Published On:Tuesday, 9 September 2014
Posted by Celebrate Life Style information Blog
What is the Pancha Shila (or five moral precepts)?
It is important to clearly state that the Panch
Shila do not essentially make an individual a Buddhist. However, to become a
real Buddhist, it is vital to observe the five
rules. There are a number of people who want to understand “who is a Buddhist”?
The answer is – a Buddhist is a person who takes protection in the ‘Triple Gem’
(Tissrana), known as the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha.
The Buddha – The perfect physician for any mental disorder
The Dhamma – The unfailing and eternal panacea
The Sangha – The model nurse
The Triple Gem is also explained as:
- The Buddha – The peak of universal wisdom
- The Dhamma – The ideal code of discipline
- The Sangha – The standard model for a layman
The Five Precepts known as Pancha Shila are basic
ethics adopted by Buddhists in day to day life. Some people believe that these
rules are the basic fundamentals of Buddhism but this is not true. The basic
fundamentals of Buddhism are deeper and philosophical than these. The Five
Precepts are simple practices that can be followed in everyday life. It is
believed that these rules did not originate from Buddhism and existed even
before Lord Buddha. Gautama Buddha just encouraged the adoption of these
precepts as they help develop a good human being who leads a good life. They do
not give any spiritual result.
The Five Precepts are:- Don’t Take Life
- Don’t Take What’s Not Given
- Don’t Do Sexual Misconduct
- Don’t Do False Speech
- Don’t Drink Fermented Drink that can cause negligence
- Don’t take life
Every individual loves their own life and you are
no one to take it away from them. Just like you like your life, all others do
too. So, live and let live. Do not get involved in any kind of violent activities
to harm other individuals.
- Don’t take what’s not given
This rule simply emphasizes on staying away from the practice of stealing. If
something does not belong to you or is not given to you, it is not yours and
you do not have the right to use it without permission.
- Don’t do sexual misconduct
This rule can be arguable and different cultures describe it differently.
However, the bottom line is to avoid unethical sexual relationship (rape,
molestation etc.)
- Don’t do false speech
Avoid lying. If you lie, you will not only harm the other person but also harm
your own self.
- Don’t drink fermented drink
This may also be debatable for different individuals but the fact remains the
same that alcohol reduces the ability of an individual to think and act
appropriately. [ France Young Buddhist Association]
