The three factors of the Noble Eightfold Path
are involved in training on morality are:
Right Speech Right Action Right LivelihoodJust as a tower can only be erected on a solid
foundation, all efforts towards higher spiritual
achievement must begin with Sila (morality)
which enables the mind to be calm and easily
focused. Without virtue, mental culture
(Samadhi) and wisdom (Panna) are not
attainable.
- The Five Precepts (Panca Sila)
The precepts serve two purposes: they are the
barrier to evil mental impulses and deeds, and
they prevent a person from generating bad
Kamma. They are the basic rules of mental and
spiritual hygiene, the antidote against the
poison of evil deeds.
Like flies swarming around a jar of honey are
trapped and drowned in honey, men who
disregard morality and are allured by evil and
desire for sense gratification are trapped and
drowned in suffering. Observance of
precepts insures a person against the risk of
being reborn into states of suffering and woe.
First Precept:
Panatipata veramani sikkhapadam
samadiyami
I undertake the training rule to abstain from
killing living beings.
This precept is to control anger and to develop
loving-kindness such that a person regards and
respects the lives of other beings as his own.
This precept seems to receive many questions
and objections in that it cannot be followed in
its entirety. The objection is based on a
misunderstanding of the nature and purpose of
the precept.
This precept is not a commandment which
forbids a person from killing at all costs. It is
only a vow a person makes voluntarily based
on the advice of the Buddha that to restrain
from killing will generate good results.observance of this precept alsohelpshimto
cultivate within his heart a genuine
compassion forall forms oflife.A person who has property and worldly
interests to guard, and whoowesadutyto
societyand its laws may riot always find it
possible toobserve theFirst Precept. He is in
that position becausehisdesire for possession
and familyties had placed him init.He has to make his choice in the face of the
moral dilemma that confronts him.Should he
eat meat or go on a vegetarian diet? Should he
use pesticides to killrats and insects? Should
he join the army? Ifhe is wise,he adopts the
course of action tominimizeas far as possible
the need to performunwholesomeactions. He
can do this by leading aright livelihood so asto
be able to lead a pure and blameless life. If
this is not sufficient because he aims at the
highest moral perfection, he may renounceall
worldly responsibilities andbe ordained into
the Sangha. There he is free to pursue the
highestgood, unfettered by the demands of
mundanelife.Second Precepts:
Adinnadanaveramani sikkhapadam
samadiyami
I take the training rule to abstain from
taking things not given.This precept is aimed at controlling desire for
material possessions and cultivating
generosity. There are many ways of
committing theft besides plain stealing and
robbery. The man who builds his fortune in
business by dishonest deals, creating artificial
shortages, exploiting his employees' or
ruthlessly driving his competitors out of
business is a thief, and is no different from the
petty pickpocket. People who acceptbribes
and trade on their influence instead of
discharging their duties justly violate the moral
law of being guilty of taking that which is not
theirs byright.