Virtue

Buddha taught us the Noble Eight-Fold Path as the path to Nibbāna. In fact, this path has to be fulfilled with respect to virtue, concentration, and wisdom. The Samma Vacha (virtue relates to the speech that leads to Nibbāna), Samma Kammanta (virtue relates to occupation that leads to Nibbāna), and Samma Ajeeva (virtue relates to life style that leads to Nibbāna) are the three parts that have been categorized under the virtue in the Noble Eight-Fold Path. Thus, one completes the Noble Eight-Fold Path by protecting his virtue because it is a part of the path to Nibbāna. Therefore, it is [...]

The Supreme Buddha taught us the merits of protecting the precepts as follows: Virtuous person will grow in wealth by protecting his precepts. His virtuous life will promote his good name among people. With one’s cultivated virtue, one becomes courageous to go and work among any kind of crowd. By the time a virtuous person dies, he will be able to face the death with a good mindfulness. Once he died, he will be born in an upper level world like heaven. Furthermore, a virtuous person can get many merits as a result of his effort on protecting the precepts.

There are two types of precepts that monks should observe and protect. They are the “Sāmanēra” (novice) ten precepts and “Upasampada” (ordained) precepts. The novice ten precepts are, Refrain from killing beings. Refrain from stealing belongings of other people. Refrain from all sexual activities. Refrain from lying. Refrain from using alcohols and misusing of drugs. Refrain from eating food after midday (prevent taking any food between after the noon of a day until the Sun rises in the morning of the next day). Refrain from performing dancing, singing, participating in music, watching unseemly shows. Refrain from using garlands, perfumes, unguents, ornaments. [...]

There are more precepts that a layperson could observe. Those are the “Aajeevaka” eight precepts, “Upōsatha” eight precepts, and ten precepts for laypeople. The Aajeevaka eight precepts: Refrain from killing beings. Refrain from stealing belongings of other people. Refrain from sexual misconducts. Refrain from lying. Refrain from divulge secrets. Refrain from speaking harsh/rude words. Refrain from speaking meaningless words. Refrain from unrighteous living. Upōsatha (holy) eight precepts: Refrain from killing beings. Refrain from stealing belongings of other people. Refrain from all sexual activities. Refrain from lying. Refrain from using alcohols and misusing drugs. Refrain from eating food after midday (prevent taking [...]

No, not if they are prescribed by a doctor and are taken as instructed.

No. Killing is killing and eating is eating. However if we tell someone to kill an animal, for any reason, that breaks the precept against killing. If we buy meat that was not killed at our request, that does not break the precept.

It’s fair to say that most people have broken precepts at some point in the past. The Buddha taught that it is not really helpful to spend time regretting things we have done in the past. What is helpful is trying to keep the precepts now.

This is totally normal and should be expected. We can’t do anything about the past other than re-commit to following the precept in the future. In the moment you realize you have broken a precept, reflect on what happened and determine to follow it in the future. This is why many people recite the precepts in the morning and evening each day. This has the double purpose of reminding us to follow the precepts as well as knowing that we are starting with a clean slate.

No, the Five Precepts cannot be broken accidentally. So, for example, if while we are walking we accidentally step on an insect, this does not break the precept of killing. If we unknowingly say something that is not true but we think it is, that does not break the precept of lying.

Buddha taught the laypeople to observe five precepts in their day to day lives. Those are, Refrain from killing – That is, refrain from killing any being. This being can be in a just formed embryo or a fully grown person or an animal. Refrain from Stealing – Refrain from taking anything that is not yours with a stealing mind. Refrain from sexual misconduct – There can be women who live under the protection of a mother, a father, both mother and father, a brother, a sister, relatives, or under a tribe. Also, some women have committed their lives to practice [...]