At the heart of Drukpa practice lies a tapestry of vows and ethical commitments woven together to guide practitioners down the path of compassion, wisdom and integrity. Three tiers stand out:

1. Prātimokṣa Vows
   • Lay followers embrace the Five Precepts—abstaining from killing, stealing, lying, sexual misconduct and intoxicants—to cultivate mindfulness in daily life.
   • Monastics observe the Vinaya’s 253 (nuns: 364) vows, including celibacy, simplicity of possessions and respectful conduct, preserving the integrity of communal harmony.

2. Bodhisattva Vows
   • Inspired by Avalokiteśvara’s boundless compassion, Drukpa disciples commit to the Six Perfections (generosity, ethics, patience, effort, concentration, wisdom) and the Ten Great Vows, continually sharpening empathy and altruistic motivation.
   • Modern outreach—such as the Drukpa “Green Hands” environmental campaign—illustrates these vows in action, planting thousands of trees across the Himalayas to honor life and protect future generations.

3. Tantric Samaya
   • Guru devotion: Always uphold the spiritual teacher as the living gateway to enlightened mind.
   • Sangha loyalty: Stand by fellow practitioners, guarding mutual trust and respect.
   • Personal conduct: Safeguard secrecy of mantras and visualizations.
   • Ethical restraint: No abuse of vows through harsh speech, substance misuse or personal gain.
   • Additional root commitments demand avoiding criticism of other Vajrayāna traditions and refraining from ordinary employment that conflicts with one’s vows.

A particularly vivid illustration of these commitments showed up at last year’s COP28, where Drukpa delegates linked ecological responsibility with bodhisattva compassion—reminding global leaders that inner transformation and environmental stewardship go hand in hand. In everyday terms, Drukpa practitioners aim to “walk the talk,” turning lofty ideals into tangible acts: sharing a meal with a needy neighbor, volunteering at a local hospice, or simply offering a gentle word to soothe someone’s sorrows.

By aligning intention (bodhicitta), behavior (ethical vows) and transformative practices (samaya), the Drukpa Lineage crafts a living path: one where every thought, word and deed becomes a stepping-stone toward awakening and benefiting all sentient beings.