Questions tagged [five-precepts]
The Five Precepts constitute the basic Buddhist code of ethics, undertaken by lay followers of the Buddha Gautama in the Theravadan as well as in Mahayanan traditions.
150
questions
1
vote
2
answers
44
views
Conversions and former bad deeds
I have read that obedience to the five precepts at least guarantees that practitioners will not fall back into the lower worlds (animal world, wandering spirit world, and hell world) when they are ...
- 808
4
votes
6
answers
208
views
Can you break the five precepts (except for lying) if the need arises?
I have come across someone stating that you can break any of the five precepts with exception of lying if the need may arise. Is this true? In Theravada Buddhism.
- 61
2
votes
1
answer
91
views
Sexuality, marriage and the fourth precept
Let's say a person were to seek for, and enter a monogamous heterosexual relationship and eventually marriage, but actually he or she is either homosexual or bisexual (but more inclined to ...
1
vote
3
answers
97
views
taking vows (the Five Precepts) and magic mushrooms
I was thinking about taking vows and I had a few questions:
does cannabis and magic mushrooms count as intoxicants?
does masturbation count as sexual misconduct?
if cannabis and magic mushrooms are ...
- 89
1
vote
7
answers
356
views
Can a married man have sex with a prostitute without breaking the third precept?
I tried to find the answer and looked into theses questions on the site
The Third Precept and Prostitution
Buddhist attitude towards prostitution and non-procreative sexual activity
How is sexual ...
- 111
0
votes
3
answers
87
views
Mercy killing (not assisted suicide) and the ramifications of the karmic action
Of course one of the 4 imponderables is the results of karma.
I am just asking if there is any sutta explanation on the effect of killing with malice compared to mercy killing?
Difference between ...
- 375
0
votes
1
answer
51
views
Making a true promise "on the dharma"
Is making a true promise, on the dharma, good karma?
Not asking about the precepts per se, but it was about precept centred behaviour (a lack of infidelity etc. from me): and now I feel blissed out, ...
user23322
2
votes
2
answers
74
views
Are the Five Precepts a gradual training?
In this answer it's said that the Five Precepts are not a form of gradual training.
Are they are a gradual training? If not, why?
Thank you for your time.
user21421
-1
votes
4
answers
267
views
About the Upasakasila Sutta and LGBT
Is the upasakasila sutta based on the Tipitaka (Pali Canon) or is it based on the Mahayana teachings?
Also, I understand that Buddhism doesn't condemn LGBT, but in the Upasakasila Sutta, it is written:...
- 137
0
votes
2
answers
161
views
What is musavada in the five precepts?
What is musāvādā in the five precepts?
On this five precepts page, it is translated as "incorrect speech", presumably by Ven. Thanissaro.
On this DN 27 page, Ven. Sujato translated it as &...
- 36k
0
votes
3
answers
72
views
Laws of the land, and Buddhist virtues and precepts
Some laws coincide with Buddhist precepts for e.g. penalizing murder and theft.
But there are other laws like traffic rules or Covid-19 rules which have no direct equivalent in Buddhism.
However, we ...
- 36k
0
votes
1
answer
58
views
Bodhisattva Precepts
I've been really into the ethical and moral foundation of buddhism and stumbled onto the precepts. Would it be wrong of me to recite the bodhisattva precepts that I've found online that I identify ...
1
vote
3
answers
144
views
What are the benefits of keeping the lay precepts, if you're not a bodhisattva?
What are the benefits of keeping the lay precepts, if you're not a bodhisattva? I'm asking about doing so in a liberal (no infidelity or drug addictions) and to a conservative (no sex or glass of wine)...
user19950
0
votes
1
answer
87
views
Animal sacrifices mentioned in the suttas or vinaya?
Hindus believe that the Buddha opposed Vedic rites of animal sacrifice in his time, for example, on this page and on this page.
This apparently influenced later Hindus to abandon the practice of ...
- 36k
-1
votes
2
answers
81
views
Is observing the five precepts a gradual training?
Which Pali suttas refer the subject of "gradual training"?
Do the Pali suttas say observing the five precepts is a "gradual training"?
0
votes
4
answers
100
views
Keeping a pet cat, without training or encouraging it to kill rats
Let's say a lay Buddhist has a rat infestation problem in his or her house.
Catching rats using traps and killing them is clearly breaking the first precept of not taking a life.
What about keeping a ...
- 36k
2
votes
4
answers
92
views
Does feeding animals with dead chicks and live worms break precepts?
As part of a volunteering job where endangered animals are taken care of they have to feed them with dead chicks recuperated from the agro industry, which is blameless and doesn't break precepts, ...
1
vote
3
answers
1k
views
the five precepts and marijuana - does marijuana count as an intoxicant?
The fifth of the precepts is "I undertake the training to refrain from intoxicants."
does smoking marijuana count as an intoxicant ?
- 89
2
votes
2
answers
102
views
Buddhist ethics & hydroponics: ethical issues?
AFAIK, in Theravada, ordained monastics are prohibited from growing their own food. Even hydroponics would likely be prohibited by vināya due to probability of harming small unseen life (algae, etc) ...
- 71
3
votes
2
answers
66
views
Does the first precept require me to check the shower for bugs and make sure to remove all of the bugs before using it?
I recently noticed that perhaps fewer than 10 bugs seem to be in my shower. I can try to remove all of the bugs from the shower before using it so that they don’t get washed away and killed. However,...
- 31
4
votes
5
answers
252
views
Unintentionally killing insects when playing sports and running
I jog everyday and teach children how to play basketball. There are some insects on the path where I jog and on the basketball court, and I’m sure we unintentionally kill a few of them. We live in a ...
- 123
2
votes
4
answers
342
views
How bad is the karma of feeding meat to your children?
I have a girlfriend who has a daughter from another man. If I raise this kid not vegetarian, will that be bad karma? Her mother is an omnivore and the kid is being raised in an omnivore household. It ...
- 123
2
votes
3
answers
931
views
Things that I have pirated in the past
Ever since I was a kid I have pirated and bought illegal copies of many different kind of media such as music, movies, video games and softwares.
Now as an adult do I have to pay for all these ...
- 123
1
vote
3
answers
88
views
Are there any sila / vinaya for mind?
There are five precepts.
I don't kill living species.
I don't do sexual miaconduct.
........
Similary, Are there any for mind ? Like,
I don't think ......
....
We can think according to the five ...
- 695
3
votes
4
answers
679
views
Is there something specifically wrong with keeping the 8 precepts as a lay person?
I know that the 5 precepts were intended for lay people. I know that in lay life, most people choose to only keep the 5 precepts, and there is no requirement to keep any more. I know that sometimes ...
- 31
1
vote
1
answer
50
views
Not doing anything
q:
Is not doing anything in a situation and just being mindful breaking
any of the precepts?
user16793
1
vote
1
answer
50
views
Different lyings
Here are my questions:
Can lying be nonverbal? like in action?
Is cheating lying?
Is writing the wrong answer when you know the correct answer lying?
Is skipping the line cheating, ...
user16793
4
votes
9
answers
519
views
irrational fear of hell and damnation and spiralling, please help me?
I've posted on this Q&A site before when my grandmother just passed away, and some of the answers here really helped me feel a lot better and eased my fear enough for me to go back to my normal ...
- 141
0
votes
4
answers
87
views
Responding to Worldly Questions
Namo Buddhaya!
People always ask "How are you?", "Isn't that beautiful/horrible", "You are so lucky/unlucky!", "Did you enjoy/like that", and so on.
How do I respond to these things in a way that ...
user16793
3
votes
6
answers
520
views
Why has the "3rd precept" of the 5 precepts been interpreted as being so permissive?
It seems to me that according to one interpretation of the "3rd precept" of the 5 precepts one could even engage in various sexual acts with a vast number of prostitutes nonstop and that still wouldn'...
- 534
2
votes
4
answers
617
views
Possible to intentionally kill without "intention"?
The 5 criteria of killing
1) There is life present
2) The person knows "there is life present"
3) Intention to take away the life
4) Action or speech that causes "life is taken away"
5) Life is taken ...
- 21
3
votes
5
answers
345
views
Is it possible to attain stream-entry if one is only following "the 5 precepts"?
Is it possible to attain stream-entry if one is only following "the 5 precepts"?
Are there any suttas that seem to address this question?
- 534
1
vote
5
answers
673
views
How did Sarakani become a stream enterer despite having an alcohol drinking habit?
I read SN 55.24 (quoted below) and it says Sarakani became a stream enterer despite having an alcohol drinking habit, because he undertook the training before he died.
What does the sutta really mean?...
- 36k
2
votes
3
answers
105
views
5th precept missing from 8fold Path?
I can find the first 4 precepts explicitly listed in the 8fold Path- but not the 5th precept regarding intoxicants. Am I missing it in there somewhere? I am wondering if it was a later addition to the ...
1
vote
2
answers
79
views
5 precepts and the mental factor of sila
Once the 5 precepts is observed from a monk, is there any rupa of sila being formed as a kind of mental factor in the observer? And this rupa of sila (like a vase?) if thus polluted,it can be cleansed,...
- 41
3
votes
3
answers
636
views
Breaking of five precept
Breaking of five precept would generate bad consequences from the evil deeds or from being not able to keep the precepts itself? The so called breaking of the body of precepts? some traditions say ...
- 41
0
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Would the Buddha have considered engaging in anal sex as breaking the 1st and/or 5th precept?
Would the Buddha have considered engaging in anal sex as breaking the 1st and/or 5th precepts?
I would like to know this as I am trying to better understand the 5 precepts.
- 534
2
votes
4
answers
144
views
What is appropriate usage of medicines that are intoxicating?
What is appropriate usage of medicines that are intoxicating?
I know that cannabis has been used for pain relief but if the use of the cannabis is intoxicating then what is the right view of what is ...
- 534
1
vote
8
answers
480
views
I'm confused about the seemingly irrational prioritization or vagueness (?) relating to the "3rd precept" compared to 5th precept of the 5 precepts
I am confused why in many versions of the 5 precepts I have encountered that the 5th precept is seemingly beneficial about "refraining from intoxicating drinks and drugs which lead to carelessness." ...
- 534
0
votes
3
answers
119
views
Judges passing the death sentence
The Yodhajiva Sutta tells the story of a warrior who thought that brave warriors who fought valiantly and died heroically on the battlefield, would go to warrior heavan. The Buddha disappointed him by ...
- 36k
1
vote
3
answers
92
views
Is there any benefit to, as far as is humanly possible, total dedication to the precepts, in zen?
Is there any benefit to, as far as is humanly possible, total dedication to the precepts, in zen?
So total celibacy, vegetarianism and non violence to any life form, complete abstinence form alcohol, ...
user2512
0
votes
3
answers
145
views
Is peeking a "blind box" considered as stealing? Or breaking of any precepts?
Blind Box means you don't know which specific design from a series you might be receiving.
The boxes and/or bags are sealed and we don't know which toy is inside them.
It's kinda like buying trading ...
- 21
1
vote
3
answers
333
views
Benefits of five precepts
I believe in karma and rebirth but I don’t understand one thing. How does five precepts give you merits? Isn’t it only preventing bad karma? If you don’t kill any living beings or don’t steal anything ...
user14213
1
vote
3
answers
93
views
Source on the 4 types of ways to protect the 5 precepts
Recently I got to know that there are 4 types of ways to protect the 5 precepts.
Such as
You don't do it
You don't make others do it
You don't support others to do it
You don't praise and talk ...
- 1,233
3
votes
2
answers
262
views
Suttas on the 5 Precepts
I am looking for the suttas where the Buddha has preached about the 5 precepts. Also how it can lead you to Samadhi, Niravana and etc.
-Metta
- 1,233
1
vote
2
answers
112
views
Lying In Expression
I had previously asked a question about lying in fiction, but I feel I had omitted some important elements which I recently realized. I often write theoretical statements I am unsure of.
Does writing ...
user7302
6
votes
7
answers
709
views
Why does the Buddha, in the Pali Canon, periodically engage in harsh speech?
Throughout the Pali Canon you can find instances where the Buddha appears to engage in harsh speech that seems to be contrary to the noble eighfold path. There are several important points/...
- 447
4
votes
9
answers
1k
views
How to mitigate the negative karmic effect of killing
I'm a graduate student studying plant-insect interactions. My research, necessary for my degree, requires me to collect (kill) a few hundred insects. Are there any suttas, or general Buddhist ...
- 2,653
1
vote
0
answers
58
views
What is meant by "those crowned with flowers by another man"? [duplicate]
In the Cunda Kammaraputta Sutta (translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu):
He engages in sensual misconduct. He gets sexually involved with those
who are protected by their mothers, their fathers, their ...
- 36k
1
vote
4
answers
475
views
Husband has sexual activity with other woman with the consent of wife
There is a true story where a couple just got married. Soon after marriage, the wife is diagnosed with certain illness by the doctor. To make it short, because of the illness, the wife is not allowed ...
- 1,211