Five Precepts of Buddhism


In Lumbini, there is a marker stone on the Pancasila or Five Precepts taught by Buddha out of compassion and for the betterment of mankind. These five precepts are the basic training rules observed by all practicing lay Buddhists and goes thus:

1. Panatipata veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
I undertake the precept to refrain from destroying living creatures.
2. Adinnadana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
I undertake the precept to refrain from taking that which is not given.
3. Kamesu micchacara veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
I undertake the precept to refrain from sexual misconduct.
4. Musavada veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
I undertake the precept to refrain from incorrect speech.
5. Suramerayamajja pamadatthana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
I undertake the precept to refrain from intoxicating drinks and drugs which lead to carelessness.
Now, I will always remember fondly some questions some people ask like Is it all right to kill a mosquito? and Is it all right to gamble then? You may have more puzzling questions to add perhaps besides answers to the mosquito questions. Do share!

Comments

What is your answar to man who runs his livelyhood by selling meat. Will he not kill the animal?However we are all in different stage of EVOLUTION.
footiam said…
Thanks debasis. That's a question that bugs. So, what do you think?
ctdweller said…
Hi footiam,

Thanks for your comment.

About mosquitos and the like which brings harm to humans, I don't think this is what is being referred to by the precept. Mosquitos, flies, rodents, termites -- all these creatures are pests to human life. So do they need to be protected. They have survived a thousand years and I don't think they need additional protection:-)

Cheers!
Liudmila said…
Our Teachers said: we all live in our realms that have their rules. We are not able to change these rules. And have not to do it, because the Creation is perfect so as it is. We have to eat, to do these or that things -it's our karma in poor words. But we can be conscious that we have relation, boundness to all these beings. And we can think it and remember the sacrifice of them for our life. The same about all the persons that gave us our piece of bread -maybe they had to make something bad and ruine their karma to make us eat... ecc
Anonymous said…
Even mosquitos and bugs etc are living beings, so we should not even kill these according to the precept. We should find ways to deal with them in a humane way and that means nor killing them. It's the intention that is very important when taking any action.
footiam said…
Thanks anonymous for the comments. Mosquitoes and bugs are pest and many people say that if you do not kill them, they'd kill you through the diseases they bring etc. As such, these compassions for mosquitoes and bugs are often ridiculed at and it is not easy to deal with this; so, I really welcome your thoughts. Thanks!
footiam said…
Thanks Lotus, yes - pest needs to be protected! That places human above all!
footiam said…
Liudmila, yes, there are rules in the realms. We just abide by it. As Lotus Flower said, pest needs to be protected!
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