FouthPrecept:
Musavada veramani sikkhapadam
sarradiyami
I undertake the training rule to abstain from
false speech.This precept stresses the importance of
truthfulness and the need to control cowardice
and illwill, the chief causes of false speech. In
all human relations there must be trust and
confidence. Nothing is more degrading than to
live among people who tell lies and whose
every statement must be examined for
possible trap-doors of deceit. A society in
which untruth and mutual suspicion prevail
cannot hope to progress along harmonious
lines.
Among relatives and friends truthfulness is of
utmost importance. The man who is addicted
to lying, slander andback-biting destroys his
friendships and his own reputation. But
habitual lying produces an even more serious
resultthe confirmed liar becomes unable to
distinguish truth from falsehood that in the
end his whole outlook and judgement become
distorted.Constant lying destroys his character
and may lead to insanity. The words of the
Buddha on this point are very clear:
"The liar goes to hell, so also does he who
having done a deed, says, 'I did not'. Both
these men of low deeds reach the same evil
state in the next world."
(Dhammapada 306)The man who upholds the truthstrengthens
his character and reasoning powers. He is more
readily able to acquire penetrative insight into
the nature of reality and he sees all things,
including himself, with clarity and
understanding. A man becomes divine with the
seal of truth.
Fifth Precept:
Sura-meraya majja pamadatthana veramani
sikkhapadam samadiyami
I undertake the training rule to abstain from
intoxicating drinks and drugs causing
headlessness.This precept is aimed at controlling the craving
for unwholesome excitement and cultivating
mindfulness. Addiction to liquors and drugs is
not a new thing. The fact that the precept was
laid down shows that drunkenness was
common in the time of the Buddha.Nevertheless, today the drinking habit is not
only approved but is considered an essential
element of entertaining. It becomes
fashionable for some richer homes to replace
the altar with a bar stocked with a vast
assortment of imported liquors. Has the
modern man lost so much spontaneity and
honesty that he has to resort to liquor to tear
down pretensions in order to feel more
comfortable with each other?The acceptance of the drinking habit almost
amounts to approval of drunkenness. It is, in
fact fatally easy to be drunk. The man who
starts with one drink goes on to two, and from
two to as many as he thought he can
take. There is a Chinese saying which goes:
First a man takes a bottle. Then the bottle
takes a bottle. Finally, the bottle takes the
man.
The man who starts off with liquor first feels
cheerful, then boisterously happy, then
sentimental. Trouble usually begins when he
reaches the aggressive stage. The release from
normal inhibitions that drink produces brings
to the surface the worst side of his nature.
Quarrels lead to violence, and violence too
often to crime.8