The Five Precepts
Behaviour to avoid
- harming living beings
- taking the not-given
- sexual misconduct
- false speech
- taking intoxicants that cloud the mind
Behaviour to develop
- loving-kindness
- generosity
- stillness and contentment
- truthful speech
- mindfulness, or awareness
They come in pairs, so the first precept is to avoid harming living things and to develop loving-kindness. The precepts are training guidelines which Buddhists follow. They are not commandments to be obeyed. Some Western Buddhists explain how and why they follow the precepts:
1. To abstain from harming living beings
“Some Buddhists are vegetarian. They don’t want to harm animals. The greatest harm you can do to another living being is to kill it. Anything we do to someone without their agreement is an act of violence.
The non-violent path is not a path for cowards.”
2 To abstain from taking the not given
“Pinching money will have a bad effect on me, even if no-one finds out - I’ll know that I’ve acted badly.
Making an effort to give whenever I have the idea has a big effect on me, never mind the other person!”
3. To abstain from sexual misconduct
“If I’m in a relationship with someone, then I try to be happy and content with them, rather than looking over my shoulder all the time for someone more interesting. If I’m not in a relationship, I try to be happy and content with that state too.
Sex isn’t the most important thing in my life.”
4. To abstain from false speech
“Lying has a bad effect on us. We’re not able to become happier and friendlier if we lie and have secrets. Telling the truth doesn’t always mean saying just what you think.”
5. To abstain from taking intoxicants that cloud the mind
“One of the reasons why I meditate every day is to develop a clear mind. If I was to take alcohol or drugs they’d only make my mind cloudy and dull. It’s not that anyone says to me 'don’t drink' - the precepts don’t work like that. I’ve decided for myself.”