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Buddhist
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Śīla (Sanskrit) or sīla (Pāli) is usually rendered into English as "behavioral discipline", "morality", or ethics. It is often
translated as "precept". It is an action that is an intentional effort. It is one of the three practices (sīla - samadhi -
paññā) and the second pāramitā. It refers to moral purity of thought, word, and deed. The four
conditions of śīla are chastity, calmness, quiet, and extinguishment, i.e. no longer being susceptible to perturbation by
the passions.
Sīla refers to overall (principles of) ethical behaviour. There are several levels of sila, which correspond to 'basic
morality' (five precepts), 'basic morality with asceticism' (eight precepts), 'novice monkhood' (ten precepts) and
'monkhood' (Vinaya or Patimokkha). Laypeople generally
undertake to live by the five precepts which are common to all Buddhist schools. If
they wish, they can choose to undertake the eight precepts, which have some additional
precepts of basic asceticism.
Five Precepts
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Main article: The Five Precepts
The five precepts are not given in the form of commands such as "thou shalt not
...", but are training rules in order to live a better life in which one is happy, without worries, and can meditate well.
- To refrain from taking life.
- To refrain from taking that which is not freely given (stealing).
- To refrain from sexual misconduct (improper sexual behavior).
- To refrain from lying.
- To refrain from intoxicants which lead to loss of mindfulness.
Eight Precepts
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In the eight precepts, the third precept on sexual misconduct is made more strict, and
becomes a precept of celibacy.
The three additional rules of the eight precepts are:
- To refrain from eating at the wrong time (only eat from sunrise to noon).
- To refrain from dancing, using jewellery, going to shows, etc.
- To refrain from using a high, luxurious bed.
Ten Precepts
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Novice-monks use the ten precepts, which are the
basic precepts for monastics: people who have left the home-life and live in monasteries.
Patimokkha
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Main article: Patimokkha
Vinaya is the specific moral code for monks. It includes the Patimokkha, a set of 227 rules in the Theravadin recension. The precise content of the vinayapitaka (scriptures on Vinaya) differ slightly according to different schools, and different schools
or subschools set different standards for the degree of adherence to Vinaya.
Mahayana Precepts
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Main article: Bodhisattva vows
In Mahayana Buddhism, there is also a distinctive Vinaya and ethics contained within the
Mahayana Brahmajala Sutra (not to be confused with the Pali text of that name) for
Bodhisattvas, where, for example, the eating of meat is frowned upon and vegetarianism is
actively encouraged (see vegetarianism in Buddhism). These precepts are, however,
not present in the strictest moral code of the Theravadin Patimokkha, and are generally understood to have come in existence at least 500 years after the Buddha.
See also
External links
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