals short for the sake of expediency or selfishness.  Following a particular spiritual tradition means a full commitment to its rules in  order to gain the essence of that tradition.

But we cannot afford to be dogmatic.  Human law is imperfect:

There will always be unprecedented circumstances.

Thus,  we must go beyond rules and operate instead from pure wisdom. We must act with  experience, flexibility, and insight. Let us so absorb integrity experiencing both its  triumphs and defeats that we do the right thing intuitively.

Tradition is first. Mercy is greater than tradition. Wisdom is greater than mercy.