Wisdom from the Mind /ภูมิปัญญาจากจิต: The Five Precepts

After we ask to take refuge in the Buddha, in the Dhamma, and in the Sangha, we must observe 'The Five Precepts'. We recite these precepts during the Buddhist ceremony. The Five Precepts are meant for lay people in order to live righteously.

1. I abstain from killing

2. I abstain from stealing

3. I abstain from sexual misconduct

4. I abstain from harsh speech

5. I abstain from consuming intoxicant

The teaching of the Buddha emphasizes that Kamma leads to a specific result - either good or evil. Kamma can be compared to 'We reap what we sow' in Christianity. In addition, those who follow these precepts will lead to the human realm with content consciousness in this life and the next life.

If any one of these precepts is committed, he or she will be borne in a lower realm than a human realm. Even if one were to be borne in a human realm, one must reap what one had sown.

I will try to elaborate on the meaning of each of these precepts.

1. I refrain from killing:

We see this situation all the time where people ask 'Why is his life so short?' meaning he died from an accident. In Buddhism, we assumed that he had killed a life or lives in the past - could be from this life or in previous life. This includes if one were to hurt someone in the past, one will reap this action in the future - this life or future life.

2. I refrain from stealing:

Even if no one knows, the conscious of the subject knows what had happened to it. This consciousness will follow the person until the repayment has been accomplished. If one is thinking to steal from someone, think again. I would ask "Do you want someone to steal from you?". If you insist, just remember that the same scene will be playing in the future - except this time you are the victim.

3. I refrain from sexual misconduct:

It is understandable that committing this act will lead to discomfort on both parties and those surrounding the parties. Imagine if your partner cheats on you, your relationship will lead to misunderstanding - and vise versa. This precept includes all sexual misconduct defined by culture, community, and laws.

4. I refrain from harsh speech:

This precept has to do with ethic and morality. In addition, this precept plays a major role in creating higher state of mind - especially the class status. If we use vipassana meditation to analyze the speech, we can see people who use proper words tend to have had proper up bringing and tend to be educated. Likewise, those who use harsh speech will hinder their growth - physically and spiritually.

5. I refrain from consuming intoxicant:

This is the most famous precept in Buddhism. The reason is simple and clear. This precept, if not observed, can have a big influence on the first four precepts. Intoxicants can alter the state of mind where 1. it does not know the right and wrong of killing, 2. it does not know the right and wrong of stealing, 3. it does not know the right and wrong of sexual misconduct, and 4. it does not know the right and wrong of false speech.

There are many intoxicants that we can identify - one is more toxic than the other. For instance, the common over the counter drugs we use daily such as Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Tylenol are less harmful to the mind in the minds of everyone. However, they do affect how we think; and the bad news is it could be addictive. Talking about addictive, this is against Buddhism since it teaches people to detach from desires. Some Buddhists avoid from taking these common over the counter drugs altogether - myself included.

Jack Panyakone