Posted by: Michael | 12/29/2011

The Eight Lifetime Precepts

Upasikas

The precepts, in their various forms, have become increasingly significant to me as my practice has developed over the years. The 5 Precepts are, of course, the absolute minimum for any declared disciple of the Dhamma-vinaya but there are a number of other formulations of the training rules taken from the suttas and commentaries that seem to offer excellent opportunities to practice not solely morality for its own sake but as a means to maintain mindfulness in daily life. My thanks to Bhante Pesala for the following:

http://www.wlu.ca/documents/6478/The_development.pdf
The development and use of the Eight Precepts for lay practitioners, Upāsakas and Upāsikās in Theravāda Buddhism in the West
Jacquetta Gomes
Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravāda), UK

Pāṇātipātā veramaṇī sikkāpadaṃ samādiyāmi
Adinnādānā veramaṇī sikkāpadaṃ samādiyāmi
Kāmesu micchācārā veramaṇī sikkāpadaṃ samādiyāmi
Musāvādā veramaṇī sikkāpadaṃ samādiyāmi
Pisuṇā vācā veramaṇī sikkāpadaṃ samādiyāmi
Pharusā vācā veramaṇī sikkāpadaṃ samādiyāmi
Samphappalāpā veramaṇī sikkāpadaṃ samādiyāmi
Micchājivā veramaṇī sikkāpadaṃ samādiyāmi

I undertake the rule of training to refrain from killing living beings
I undertake the rule of training to refrain from taking what is not given
I undertake the rule of training to refrain from sexual misconduct
I undertake the rule of training to refrain from false speech
I undertake the rule of training to refrain from backbiting
I undertake the rule of training to refrain from using harsh or abusive
speech
I undertake the rule of training to refrain from useless or meaningless
conversation
I undertake the rule of training to refrain from wrong means of liveli-
hood


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