3.4.2 Buddhism: The Five Moral Precepts & Six Perfections

The Five Moral Precepts

1. To abstain from taking life
2. To abstain from taking what is not freely given
3. To abstain from misuse of the senses or sexual misconduct
4. To abstain from wrong speech
5. To abstain from intoxicants that cloud the mind

The Impact of Each Precept

First Precept: Buddhists avoid harming or killing any living being, including animals. This principle underlies why many Buddhists adopt a vegetarian lifestyle.

Second Precept: Beyond abstaining from theft, this precept encourages Buddhists to refrain from manipulating or exploiting others, ensuring they do not take more than what is freely given.

Third Precept: Buddhists are advised against engaging in any sexual activity that causes harm, such as adultery, rape, or incest.

Fourth Precept: Buddhists commit to truthful and kind speech, avoiding lies and gossip. They aim to communicate in a manner that is helpful and timely.

Fifth Precept: Buddhists refrain from consuming alcohol or drugs that impair their mindfulness and clarity of thought, as this is crucial for developing a calm and aware mind.

"Whoever destroys a living creature, and speaks untruth, takes what is not given in the world, and goes to another's wife, and whatever man applies himself to drinking liquor and intoxicants, that person digs up his own root here in this very world." — The Buddha in the Dhammapada, verses 246-247

Buddhists do not follow these precepts due to fear of divine punishment but voluntarily, as they believe in the ethical and spiritual benefits. As Buddhists progress, they practice the precepts more deeply. However, they sometimes need to balance one precept against another. For instance, if telling the truth could cause more harm, it might be more ethical to lie if motivated by genuine kindness. The foundational precept is to avoid causing harm, and the others support this principle. This aligns with the Buddhist concept of Kamma, where the intention behind actions is paramount. To genuinely follow the precepts, one must have the genuine desire to do so.

"We just keep on working, we are patient with ourselves, and on and on it goes. Little by little our life comes more into alignment with the wisdom that gives rise to the precepts. As our mind gets clearer and clearer, it's not even a matter of breaking or maintaining the precepts; automatically they are maintained." — Jan Chozen Bays (Zen meditation teacher)

The Six Perfections

Mahayana Buddhists believe that the six perfections define the qualities necessary for living an enlightened life. A Bodhisattva embodies these perfections:

6. Generosity

• Tibetan Buddhists identify three types of giving:

1. Material goods (food, clothes, money), offering short-term relief.
2. Protection from fear, aiding those in trouble or fear.
3. The Dhamma (Buddha's teachings), providing long-term self-help.

• The intention behind giving is crucial. Buddhists should give selflessly, without expecting anything in return.

7. Morality

• The five precepts are central to Buddhist morality. Mahayana Buddhists add five more: not to speak of others' faults, not to praise oneself while criticizing others, not to be stingy, not to be angry, and not to speak ill of the three refuges.
• Meditation is used to cultivate compassion and a desire to perfect morality.

8. Patience

• Patience, expressed through tolerance and endurance, is essential. Buddhists should endure personal hardship and show compassion to those who display anger towards them.
• Accepting the Noble Truths helps Buddhists cultivate patience.

9. Energy

• Buddhists should cultivate mental energy and strength, dedicating themselves fully to the practice of the Dhamma. This involves maintaining their health, deepening their practice, and studying Buddha's teachings.

10. Meditation

• Meditation is crucial for developing concentration and awareness, which are necessary to achieve the sixth perfection: wisdom.

11. Wisdom

• The first five perfections contribute to the development of wisdom. Through meditation, studying the Buddha's teachings, and living morally and ethically, Buddhists aim to understand the nature of reality. Mahayana Buddhists believe the ideal Bodhisattva combines wisdom with compassion.

Revision Activity

Discuss whether it is possible to cultivate these perfections in our society, using AFRO (two reasons for each argument) and quotes from Buddhist teachings.

"Just as a mother would protect with her life her own son, her only son, so one should cultivate an unbounded mind towards all beings, and loving-kindness towards the world."

— The Sutta Nipata, verses 149-150

"Just as compassion is the wish that all sentient beings be free of suffering, loving-kindness is the wish that all may enjoy happiness. As with compassion, when cultivating loving-kindness, it is important to start by taking a specific individual as a focus of our meditation, and we then extend the scope of our concern further and further, to eventually encompass and embrace all sentient beings."

— Tenzin Gyatso (the Dalai Lama)