The Eight Precepts
attha-sila
These training rules are observed by laypeople during periods of intensive meditation practice and during uposatha (lunar observance) days . The Eight Precepts are based on the Five Precepts , with the third precept extended to prohibit all sexual activity and an additional three precepts that are especially supportive to meditation practice.
The Eight Precepts:
- 1. Panatipata veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
- I undertake the precept to refrain from destroying living creatures.
- 2. Adinnadana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
- I undertake the precept to refrain from taking that which is not given.
- 3. Abrahmacariya veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
- I undertake the precept to refrain from sexual activity.
- 4. Musavada veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
- I undertake the precept to refrain from incorrect speech .
- 5. Suramerayamajja pamadatthana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
- I undertake the precept to refrain from intoxicating drinks and drugs which lead to carelessness.
- 6. Vikalabhojana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
- I undertake the precept to refrain from eating at the forbidden time (i.e., after noon).
- 7. Nacca-gita-vadita-visukkadassana mala-gandha-vilepana-dharana-mandana-vibhusanathana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
- I undertake the precept to refrain from dancing, singing, music, going to see entertainments , wearing garlands, using perfumes, and beautifying the body with cosmetics .
- 8. Uccasayana-mahasayana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
- I undertake the precept to refrain from lying on a high or luxurious sleeping place .
See also:
- The Five Precepts
- The Ten Precepts
- Virtue (sila)
- Muluposatha Sutta (AN 3.70) — Discourse on the Roots of the Uposatha
- Uposatha Sutta (AN 8.41) — Discourse on the Uposatha Observance
- Visakhuposatha Sutta (AN 8.43) — Discourse to Visakha on the Uposatha
- Ñanavara Thera's Questions-and-answers concerning the Uposatha.
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Last revised for Access to Insight on 30 November 2013.
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