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 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.
• Karuna 


  Compassion. Achieved through following the Five Precepts.