The second paramita in Tibetan is tsultrim, usually translated as discipline, morality, or ethical conduct. Other terms that have been used to describe it include skillful conduct, right conduct, self-discipline, and integrity. In Sanskrit it is known as sila, which according to my research comes from the word for rock or stone. I’ve also seen it translated as coolness. For me, both definitions bring to mind Shantideva’s advice to “remain like a piece of wood” whenever we find ourselves on the verge of committing a counterproductive action of body, speech, or mind. It also resonates with the contemporary “gray rock” concept in psychology, i.e., responding minimally and without affect in an interaction that threatens to trigger an emotional reaction.
There’s more to the paramita of ethical conduct, but its overall intent is that we cultivate vigilance in order to 1) inhibit reflexive habits and reactions that feed the cycle of samsaric confusion and suffering, and 2) gradually replace them with new habits that are in accord with the dharma and with our bodhisattva aspiration to fully wake ourselves up from the illusion or dream of samsara so that we can help others free themselves. Ringu Tulku Rinpoche has said that this paramita comes down to practicing mindfulness. What do we need to be mindful about? This is expressed succinctly in Shakyamuni Buddha’s summary of the entire path, which also happens to reflect the three-fold practice of ethical conduct:
Refrain from actions that cause harm,
~ Shakyamuni Buddha
Engage in virtue all you can.
Tame your own mind utterly:
This is the Buddha’s great teaching.