Ajivatthamaka Sila and Right Livelihood (Samma Ajiva)

It is enough to observe the Ajivatthamaka Sila once and for all. One has no need to repeat it again. But, it is essential for purification of a living as well as for no breakage of the 5 and 8 Buddhist precepts.

“Ajiva” in Pali means any earned living for one's life. Unjust earning a living is called “Miccha-ajiva” in Pali. Justice in earning a living is known as Right Livelihood “Samma-ajiva”, with abstinence from injustice. So its definition is Ajivatthamaka Sila because of the eighth (atthama) precept in this sila.

From number 1 to 7 precepts out of 8, are the three physical actions (kaya kamma) and the four verbal actions (vaci kamma) of the ten wholesome deeds (punna kiriya vatthu).

Buddhist Five Precepts (Panca Sila) is nicca sila. One who commits it has certainly got misdeed, whether he observe or not. Likewise, Ajivatthamaka Sila also has definitely taken offence. That is why, every Buddhist devotee must do observe this precept persistently. One will never attain magga and phala unless his ajivatthamaka sila is safe.

As before in the Buddhist five precepts (Panca Sila), the four steps are repeated except steps 3 and 6. However, in asking for the Ajivatthamaka Sila, step 3 and step 6 have to change in substituting the respective set of words as follows:

3. Asking for the Ajivatthamaka Sila

Ahaṁ bhante, tisaraṇena saha, Ajivatthamaka Silaṁ, Dhammam yācāmi, anuggahaṁ katvā Sīlam detha, me bhante.

Dutiyampi, Ahaṁ bhante, tisaraṇena saha, Ajivatthamaka Silaṁ, Dhammam yācāmi, anuggahaṁ katvā Sīlam detha, me bhante.

Tatiyampi, Ahaṁ bhante, tisaraṇena saha, Ajivatthamaka Silaṁ, Dhammam yācāmi, anuggahaṁ katvā Sīlam detha, me bhante.

Venerable sir, I ask you for the Ajivatthamaka Sila together with the Three Refuges. Please have compassion for me and help the way to undertake the precepts.

For the second time, I ask you for the Ajivattthamaka Sila together with the Three Refuges. Please have compassion for me and help the way to undertake the precepts.

For the third time, I ask you for the Ajivatthamaka Sila together with the Three Refuges. Please have compassion for me and help the way to undertake the precepts.

Monk: “Ya-mahaṁ vadāmi, taṁ vadetha.” _ Repeat what I say,

Devotee: “Āma bhante.” _ Yes, Venerable sir.

6. Vowing to observe the Ajivatthamaka Sila

[1] Panatipata veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami

[1] I undertake the Precept to refrain from killing and injuring living beings.

[2] Adinnadana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami

[2] I undertake the Precept to refrain from taking what is not given.

[3] Kamesu micchacara veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami

[3] I undertake the Precept to refrain from sexual misconduct.

[4] Musavada veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami

[4] I undertake the Precept to refrain from false and harmful speech.

[5] Pisuna vaca veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami

[5] I undertake the Precept to refrain from backbiting.

[6] Pharusa vaca veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami

[6] I undertake the Precept to refrain from using harsh or abusive speech.

[7] Samphappalapa veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami

[7] I undertake the Precept to refrain from useless or meaningless conversation.

[8] Micchajiva veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami

[8] I undertake the Precept to refrain from wrong means of livelihood.

Idaṁ me Silaṁ magga phala ñāṇassa paccayo hotu. 

May the precepts I keep be an aid for the attainment of magga and phala.

Monk: “Appamādena sampādetha,” _Accomplish the training without forgetfulness and negligence

Devotee: “Āma bhante.” _Yes, Venerable Sir.

Buddham Pujemi, Dhammam Pujemi, Samgham Pujemi.

Posted by Nyan U

Precepts (Sila): Grades, Classes and Levels

Sila is a good practice which makes any observable one well and beneficial. It keeps the devotee from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, using intoxicants, i.e. all bad deeds. It also keeps one from telling lies, making mischief, using abusive words, indulging in trivial talk, i.e. all evil words.
 

Sila has the two main grades, namely Gahattha-Sila and Bhikkhu-Sila. The former is meant for the lay people and the latter for the monks. The lay person observes lower grade and the monks pay attention to the higher grade.
 

Moreover, the precepts are also divided into two classes, viz: Caritta Sila and Varitta Sila. Every Buddhist should perform the moral instructions i.e. ethical rules stated by the Buddha, because these are Caritta sila. Caritta sila are mostly regarded in positive forms such as sufficient dutiful help towards parents, teachers, wives, children, respectful elders, the needy, the poor, patients; observance of good manners and etiquettes, etc.
 

Similarly everyone should avoid all the misdeeds shown by the Buddha as the precepts. All of bad actions recognized as Varitta sila are in negative forms such as killing, stealing, misconduct in sex, lying, use of intoxicants, etc. Both the Caritta and the Varitta silas always have relations with everybody. But most of us used to live to be forgetful of the precepts.
 

In two classes of sila, the first one for the monks has four types, known as: [1] Patimokkha samvara sila, [2] Ajiva parisuddhi sila, [3] Indriya samvara sila,[4] Paccaya sannissita sila. The second one for laymen consists of [1] Panca sila, [2] Ajivatthamaka sila, [3] Atthanga Uposatha sila, [4] Navanga sila.
 

The two silas [1 & 2] in the latter are minimum silas for a Buddhist. So they are called nicca silas. Nicca means always. A real Buddhist must keep either [1] or [2] silas always. Panca sila concerns with one's morality to take five vows; Ajivatthamaka sila requires one to refrain from earning a wrongful livelihood for eight vows. In Burma, 8th waxing, full moon, 8th waning, full waning days are generally fixed for keeping Uposatha sila.
 

There are also different levels of sila. Those are: 

[1] five precepts (panca sila), 

[2] eight precepts (uposatha sila or atthanga sila) or asceticism, 

[3] nine precepts (navanga sila), 

[4] ten precepts (dasa sila) for novice (samanera sila) and nuns (samaneri sila), and 

[5] Patimokkha (Upasampada sila) [the 227 rules for a fully-ordained monk (bhikkhu); the 311 rules for a higher ordained nun (bhikkhuni)] or Vinaya pitaka.
 

Lay persons (puthujana) generally observe the five precepts that are common to all Buddhists for their lives. When they wish, they can decide to undertake the atthanga sila.
 

The panca sila is the first step to the Buddhist training. Then it is the most important to be a true Buddhist. One should not be a nominal Buddhist who has been born and grown up in a Buddhist family. If this were so, it will be in vain. Therefore, to practise panca sila is essential for all Buddhists as their lifelong companion. On this account one has been a true and entirely pure Buddhist.
 

The panca sila is not taken in command of oneself. But the Buddhists live with these training rules for a better life. By this way everyone concentrates his mind with peace, without worries, and then under this condition can also practise meditation well.
 

Posted by Nyan U

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 as “morality; 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

Choice

Dad: Killing is not good.
Son: That's right.
Dad: Stealing is not good.
Son: Yes.
Dad: Adultery is not good.
Son: Of course.
Dad: Telling lies is not good.
Son: Sure.
Dad: Alcohol and drugs addicting is not good.
Son: Yeah. Then, what is good dad?
Dad: Abstaining all these is good, son.
Son: Excellent dad, excellent!

Posted by Aye Sat