Pancasila
Encyclopedia
The Five Precepts constitute the basic Buddhist
code of ethics
, undertaken by lay followers
(Upāsaka and Upāsikā) of the Buddha Gautama
in the Theravada
as well as in Mahayana
traditions. The precepts in both traditions are essentially identical and are commitments to abstain from harming living beings, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying and intoxication. Undertaking the five precepts is part of both lay Buddhist initiation and regular lay Buddhist devotional practices.
They are not formulated as imperatives, but as training rules that laypeople undertake voluntarily to facilitate practice.
provides the scriptures and commentary for traditional Theravadin
practice.
:
For more on the first precept, see ahimsa. In the fifth precept sura
, meraya and majja are kinds of alcoholic beverages. In some modern translations, Surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā, is rendered more broadly, variously, as, intoxicants, liquor and drugs, etc.
, the following typifies elaborations that frequently accompany these identified training rules:
According to the Buddha, killing, stealing, sexual misconduct and lying are never skillful.
, the Buddha describes the Five Precepts as gifts toward oneself and others:
In the next canonical discourse, the Buddha described the minimal negative consequences of breaking the precepts.
One ceremonial version of the precepts can be found in the Treatise on Taking Refuge and the Precepts :
1. As the Buddha refrained from killing until the end of his life, so I too will refrain from killing until the end of my life.
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
code of ethics
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
, undertaken by lay followers
Upasaka
Upāsaka or Upāsikā are from the Sanskrit and Pāli words for "attendant". This is the title of followers of Buddhism who are not monks, nuns, or novice monastics in a Buddhist order, and who undertake certain vows...
(Upāsaka and Upāsikā) of the Buddha Gautama
Gautama Buddha
Siddhārtha Gautama was a spiritual teacher from the Indian subcontinent, on whose teachings Buddhism was founded. In most Buddhist traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama (Sanskrit: सिद्धार्थ गौतम; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual teacher from the Indian...
in the Theravada
Theravada
Theravada ; literally, "the Teaching of the Elders" or "the Ancient Teaching", is the oldest surviving Buddhist school. It was founded in India...
as well as in Mahayana
Mahayana
Mahāyāna is one of the two main existing branches of Buddhism and a term for classification of Buddhist philosophies and practice...
traditions. The precepts in both traditions are essentially identical and are commitments to abstain from harming living beings, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying and intoxication. Undertaking the five precepts is part of both lay Buddhist initiation and regular lay Buddhist devotional practices.
They are not formulated as imperatives, but as training rules that laypeople undertake voluntarily to facilitate practice.
Pali texts
Pali literaturePali literature
Pali literature is concerned mainly with Theravada Buddhism, of which Pali is the traditional language.- India :Main article: Pali CanonThe earliest and most important Pali literature constitutes the Pali Canon, the scriptures of Theravada...
provides the scriptures and commentary for traditional Theravadin
Theravada
Theravada ; literally, "the Teaching of the Elders" or "the Ancient Teaching", is the oldest surviving Buddhist school. It was founded in India...
practice.
Pali training rules
The following are the five precepts (pañca-sikkhāpada) or five virtues (pañca-sīla) rendered in English and PaliPáli
- External links :* *...
:
| 1. | I undertake the training rule to abstain from taking life | Pāṇātipātā veramaṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi. |
| 2. | I undertake the training rule to abstain from taking what is not given. | Adinnādānā veramaṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi. |
| 3. | I undertake the training rule to abstain from sexual Human sexuality Human sexuality is the awareness of gender differences, and the capacity to have erotic experiences and responses. Human sexuality can also be described as the way someone is sexually attracted to another person whether it is to opposite sexes , to the same sex , to either sexes , or not being... misconduct. | Kāmesumicchācāra veramaṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi. |
| 4. | I undertake the training rule to abstain from false speech. | Musāvādā veramaṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi. |
| 5. | I undertake the training rule to abstain from fermented drink that causes heedlessness. | Surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā veramaṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi. |
For more on the first precept, see ahimsa. In the fifth precept sura
Sura drink
Sura is a strong distilled alcoholic beverage. It is referred to as an anesthetic by Sushruta before the advent of surgical operation...
, meraya and majja are kinds of alcoholic beverages. In some modern translations, Surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā, is rendered more broadly, variously, as, intoxicants, liquor and drugs, etc.
Elaboration
In the Pali CanonPāli Canon
The Pāli Canon is the standard collection of scriptures in the Theravada Buddhist tradition, as preserved in the Pāli language. It is the only completely surviving early Buddhist canon, and one of the first to be written down...
, the following typifies elaborations that frequently accompany these identified training rules:
According to the Buddha, killing, stealing, sexual misconduct and lying are never skillful.
Motivation
In the Pali CanonPāli Canon
The Pāli Canon is the standard collection of scriptures in the Theravada Buddhist tradition, as preserved in the Pāli language. It is the only completely surviving early Buddhist canon, and one of the first to be written down...
, the Buddha describes the Five Precepts as gifts toward oneself and others:
In the next canonical discourse, the Buddha described the minimal negative consequences of breaking the precepts.
Chinese Mahayana texts
The format of the ceremony for taking the precepts occurs several times in the canon in slightly different forms, and each temple or tradition has slightly different ordination ceremonies.One ceremonial version of the precepts can be found in the Treatise on Taking Refuge and the Precepts :
1. As the Buddha refrained from killing until the end of his life, so I too will refrain from killing until the end of my life.