the five moral precepts

• Pancha Sila


  Five Moral Precepts.
• The Five Moral Precepts

  Five principles that Buddhists try to follow to live ethically and morally.
• Moral


  A practical lesson about right and wrong.
• The Five Moral Precepts - To abstain from taking life

  Buddhists aim to not kill or harm any living being (many Buddhists are vegetarian or vegan).
• The Five Moral Precepts - To abstain from taking what is not freely given


  Buddhists aim to not steal or manipulate or take advantage of others.
• The Five Moral Precepts - To abstain from misuse of the senses or sexual misconduct

  Buddhists aim to not abuse or overindulge in sensual pleasures or use sex harmfully.
• The Five Moral Precepts - To abstain from wrong speech


  Buddhists aim to not lie or gossip about others, they speak truthfully, kindly and helpfully.
• The Five Moral Precepts - To abstain from intoxicants that cloud the mind


  Buddhists aim to not take alcohol or drugs so they can develop greater awareness.
• Voluntary Practice


  Buddhists don't believe that a god will punish them for not following the Five Moral Precepts, they choose to do so.
• Sensitive Application

  Buddhists have to sensitively balance the precepts against each other. A truth may cause more harm than a lie so it may be more ethical to lie if motivated by genuine kindness.
• Deepening Levels


  The Five Precepts can be practiced on ever deepening levels. Wanting to cause harm, even if you do not, is considered unskilful and therefore, unethical.
• Purify


  The Five Precepts purify the mind (make clean) of greed, hatred and ignorance (the Three Poisons).
• Panna/Prajna

  Wisdom. Achieved through following the Five Precepts.
• Karuna


  Compassion. Achieved through following the Five Precepts.
• The Ten Moral Precepts

  Mahayana Buddhists aim to follow a further five precepts; not killing, not stealing, not misusing sex, not lying, not abusing intoxicants, not talking about others' errors and faults, not elevating oneself and blaming others, not being stingy, not being angry, not speaking ill of the Three Treasures (compassion, frugality and humility).