The moral precepts of Buddhism are known to the public interested in this topic under the name "five shilas". It is a set of rules covering the whole philosophy of this school. Usually they are formed in a negative or prohibitive way. But the main precepts of Buddhism have a positive interpretation. Let's take a quick look at them to get an idea of what they are.
Five precepts of Buddhism
The rules should be considered comprehensively. A short phrase contains a little philosophy, which adheres to the supporters of the school. The precepts of Buddhism are not just a list of requirements. They are much deeper. We will first list them, and then we will study their prohibiting and allowing sides. The 5 precepts of Buddhism are:
- Thou sh alt not kill.
- Refusing to take what is not given.
- Prohibition of misconduct.
- Rejection of lies.
- Prohibition of alcohol and other drugs.
At first glance, the precepts of Buddhism are perceived negatively. They arethey talk about what you can’t do, because you won’t be able to achieve enlightenment. However, each of the five awls should be analyzed in detail to get to the bottom of it.
No killing
The commandments of Buddhism have another name - drachmas. In fact, this term refers to their reverse, positive, side. We have given the literal translation of the first commandment above. But she speaks not only of the prohibition of murder. Any violence is unacceptable for a Buddhist. The action taken by the master amplifies the energy many times over. If it is based on oppression or violence, it contributes to the spread of negativity in the world, which is unacceptable.
The other side of this Buddhist precept is practiced love. It is not enough to treat the surrounding people and phenomena well. Contemplation is not action. It leads to distortions, narcissism, if not worse. Love should be practiced, given to the universe contained in a particular person. For example, imagine a married couple having a silver wedding. All these years it never occurred to the husband to give his wife at least one flower. What for? According to the man, it is already clear that he is devoted to his wife. From the point of view of Buddhist ethics, such behavior is unreasonable. People, even close ones, are not obliged to understand us, thinking out the feelings that supposedly exist in the soul. Love should be demonstrated constantly in words and deeds.
Refusing to take what is not given
This doesn't just mean stealing. The commandments of the religion of Buddhism are muchdeeper. Any appropriation of what is not given voluntarily is prohibited. The fact is that in such an act there is an aggressive energy of deception. Her incarnation does not allow achieving the master's goal of becoming enlightened.
The other side of this commandment is generosity. The master is obliged to share with others what he has. And this should be done practically, and not just in the imagination. In real life, you can always find someone in need if you treat the world correctly. Generosity contributes to the perfection of the spirit only when it is constantly confirmed by deeds. Help a neighbor, friend, stranger, break a piece of bread in half to feed the hungry. You can’t stand aside if you are asked for something with words or even with a look. In addition, this principle implies the rejection of exploitation, the use of the fruits of other people's labor.
Prohibition of inappropriate sexual conduct
The five basic precepts of Buddhism are the rules developed in order to cleanse the soul of negativity. The prohibition against bad sexual behavior has been explained by the teacher in the sutras. There he said that he meant violence, adultery and kidnapping. Any of these actions leads to the generation of feelings of fear, disgust, horror, pain in the victim and her family.
For example, adultery by consent humiliates a woman's spouse. Rape and bonding with an underage girl cause pain to parents. It should be noted that in Buddhism marriage is not a sacrament, as in other religions. This is a voluntary association of people into a family,exclusive coercion.
Monogamy is practiced in some Buddhist communities, it is not forbidden. The positive side of the commandment is contentment. A person must accept his position without aggression. If there is no partner, be happy with it. We made a couple - love your soul mate, do not look for another person. It is necessary to achieve harmony in the state that it is at the moment.
Rejection of lies
This commandment intersects with the second one. Lies are rooted in passions. A person deceives when he experiences fear, hatred, envy, lust and similar negative feelings. Lies are used because the truth seems too complicated or disadvantageous. For example, a person is afraid to admit something, wants to take possession of what does not belong to him, outwit, hide the truth.
All this clearly demonstrates the lack of harmony in the soul, the imbalance in the mental state. The reverse side of the commandment is truthfulness. It probably doesn't need to be deciphered. You remember from the classics: "The truth is told easily and pleasantly." The Buddha agreed with this.
Prohibition of alcohol and other drugs
The last of the 5 precepts of Buddhism is the most obscure. Alcohol and drugs lead to loss of control or awareness. This is a bad state that causes distortions in the psyche, awakening uncontrolled passions.
But this commandment is interpreted differently. In some countries, drugs, including alcohol, are completely banned, in others they are allowed, but in limited quantities. It is important that the person does not lose control over the situation. Experts recommend that you decide on your own how to fulfill this instruction.
If the body does not give in to the influence of alcohol, then allow yourself it sometimes. Otherwise, it is better to lead a sober lifestyle in order to avoid the temptation of passions. The reverse, positive side of this drachma is mindfulness. Control over the situation, awareness, should not leave the master. It is necessary to strive for complete mastery of all aspects of existence. Without awareness or mindfulness, this is difficult, if not impossible.
Conclusion
The essence of Buddhist teaching lies in the kindness of the heart shown in behavior. These commandments are the stages of achieving such a state. They are easy to understand and easy to implement. If you decide to join this religion, you are likely to experience disruptions.
The practical implementation of philosophy stumbles upon passions hidden in the depths of the soul. But despair and retreat is not worth it. Know that we come into this world with a certain load. It consists of the desire for negative emotions and actions, in Hinduism it is called punishment. Our task is to transform this burden into pure and bright love. And what system of beliefs you will use is a personal matter. Mistakes and breakdowns are stages on the way to a great victory of the spirit. Good luck!
