Saturday, March 13, 2010

Precepts (Sila)



Doing of purity in one's life is the good behaviour. The precepts (sila) actually provide someone's stability with the considerable concentration (samadhi). Without concentration there is no achievement of insight (panna). In other words, spiritual practice by the three stages are the virtue (sila), the concentration (samadhi), and the comprehension (panna). As a lay person a corner-stone begins with the virtuous deed (sila), on which one's consciousness comes to a climax as the concentration (samadhi), and at last stage attains fully understanding (panna).
 
Sila, Samadhi and Panna are the main bases of the Buddha's teachings. So, before meditation, one must have the steadfast precepts. In practising meditation with any great success, the practice of sila is actually needed. If we practise rightly, sila will give us much benefits. Thus it is sure that the concentration based on the precepts can make someone for a higher insight and a way to Nibbana.
 
Sila (in Pali) is usually defined asmorality; behavioural discipline; ethics; virtue; moral conduct or observance of precepts.Morality is the set of disciplinary rules of conduct prescribed by the Buddha. Some often thinks of the five precepts (panca sila) as a set of commandments. It is not so. Anyone or practising Buddhist can voluntarily accept the precept, as a particular set of training rules by himself. The rules are appropriate for living in the world. Especially some devotee of Buddhism understands the value and the usefulness of sila. So they also learn and discipline their three kamma, namely the action, the speech and the mind.
 
It is not also same as the rules and regulations of the government in the country. The governmental rules and regulations constrain variety and diversity. However, the precepts shown by the Buddha had never been done by force. It is a real moral code with one's faith, not under duress. Sila is a mode of mind and volition. All the verbal and physical actions start from our mind. Those are indeed depending on the motivation or benevolence (cetana). Sila is mainly manifested in speech or bodily action. It is also a clear conscious and intentional restraint from the evil deeds.
 
Buddha made it unchangeable and precise under the universal law of cause and effect. It is a kammic action in terms of the attitude of all beings. It is an intentional effort as well as one of the three practices i.e. sila, samadhi, panna in sequence. Sila is also the second stage in the ten perfections (dasa parami). In addition Right Speech, Right Action, and Right Livelihood of the Noble Eightfold Path are main factors in the practice of sila.
 
We can consider such actions as good or evil deeds. Simply the principles of sila are definitely sure of acceptance and usefulness to all till today, because it rooted in the nature of universal truth. Moreover it confines to the moral purity of thought, word or deed. Sila refers briefly to overall principles of ethical behaviour in all beings. If anyone strictly and voluntarily observes the five precepts (panca sila), he can be recognized as a noble person. Then the owner of strict virtue (sila) is greatly respected by the human society as well as celestial world (deva loka).
 
Posted by Nyan U




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