The observation of the Five Precepts of Buddhism (Pali: Pañcasīla), which once guided the daily life of Buddhists, is now fading with modernization. In today’s world, many people just simply follow the crowd or go ahead with whatever actions they like without questioning the impact of their choices, especially when the practice seems trendy and is adopted by celebrities and influencers, or just to satisfy their needs.
Let’s analyze some of the current practices in today’s society while rediscovering the timeless wisdom of Buddhism 5 Precepts that can lead to a more peaceful and meaningful life in line with Buddhism’s original teachings.
Also read: Abhidharma Goes Along With Practice
The Five Precepts of Buddhism
In ancient times, wearing black dresses was a sign of mourning, but today it has become a fashion trend instead. The people of modern times are following anything blindly without weighing the consequences or benefits of doing anything.
Likewise, in olden days, observing the 5 Precepts of Buddhism was a very profound observation since those days, people were simple in thinking and stayed in natural habitat of living. Thus, undertaking the five Buddhist precepts was very substantial and within reach to practice as everything is simple in nature, such as taking only home-cooked food and a meagre two meals a day.
The only difference from modern society is that the observation of such Buddhist values by the olden day people is for the betterment of living, but the observation of trends just to follow the Joneses by the modern people tends to bring harm than good.
The 1st Precept
Panatipata veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
I undertake the precept to refrain from destroying living creatures.
Many Buddhist laity often misinterpret and misunderstand the first precept’s underlying principle. They think that as long as there is no bloodshed or obvious killing of creatures, then they successfully practice the 1st of the five Buddhist tenets.
The deeper meaning behind this Buddhism moral code is that, actions that cause harm or endanger a person’s life in the end also fall under the subject of killing. This fine point is often overlooked by Buddhists, hence many end up breaking the very first of Buddhism five precepts without realizing they have been doing the wrong actions.
The practice of this first precept was natural and easier to be done in the olden days. The meals back then were simple, such as vegetables, fish, prawn or squid; rarely does one have to slaughter lots of chicken, and pork meat was also rarely available for consumption. People slept early at 9.00 pm until 5.00 am, and in between those hours, there was no such thing as night disturbances of street racing or the lighting of fire crackers in the wee hours of the night.
This is the meaning of observing the first precept of no killing. Killing is not denoted only in physical form but also in mental form, such as causing night disturbances of noises whereby other people cannot sleep in peace. This is considered a subtle form of killing, as such inconsiderate action is endangering other people’s movement of life when these people suffering from lack of sleep will have less focus and concentration driving to work the next morning; accidents are more likely to befall these affected people, to the point of potentially losing their lives in more serious cases.
Also read: Duality of The Mind
Today, people think it is a norm to eat anything since no killing is done by oneself except that it is a ready food available anytime in the markets or restaurants. One does not realize that without any demand, there is no need to supply as nobody needs the food, then there is no killing of any particular meats without demand.
This kind of killing is very subtle yet obvious if one actually analyzes the situation; therefore it is advisable to refrain from eating meats such as pork, lamb and beef. This is because all these animals – pigs, goats, sheep, cows – bleed profusely and in large quantity compared to a duck or a chicken.
If we could limit our meat consumption to seafood such as fish, prawn, squid, and crabs, this would suffice to avoid killing, as all these sea creatures are free from heavy bleeding of blood. Of course, in terms of strict denotation in Buddhist rules and Buddhism principles, it is still killing as these sea creatures possess life, but at least we are more cautious of shedding blood as real killing. This is because all these heavy killing will lead to heavy bad energy radiating into the atmosphere, contributing to diseases such as COVID, especially people nowadays simply kill bats, reptiles and other wildlife for gourmet eating.
Also read: How to Create Good Feng Shui House Layout for Your Home
The 2nd Precept
Adinnadana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
I undertake the precept to refrain from taking that which is not given.
The 2nd precept of the Five Precepts is cheating and stealing. In those days, everyone lived simple and did not have access to gambling or horse racing, or even casinos and share markets unlike the people today. Hence, there was no source of cheating to occur.
Computers and handphones were also absent in the markets, hence there was no avenue to create any source of cheating and stealing. There was also no online banking, which is another rampant source of cheating and stealing via scams and phishing techniques. But today, it has become a common sight to witness all sorts of cheating and stealing due to all these available gadgets held in our hands.
When there is an available gadget or any source that inspires and tempts cheating, it becomes an attempt and an idea for people to cheat and steal. Unlike in the olden days, cheating is out of any ordinary mind, but present day, it has become a norm instead to see the act of cheating and stealing occurring everywhere. This is because modern society is complicated and too entangled with all sorts of electronic gadgets, which are the main outlet of creating cheating.
Also read: What Is Repentance and How Can You Practice It?
The 3rd Precept
Kamesu micchacara veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
I undertake the precept to refrain from sexual misconduct.
Thirdly, the 3rd precept is talking about sexual misconduct. Sexual misconduct means that one should not entice someone’s wife or have a sexual relationship with a teenager without their parental consent, or have sex with an underage girl. In the olden times, people lived freely and purely in their romantic affairs, but today many are corrupted and do not have any conviction in sincerity and honest feelings for their spouse.
Many people rush to get married for the sake of marriage or under the wrong notion of love and later on, regret upon their marriage vows and go against the marital vow of one man one woman. This is due to a lack of knowledge on sexual misconduct, which is an unwholesome action and only creates bad karmic effect. In fact, nowadays, people lack discipline in life and have no commitment to any form of moral values in living. Many people just like to do anything at their whim and fancy without any regard for the consequences of their wrong actions.
Also read: What is The Cause of Suffering?
The 4th Precept
Musavada veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
I undertake the precept to refrain from false speech.
Fourthly, the 4th precept is about upholding the concept of no lying and no false speech. Lying is an act of dishonest speech or everything being said to have no truth in it. The main evil action of lying is to avoid being caught for any shortcomings or covering up our mistakes to prevent oneself from being punished for the wrongdoings.
Nobody would ever need to lie if one is always honest, trustworthy and does not fear to admit any mistake, for one is always truly living up to oneself for good. Lying is only a temporary cover-up speech and the real truth will eventually be discovered in a matter of time.
Most people lie due to their self-centered thinking and selfish outlook in life. Eventually, one never pays to lie. Lying is never beneficial and only harmful to oneself, so one should always avoid lying.
Also read: The Importance of Spiritual Training and Spiritual Cultivation
The 5th Precept
Suramerayamajja pamadatthana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
I undertake the precept to refrain from intoxicating drinks and drugs which lead to carelessness.
Lastly, the 5th precept rules of Buddhism is that, one should always refrain from drinking alcoholic drinks such as beer, wine and hard liquor. In modern times, it has evolved into ecstasy pills or intoxicating pills, which also fall under this category of Buddhist principles.
One should always refrain from taking any of these highly intoxicating drinks or pills, as they only give temporary pleasure and later create danger and harmful effects to oneself, such as drunk driving and molestation situations. One would then commit a criminal offence and be subject to custody in jail.
Many drink to escape from a depressed situation or to overcome loneliness. Unfortunately, this is only a temporary state of reprieve. After the worn-out effect comes into simple realization, one then feels awful and dejected again. The only way to overcome the bad habit of drinking or taking intoxicating pills is to develop the strong determination of detachment from all worldly activities and celebrations.
When one has finally learnt the art of living light and easy in this world, then everything will naturally become vibrant and of high tidings; one will no longer need to rely on these measures just to escape reality, but to embrace life with more courage and positivity.
Also read: The Importance of Self Realization and How to Achieve It
The 5 Precepts of Buddhism Seem Simple, Yet They Are Profound in Practice
At first glance, the Five Precepts of Buddhism may appear straightforward and easy to follow, but their true depth reveals itself only through sincere and mindful practice. In a world that grows ever more complex and distracted, these Buddhism tenets and guidelines offer a path to clarity, compassion, and genuine well-being. Each precept, whether it concerns non-harming, honesty, restraint from cheating and intoxication, or sincerity in romantic relationships, challenges us to look deeper into our intentions and actions, reminding us that real transformation begins with small, conscious choices made every day.
The simplicity of the Five Precepts is their strength, and their profound impact can be felt by anyone willing to walk this path with an open heart and a clear mind. We hope that this article sheds light on the true understanding of each precept, which are among the central beliefs of Buddhism, and helps you walk the way of life with newfound clarity.