Dhamma Talks - Five Precepts Or Advice Are Needed :: Buddhapadipa Thai Temple

Written by Dhammacaro on 07/22/2004

The significance of the five precepts or advice in Buddhism

Precepts, or advice, are the basis of building faith or confidence, which is very important to take devotees into the higher teachings of the Buddha. In Buddhism, precept or advice is one of the three trainings (Tri-Sikkha); precept or advice, concentration, and wisdom.

The precepts or advice is the foundation of the practice of the Buddha dhamma until the attainment of enlightenment, the ultimate goal of Buddhism. There is a saying that a man who observes the precepts can be suitable for the ultimate goal of Buddhism, as in Samyuttanikaya Sagathavagga (15/17) says, “A practitioner of precept, with concentrated mind, and wisdom, can overcome the ocean of unsatisfactoriness, Samsara.”

Samsara means “round of rebirth” of living beings. It is compared to the ocean of unsatisfactoriness, because living beings, who were born in this world, suffer from cravings and attachments which tie them to this round of rebirth. It is likened to a man is in the middle of the sea, who is whirled round and round till he can find the bank, and only then he can be safe from going around again and again in the sea. The sea is likened to cravings or attachments and the bank of the sea is likened to enlightenment. “There are a lot of people who are in the sea, or Samsara, but a few can reach the bank of enlightenment”, the Buddha said, “The foundation is the precepts or the advice which can lead people to the shore of real happiness, or Nibbana.”

The precepts or advice concern the practice of behaviour, namely the acts of body and speech which are based on the mind. This concept, in Buddhism, places the precepts or advice first for its devotees to practise. This practice will lead the practitioners to the development of their lives, to the perfect life. If it is denied, the higher development cannot be expected. It means they miss an important process of the development of life.

The Buddha said, “My teachings are glorious at the beginning with precepts or advice, in the middle with concentration and mindfulness, and at the end with wisdom.” The precepts or advice come first because they are the starting point to bring about all wholesomeness. They do not bring any trouble to oneself or others.

In Ovadapatimokha, the Buddha said the core of his teachings, “Not to do any evil”, is the precept, the first one, “To cultivate goodwill”, this is the development of concentration and mindfulness, the second one. “To purify or train the mind”, this is wisdom, the training of the mind to see things as the ways they really are. Wisdom with regard to the condition of its arising one distinguishes 3 kinds of knowledge: wisdom based on thinking or reflection, wisdom based on learning or study from others, wisdom based on mental development or training.

The significance of five precept or advice to oneself  

The five precepts or advice aim to build happiness for living beings in both the present and in future. This happiness is brought about by observing the five precepts or advice not to do any evil in five fields e.g.

1. Not to harm or bother living beings is to practise loving-kindness, by developing an attitude of care and consideration for living creatures, by considering that every life form prefers comfort to pain and by helping the needy in whatever way we can.
2. ot to steal from others is to practise generosity, which eradicates meanness and selfishness concerning possessions. Practising giving things away, especially giving the forgiveness, which is very hard to practise.
3. aking responsible for oneself, in the family, community, or society and so on is a human duty which one should do first by feeling the pain that others feel when hurt, by having a sense of tenderness and consideration which replaces the tendency to act selfishly.
4. Not to use wrong speech by considering the great harm we can do to others by using words, particularly lies. Words of wisdom or truth are critical, but the practice of using words of praise, encouragement, and kindness support this process.
5. The advice not to take any intoxicants, which bring about carelessness, is to make human being mindful or careful so that when any problem arises, he can deal with that with mindfulness, reflecting before acting.

There are five advantages conferred by observing the five precepts:

1. One lives a good life because of not being careless
2. One is acceptable to the public
3. One is confident in any society
4. One is brave enough to encounter any situation
5. One will die with mindfulness

The significance to society of five precept or advice  

The five precepts or recommendations are the foundation of the protection of life, property, and society of both oneself and others; for example, to protect life is the first one, to protect properties and society is the second one, and so on. The aim of the five precepts or advice is the basis of society, even if that is not Buddhist. In any country we can see the law laid down for protecting life, properties, and society like this. If there are none of the five precepts or counsels in any society, that society will become worse and worse, because the law is laid down to solve social problems, help the innocent and punish the wrong doer. This point out that society is immoral. If people in the society maintain the five precepts, they will live happy lives, not harming, or bothering each other. On the other hand, if there are neither the five precepts nor the injunctions are observed, the society will be disturbed with crimes, killing, robbery, prostitution, cheating, and drugs. This must be solved urgently, as soon as possible and a lot of money is needed.

How to ask for five precepts or advice  

There are two ways of using the five precepts. The first is by inner resolve. In this case the person decides for himself, not to kill or harm living being, not to steal, to use sexual restraint, not to lie and not to take any intoxicants. The second way is to ask a monk to list the precepts and then make a vow, in his presence, to follow them

If the practitioner wants to practise the precepts by making a vow, she or he gets dressed properly, then goes to see the monk, bows to him three times and ask for the precepts as follows:

Asking for the Five Precepts in Pali

Aham bhante tisaranena saha pancasilani yacami

Dutiyampi - Aham bhante tisaranena saha pancasilani yacami

Tatiyampi - Aham bhante tisaranena saha pancasilani yacami

Meaning

Venerable sir, I observe the five precepts together with the threefold refuge.

For the second time, Venerable sir, I observe the five precepts together with the threefold refuge.

For the third time, Venerable sir, I observe the five precepts together with the threefold refuge.

The monk says, “Repeat after me as I say.”

The lay devotees says, “Yes, Venerable Sir.”

The Formula of Paying Homage to the Buddha

Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato sammasambuddhassa (three times)

Meaning - Veneration to the Exalted One, the One worthy of special veneration, and the perfectly enlightened One.

Taking three Refuges

Buddham saranam gacchami

Dhammam saranam gacchami

Samgham saranam gacchami

Dutiyampi -Buddham saranam gacchami

Dutiyampi -Dhammam saranam gacchami

Dutiyampi -Samgham saranam gacchami

Tatiyampi-Buddham saranam gacchami

Tatiyampi-Dhammam saranam gacchami

Tatiyampi-Sangham saranam gacchami

Monk ==> Tisarana gamanam nithitam

Lay devotees ==> Ama bhante

Meaning

I take refuge in the Buddha

I take refuge in the Dhamma

I take refuge in the Samgha

For the second time I take refuge in the Buddha

For the second time I take refuge in the Dhamma

For the second time I take refuge in the Samgha

For the third time I take refuge in the Buddha

For the third time I take refuge in the Dhamma.

For the third time I take refuge in the Samgha

Bhikkhu ==>- you have now completed the act of taking three refuges.

Lay devotees ==> Yes, Venerable Sir.

1. Panatipata veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami: I observe the precept of abstaining from the destruction of life.

2. Adinnadana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami: I observe the precept of abstaining from taking that which is not given.

 3. Kamesu micchacara veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami: I observe the precept of abstaining from sexual misconduct.

4. Musavada veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami: I observe the precept of abstaining from falsehood.

5. Suramerayamajjapamadatthana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami: I observe the precept of abstaining from intoxicants that cloud the mind and cause carelessness.

At the end of a precept ceremony the monk or nun will chant the following in Pali:

Imani pancasikkhapadani silena sugatinyanti, silena bhogasampada, silena nibbutinyanti tassama silamviso daye

Meaning

These Five Precepts:

Have morality as a vehicle for happiness,

Have morality as a vehicle for good fortune,

Have morality as a vehicle for liberation.

Let morality therefore be purified.

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