Updated: 06.30.19:
- May my speech be ever pleasant, never harsh, belittling or disparaging, even in disagreement. May I not complain about or find fault with any situation or person.
- May I protect and care for all living beings. May I be a shield to the vulnerable and a friend to the downtrodden.
- May I confess my shortcomings, forgive all wrongs and seek forgiveness for any harm I have done.
- May I welcome adversity with joy, recognizing it as an unparalleled means for training the heart. May I seek out and wholeheartedly engage with situations and people that I find difficult and troublesome.
- May I completely accept all criticism, knowing it is the result of my past kamma.
- May I give once a day as a practice of generosity, renunciation and compassion. May I give whatever is asked of me as long as it causes no harm.
- May I refrain from intentionally exposing myself to any media that inflame lust, hatred or delusion. May I restrain my gaze and allow it to fall only once upon any attractive forms.
- May I be faithful in love and loyal in friendship. May my word be my bond.
- May I practice humility and modesty, concealing my virtues and practices from others.
- May I repay cruelty with kindness, miserliness with charity and ignorance with understanding.
- May my speech be ever pleasant, never harsh, belittling or disparaging, even in disagreement.
- May I never raise my voice in anger or irritation.
- May I protect and care for all living beings.
- May I refrain from consuming meat, milk and eggs.
- May I be a shield to the vulnerable and a friend to the downtrodden.
- May I confess my shortcomings, forgive all wrongs and seek forgiveness for any harm I have done.
- May I welcome adversity with joy, recognizing it as an unparalleled means for training the heart.
- May I seek out and wholeheartedly engage with situations and people that I find difficult and troublesome.
- May I not complain about or find fault with any situation or person.
- May I completely accept all criticism, knowing it is the result of my past kamma.
- May I bear heat, cold, hunger, insect bites and all pains as is befitting of a disciple of the Conqueror.
- May I give once a day as a practice of generosity, renunciation and compassion.
- May I give whatever is asked of me as long as it causes no harm.
- May I refrain from intentionally exposing myself to any media that inflame lust, hatred or delusion.
- May I restrain my gaze and allow it to fall only once upon any attractive forms.
- May I refrain from being alone with any marriageable persons who are not my partner.
- May I practice humility and modesty, concealing my virtues and practices from others.
- May I repay cruelty with kindness, miserliness with charity and ignorance with understanding.
Cattāri Brahmavihārā 
Good luck with these! I follow the Soto Zen Tradition. The main monastery is Shasta Abbey but I live in the UK where we have monasteries affiliated. Lay followers have a set of Ten Great Precepts we try and apply to our lives. Also the 3 Pure Precepts: Cease from causing harm, Do only good and Do Good for others!
There is also a Theravada Forest Sangha monastery called Ratanagiri, (Harnham )30mins drive away which I sometimes visit. http://www.ratanagiri.org.uk
By: erikleo on 08/28/2014
at 1:48 pm
Thank Erik! I love Ajahn Munindo and I also sometimes practice with a Soto Zen group so am familiar with the 16 Bodhisattva precepts as well. Every good blessing to you!
By: Upāsaka on 08/28/2014
at 1:55 pm
Small world! Have you met Ajahn Munindo? His book of talks, Unexpected Freedom, is on my list of best Buddhist Books! Metta, Eric
By: erikleo on 08/28/2014
at 2:28 pm
I have not yet had the pleasure but I have a new book on my list.
By: Upāsaka on 08/28/2014
at 4:33 pm
Reading it at a time of emotional turmoil was a great solace.
By: erikleo on 08/29/2014
at 1:10 pm
Hi Mike,
These look great. Where are they from?
With metta,
Ben
By: benoloughlin on 08/01/2015
at 12:54 pm
Ben,
Largely from Bhante G’s Eight Lifetime Precepts although the others I have more or less made up for myself to help me work on the weaker areas of my practice. Thanks for taking the time to read them!
By: Upāsaka on 08/01/2015
at 2:32 pm
[…] Abhaya-cariya […]
By: Uposatha Day – Beginning Anew | Cattāri Brahmavihārā on 10/16/2016
at 12:42 pm
I’ve never seen this list of ethical conduct before. I believe I could take any one of them and make an intentional deepening practice of it on a daily basis. Any one of these aspirations support the Buddha’s teaching of abandoning harm, cultivating the good and purifying the mind. I think I’ll choose one and make a month’s practice of it. I’ll let you know how it goes. Thank you for your efforts. Sadhu sadhu sadhu!
By: walkingwoman on 09/07/2017
at 4:48 pm
I am humbled by your reply. Just a weird of caution: I came up with these to address my own weaknesses. As an unenlightened being it’s very possible that I may have gotten something wrong. Nonetheless, I’m glad you’ve found it helpful. Every good blessing to you.
By: Upāsaka on 09/07/2017
at 9:22 pm
#15 is a form of sense restraint that I had not thought of before, and I believe it will help me free my mind from lust and desire. Thank you for sharing this wonderful code of conduct.
By: Anon on 06/02/2018
at 11:00 pm