Chapter 7: The Five Precepts: A Householder’s Guide to Daily Practice

Chapter 7

The Five Precepts:
A Householder’s Guide to Daily Practice

Gotama Buddha gave us guidance to conduct life without harm to other beings or ourselves. In his Teaching titled “The Five Precepts”, he provides some basic guidance that when learned and practiced, will significantly reduce the harm you are causing in the world.

These are not commandments nor rules to follow, rather how to ensure you are not causing harm to others or yourself. By causing harm to others, we cause harm to ourselves by The Natural Law of Kamma. Through practice of these precepts, you will drastically eliminate unwholesome Kamma production and, thus, experience a more peaceful and content existence. (More on “Kamma” in a later Chapter.)

It is The Eight Fold Path that completely and fully extinguishes all unwholesome Kamma through the production of only wholesome Kamma, but here in The Five Precepts, we gain more insight into Right Speech and Right Action to further help us understand The Eight Fold Path. Through making wholesome choices in our life, we will experience wholesome outcomes. Through making unwholesome choices in our life, we will experience unwholesome outcomes. It is always our choice of whether we choose to make decisions based on wholesome or unwholesome teachings and then we experience the results according to our choices.

Gotama Buddha’s Teachings are not to control an individual nor dictate what they should or should not do. But instead, provide guidance that when practiced, will lead to Enlightenment, liberation of the mind, a peaceful and content mind and, thus, a peaceful and content life. Everything in this practice is attained through personal free will choices.

The Five Precepts will not be a surprise for you as they are all things you have been taught your entire life. The Five Precepts are required as a minimum for realizing the benefits of Enlightenment. You can gradually train the mind towards practicing these Teachings more closely each day rather than feel that you need to make multiple drastic changes at one time. If you have in the past practiced these precepts or are currently doing any of these now, good. If not, you can change or slowly modify your conduct to still seek Enlightenment.

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1.) Abandoning the taking of life, refraining from taking life, without stick or sword, diligent, compassionate, trembling for the welfare of all living beings.

This is often translated in other writings as, “Do not kill or No killing or intentional taking of life”. As you can see here in this direct translation, we get much more details directly from Gotama Buddha himself. The final conclusion is, do not intentionally kill another being, human or animal. We should have compassion for all living beings.

There are three components that are needed to create a living being. An egg, sperm, and a consciousness (i.e. a mind). If these things are present, there is a living being.

Plants do not have a mind. While we may consider them as being “alive”, in some respects, they are not living beings. Bacteria are not a living being because they do not originate from an egg, sperm, nor have a consciousness. (This book series will share The Five Aggregates to help you understand what makes “a being, a being” based on this important Teaching.)

Euthanasia of a human or animal, termination of pregnancy, suicide, assisted suicide, capital punishment, attacking in war or any government sponsored killing, are all the intentional killing of another being. A person who is seeking Enlightenment or has attained Enlightenment, would not participate in intentions, speech, nor actions of these events. If you have conducted these actions in the past, that does not preclude you from pursuing and attaining Enlightenment. Putting the past behind us is important. Focus on the present moment to eliminate these actions.

Not being able to afford medical care to extend the life of a being, that if care is not administered would die, is not an intentional killing of that being. This is death that occurs by Kamma in that medical care could not be provided to extend the life of a dying being. There was no intentional action to kill the being and if the resources were available, the life of the being would have been saved. The being was not intentionally killed but instead died due to lack of resources. In a perfect world, the resources would have been available and the being would be saved.

If insects land on you, blow them off or take them off with a flick or swipe of the hand. If you unintentionally kill an insect or another being, you did not cause the intentional death of that being. This instead would be an accidental killing and not the result of a deliberate intention and action to kill the being.

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This precept is helping a Practitioner to cultivate loving-kindness and compassion in the mind to eliminate any anger, hatred, or ill will. If the mind is making decisions through anger, hatred, or ill will, those unwholesome qualities are going to produce unwholesome decisions resulting in unwholesome outcomes.

Notice this precept is not, “preserve all life at all costs”. That is not possible. So, what a Practitioner is doing through learning and practicing this precept is training the mind to live compassionately with concern for the welfare of all living beings.

Suicide

Craving is the fuel that causes rebirth. Craving or desire to end one’s life is a “craving for the extermination of life”. Suicide will not resolve a person’s discontent mind as they will be reborn into a new existence with discontentedness and suffering continuing in The Cycle of Rebirth. They will most likely not be reborn back into the human realm and require many rebirths in other realms of existence to potentially once again obtain the human state, for a new chance to attain Enlightenment.

It is possible to attain Enlightenment during this life or at the time of natural death, if one has eliminated craving which includes extinguishing 100% of their unwholesome Kamma. If a person experiences 100% of their unwholesome Kamma in this human existence (to experience natural death without craving for the extermination of life), they have the ability to attain Enlightenment at death and escape The Cycle of Rebirth. If a person has craving to exterminate their life, they have not extinguished craving 100% and will be reborn. A person who works towards extinguishing all craving and experiences 100% of their unwholesome Kamma, will not be reborn to experience life in a new existence.

Avoiding natural death is a craving for the extermination of life and will continue the suffering of a person for countless more rebirths.

Obtaining the human state is extremely rare and should not be wasted. A being who has a desire to end their life should learn and practice these Teachings while in this current human form to attain Enlightenment which would eliminate the desire to end one’s life through wholesome practices that train the mind. Suicidal thoughts can be eliminated through learning and practicing these Teachings. Enlightenment is the only permanent solution to end all discontentedness of the mind and the suffering it causes.

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Defense and Protection

There may come a time in life where you need to defend the body from an attacker. Should you find the body in this situation, it is understandable if the decision is to defend against bodily harm in that immediate moment to protect the body or the safety of those around you.

However, keep in mind that there are many choices and decisions that can be made each day to ensure we do not find ourselves in a situation where the body is attacked. Having a well developed mind and purity of mind is your first line of defense and protects the body from negative events and experiences (i.e. unwholesome Kamma).

If the body is being attacked due to your speech or actions, that is Kamma and due to your speech and actions, another person has chosen to attack the body. To avoid this, practice The Eight Fold Path as your “life practice” to extinguish all unwholesome Kamma production.

If you find yourself in an unprovoked attack and you can get away to avoid the situation, you should. A person with no ego would have no interest to stand and fight for the sake of fighting, but instead, would prioritize safety of the physical body to continue life over protection of the ego. However, removing the body from the situation is not always possible. If you need to defend the body in that immediate moment to be safe, you can.

If there is a way for you to defend against bodily harm without killing the attacker, that would be best but not always possible. Defend the body with as little harm to another being as possible while ensuring the body is safe and protected. Do not prolong the defense and only apply as much force as required to provide for your immediate safety and the safety of those around you.

Consuming Animal Products - Vegan

Gotama Buddha was supposedly asked about whether it is important for the Ordained Practitioners to be vegan during his lifetime. It is rumored that his reply was in the line of, the intentional killing or action of killing of an animal is done by another being and that person is producing the unwholesome Kamma. Gotama Buddha explained how as an Ascetic, they must accept whatever is given to them and not show a preference.

Gotama Buddha did include in his Eight Fold Path the “wrong livelihoods” of “business in living beings and business in meat” so he understood the massive amount of unwholesome Kamma produced through these activities, which we are currently seeing the results of today. He encouraged us not to

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participate in these livelihoods as a way to sustain our life and if everyone practiced these Teachings, there would be no meat to eat.

You can also see in his very First Precept his Teachings are that we should practice “Abandoning the taking of life, refraining from taking life, without stick or sword, diligent, compassionate, trembling for the welfare of all living beings.”. Gotama Buddha taught that no one should kill a living being as this produces unwholesome Kamma. Any harm caused will be returned to us through The Natural Law of Kamma.

There are no contradictions in Gotama Buddha’s Teachings. Based on his central Teachings and guidance, we should practice Right Livelihood by not having business in living beings and business in meats. One should practice The First Precept of not killing living beings, living compassionately, and concerned for their welfare.

A Practitioner should also practice The Second Precept of not stealing as taking a life for consumption of meat or use of animal products is stealing. The being did not give permission for use of its flesh or other parts of its body. So, to take what is not given would be harmful to that being and, thus, harmful to you

Gotama Buddha taught to have loving-kindness and compassion for all beings. How could one practice loving-kindness and compassion for all beings while eating another being?

We can understand that the rumor shared in some Buddhist communities that eating meat does not cause any unwholesome Kamma “is untrue”, and it can be considered “just a rumor”. Gotama Buddha understood the effects of killing living beings and the harm it would cause for those living beings and, thus, that harm would be returned to us as we are witnessing today.

Someone that is practicing these Teachings and may be interested to practice them very closely, will choose to be a vegetarian or vegan to progress towards Enlightenment. Being vegan will provide the mind more clarity as the body will be free of the harmful drugs, hormones, toxins, and emotions of the animal found in the flesh of an animal and animal by- products. There is unwholesome Kamma associated with eating animal products and that is returned to you through the unwholesome animal products which is loaded with drugs, toxins, and emotions of fear the animal experienced at the time of death.

There is enormously more unwholesome Kamma associated with eating animal flesh now than during the lifetime of Gotama Buddha due to the toxic substances found in animal flesh that is ingested by you if you choose to eat

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animal products. Additionally, to produce animal products like eggs, milk, cheese, leather, etc., it creates an environment where massive numbers of animals suffer to provide humans these products. Animals are being trapped in the animal realm. These beings cannot be reborn to take human form for the opportunity to attain Enlightenment as long as humans are attached to producing animals and animal products for their use and consumption.

Animal products are not required to sustain human life. Proteins and other important nutritional value humans obtain from eating animal products can be ingested through plant-based products. Viewing food as merely a substance that is needed to sustain the body can help to eliminate the attachment to wanting to taste flavors of certain foods. Instead view food as just a requirement to sustain life rather than something that you “want" to please the tongue through certain flavors although there are plenty of foods you can enjoy that are plant-based foods. What we ingest into the body is to nourish and sustain “the body”, not to please “the mind”.

Eliminating the attachment to the “sensual pleasure” of the tongue can help you gradually eliminate the craving/desire/attachment to animal products.

By not eating animal products, you can find joy in knowing that your eating habits are not causing harm to another being and you will benefit from the healthy effects of a plant-based food supply. A Practitioner may need to investigate using a B12 supplement as part of moving to a plant-based food supply. There are only a limited number of plants that have B12 and this vitamin is needed by the human body.

The important Teaching here is do not intentionally kill another being while having compassion for all living beings. If we are eating animal flesh and/or using animal products, how could we have compassion for all living beings?

Gotama Buddha, as an Ascetic, could not choose his food. As Householders, we can choose our food and choose what we offer to Ascetics. Choosing a vegan lifestyle is a choice to do no harm to other beings.

If you have compassion for “all living beings”, as explained in this precept, you will not have a desire to consume or use animal products as your personal choice. One aspect of progressing to Enlightenment is to develop loving-kindness and compassion for all living beings. How could a Practitioner have loving-kindness and compassion for all living beings if they are eating a living being?

As with all these Teachings, you can gradually train the mind to move in this direction.

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All beings that exist today have experienced countless rebirths in multiple forms including countless animal rebirths. Gotama Buddha explained that it would be difficult to find a being in existence that has not previously been our mother, father, sister, brother, or some other relative in a past existence. Eating animal products that promotes the killing of animals can be considered as killing your relatives and ingesting their flesh. We should have loving-kindness and compassion for all beings.

Today, many people who practice these Teachings closely are vegetarian or vegan. You can understand through “Kamma” that the massive production of animal products around the world has created massive amounts of unwholesome Kamma for the world through an unwholesome environment.

Just like accepting a possession that was stolen by another person could cause you harm, accepting animal flesh that has been killed by another person will still cause you harm. The fact that another person has killed the living being does not protect you or the environment from the harmful effects of producing and ingesting the animal products.

Producing animal products has left the environment around us in drastically poor health. Consuming animal products on an individual level is causing cancers and other bodily illnesses to humans. Through the growing, preparing, packaging, transportation, and selling of animal products, there is a massive amount of harm being done to the planet’s environment.

It is well understood that in order to bring our world’s environment into a more healthy existence, humans will need to transition to plant-based foods. As a result of not killing or causing the suffering to a tremendous amount of animals, we generate wholesome Kamma. Our planet is more healthy and our individual body and mind is more healthy.

By consuming animal products, it does cause harm to animals, to our environment, and to ourselves individually. That harm will be returned to us through an unhealthy planet and effects on our individual health. It is best to not consume animal products as this will ensure a healthy body, a healthy mind, and a healthy planet. You will notice the body and the mind function better when you only consume plant-based foods.

In addition to eliminating the action of killing another being, this precept also relates to the cultivation of deep compassion for all beings. Your practice of not consuming animal products will bring you into more harmony with all beings and a healthy planet, while eliminating the unwholesome Kamma that affects the planet and you individually.

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Do Not Resuscitate (DNR)

With the modern advances in medical treatments with the ability to prolong or extend one’s life, it is common for people to make a conscious decision to put in place a “Do Not Resuscitate (DNR)” prior to natural death.

A DNR is a document that a person signs to ensure that if they die, they are not brought back to life through modern medical advances. A DNR is not an active intentional killing.

A DNR means, the human being is already dead and they are not interested in going to extreme measures to bring them back to life.

They are perfectly content with dying and have chosen to do so naturally, without artificial ways of bringing them back to life.

A DNR is not euthanasia. These are two different things.

A DNR is choosing not to be brought back to life after one has already died.

Euthanasia is an active decision to take a life, that is killing.

2.) Abandoning the taking of what is not given, living purely, accepting what is given, awaiting what is given, without stealing.

This precept is exactly what you think it is and have, potentially, been taught your entire life. Do not steal or take what does not belong to you. This would cause harm to others and is morally not the proper way to conduct a wholesome life. Stealing will cause harm to others which will cause harm to us and means there is still craving and desire.

Accepting What is Given

In a society of people who practice generosity, oftentimes people will make generous offerings of food, supplies, money, or gifts. “Accepting what is given” is to accept all offerings without expectation or judgment. By accepting an offering made by others, we are not blocking the wholesome intentions of another being while being open to allow all people to practice generosity.

If an offering is made, one should accept the offering graciously without expectation or judgment of the offering or the person making the offering.

If we reject an offering made by another person, we are shutting down their opportunity to practice generosity. This will harm their wholesome practice of

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generosity and harm your relationship with that person. If you block someone from making an offering to you by not accepting what they offer, there is a good chance they will experience painful feelings associating that with you, rather than their own craving/desire/attachment, and then choose to no longer make you offerings or perhaps distance themselves from you entirely by ending the relationship.

If someone offers you something that you know you will not use, it is fine to accept the offering and then at some point, through practicing generosity, give this item to someone else. Eventually, the item will find a home with someone who can use the item. In the meantime, the item has gone through multiple hands of individuals who benefited from practicing generosity and ultimately ended up with someone who could truly use the item. Rather than the item going to waste in your possession as the mind just “holds on” thinking that you cannot “let go” of this item through giving it to someone else, giving the item to someone else means that it can be put to good use and used for beneficial purposes.

There is no harm in giving away items that have been given to you. The person who gave you the gift should have done so out of the kindness of their heart without any expectations of what you will or will not do with the gift.

A practice of generosity should come without any expectations of what the receiver of the gift will or will not do with the item. If the person who gave the gift is hurt by you giving it to someone else, this was caused by their mind’s own expectations. They caused their own discontentedness through having expectations of what you should or should not do with the gift. That means they did not give the gift without expectations and caused their own discontentedness due to not practicing pure generosity as found in these Teachings.

Awaiting What Is Given

We should also not ask for possessions, gifts, or wealth from others. Gotama Buddha shares with us in this Precept “awaiting what is given”. In this way, he is providing guidance that helps us to eliminate craving and desire which is the cause of all discontentedness.

Having craving and desire to obtain more and more possessions, gifts, or wealth, etc., will have a direct effect on your own mind by causing it discontentedness, and will affect others by placing obligations and expectations of delivery of the requested items. If those items cannot be provided, it can cause stress in the relationship and a discontent mind for anyone involved. The request for possessions, gifts, or wealth can create

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expectations. Expectations are a form of attachment which will lead to a discontent mind.

If we ask another being for help, it should not be because we “want” something but because we “need” help. We should not place undue obligations and burdens on another person.

3.) Abandoning un-chastity. Abandoning sexual relations with women [men] who are protected by their mother, father, mother and father, brother, sister, or relatives; who are protected by their Teachings; who have a husband [wife or partner]; whose violation entails a penalty; or even with one who has been garlanded by a man [woman or partner] as a sign of engagement.

This is often translated in other writings as “no sexual misconduct”. As you can see here, the sexual conduct that is suggested to abstain from involves sexual actions that would cause harm to other beings.

• Sex with minors.
• Sex without consent.
• Sex with multiple partners (i.e. un-chastity).
• Sex while living in the home of relatives and while still being guided in life by relatives. (If relatives have accepted a committed relationship and allow you to co-habitat in their home, they have accepted the committed relationship and understand sexual contact is part of your relationship.)
• Sex with someone who has previously decided to remain celibate.
• Sex with people who are already committed in other relationships.
• Sex outside any relationships you are committed to and pledged to be faithful.

Based on other Teachings of Gotama Buddha, this would also be included as harmful sexual conduct.

• Sex with people that are human trafficked.

Un-chastity would be to have constant and continuous casual sexual relationships without an interest or goal for a committed and loyal relationship.

Chastity would be to have a loyal and committed relationship where the goal, objective, or interest is a long term relationship while having sexual intercourse as part of the relationship.

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Marriage is not a requirement for sexual intercourse but, through practicing as described in this precept, it will ensure one does not cause harm through their sexual contact and thus, does not experience harm due to their sexual contact.

Sexual intercourse is not wrong or immoral. It should be conducted in a way that does not cause harm to yourself nor others. You can enjoy sexual contact and attain the first two Stages of Enlightenment. This would require you to participate in sexual contact without extensive craving/desire/ attachment, having sexual contact in a committed relationship.

To attain the highest two Stages of Enlightenment, you will need to eliminate sexual contact which is a “sensual desire”. To achieve this objective, you would need training of the mind to reduce and then eliminate the craving for sexual contact or this “sensual desire”.

If you have or do not have sexual activity, can the mind still maintain contentedness? You should not be attached to sexual activity but rather enjoy it as needed until you have made a decision to gradually reduce or eliminate your craving for sexual contact to attain the two highest stages of Enlightenment.

If you are attached to sexual contact, there will be extensive craving and desire that leads to potential harmful actions and results including discontentedness. If attachment to sexual contact exists, the mind will be discontent if you do not have sexual contact. A mind that is pursuing Enlightenment can enjoy sexual contact or not, and still be content. And at some point, make the effort to reduce or eliminate sexual contact, if you choose to attain the two highest stages of Enlightenment.

When or if you choose to eliminate sexual contact and have a partner at that time, it would be wise to discuss your decision with them so that you are both in agreement to gradually eliminate sexual contact. You will need to consider your partners’ thoughts and then ultimately come to a decision based on what is in your best interest while choosing not to cause harm to others.

It is important that you have responsible sexual contact. If there is a life conceived as part of your sexual contact, you need to accept responsibility for your role as a parent from conception, to birth, through complete natural life. Termination of a pregnancy is killing another being and, thus, unwholesome Kamma would be produced that affects you as a result of this action. This is mentioned in the First Precept.

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Sexual conduct is particularly emotional and sensitive with the potential to cause grave harm if not conducted with the purest of intentions.

If this is a precept you have not practiced closely in the past or present, it does not mean you cannot attain Enlightenment. It means that you need to bring your actions closer to practicing this precept so that you can continue your walk towards Enlightenment.

Multiple Partners

Having multiple sexual partners at the same time is “un-chastity”, whether known and approved by all parties or not, this would create unwholesome Kamma resulting in the potential of sexually transmitted diseases and harm to others. To have multiple partners, one will oftentimes need to lie causing much stress and anxiety. Arguments, fights, financial ruin and even murder have resulted from decisions to have multiple partners. These are the unwholesome results of the unwholesome decision to have multiple partners.

Even in situations where partners have agreed to allowing multiple partners in a relationship, this produces distrust and lack of closeness where partners are oftentimes experiencing internal conflicts affecting their ability to maintain a trusting and loving relationship through practicing loyalty in a relationship.

To reduce unwholesome results (i.e. unwholesome Kamma), humans will need to have a long term committed relationship with only one (1) partner.

Human beings are most often reborn from the animal realm. Our craving/ desire to have multiple partners is a behavior that comes from our countless animal existences and the ego. The Path to Enlightenment is a path to becoming more and more human. Choosing to have trusting, loving, and loyal relationships will produce the best results in this human existence and a Practitioner may need to actively train their mind to develop their life practice towards seeing this as beneficial to their life and peace of mind.

Paid Sexual Services

There is significant dilemma in having a “temporary sexual relationship” that requires payment. There is unwholesome Kamma associated with “paid sexual services” due to several aspects and nature of the temporary relationship.

As Gotama Buddha explains, humans need to “abandon un-chastity”.

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Having several partners outside of an established, long term, committed relationship for a sexual worker and/or a customer would result in significant unwholesome Kamma. You should not pay for sexual services nor offer sexual services for payment as there is unwholesome Kamma associated with this temporary sexual relationship for the customer and sexual worker.

In a “temporary pay for service” sexual encounter, there is sexual contact outside of an established, long term, committed relationship. Due to the temporary nature of the encounter, the sexual worker and customer are not in an established, long term, committed relationship. The sexual worker could be a minor, human trafficked, and either party the sexual worker or customer could have sexually transmitted diseases.

The sexually transmitted diseases, guilt, and shame are the unwholesome Kamma production for both the customer and sexual worker - this is the “effect”. The “cause” of the sexually transmitted diseases, guilt, or shame is the un-chastity, having sexual contact outside of a committed relationship.

Prostitution promotes “un-chastity” and generates unwholesome Kamma for the sexual worker and the customer which is observable in the effects through The Natural Law of Kamma in the potential for sexually transmitted diseases, shame, guilt, and loss of a wholesome reputation that can affect personal and professional relationships

Providing money to a partner in an established, long term, committed relationship to sustain their life, is not a “temporary sexual relationship” and is not considered paid sexual services. An established, long term, committed relationship, is in an effort to develop a lasting loving relationship and the money offered to this partner is a practice of generosity.

Humans should have sexual contact only in an established, long term, committed relationship to ensure no harm, and thus no unwholesome Kamma production through sexual contact.

Same Sex Partners

It is important to note that there is no Teaching that sex with the same gender (same sex relationships) would preclude someone from pursing Enlightenment. There are people that prefer same sex relationships who have earned Enlightenment.

It is shared in The Pāli Canon that Gotama Buddha was well aware of people born into a male body whose mind does not identify with masculine qualities. He also discussed people born into a female body whose mind do not identify with feminine qualities. Yet, he never taught sexual contact

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between people of the same gender would preclude one from pursuing and attaining Enlightenment.

Our sexual identity is our own sexual identity and our own decision. What is important is to ensure there is no harm in the conduct of our sexual activity. Two loving consenting adults who are loyal and faithful to each other that happen to be the same gender are causing no harm to others through their relationship and personal choice for sexual contact. If you are not causing harm with your sexual contact, there is no unwholesome Kamma production. Therefore, as you learn and practice this precept to understand Enlightenment, you will come to know that relationships of the same gender cause no harm to others. People who would like to seek Enlightenment and maintain a loving relationship with the same gender can do so while pursuing Enlightenment.

Sexual activity is a pleasurable and natural part of life. It is not wrong and does not need to be avoided. What needs to be avoided is unwholesome sexual practices as described in this important precept that would cause harm to other beings.

To attain Enlightenment as a Non-Returner or Arahant, one would need to eliminate “sensual desire” which includes sexual contact.

Transgender

During Gotama Buddha’s lifetime, he shared with Students that he observed people who are born into male bodies, when the mind does not identify with masculine qualities. He mentioned that there are people who are born into female bodies, who do not identify with feminine qualities.

But that is all he says.

He just makes the observation and shares what he observed with his Students. He never says anything else about the topic.

If one understands The Cycle of Rebirth, in that we have all been countless beings in the past of various species and various genders, it is completely understandable that a body and mind coming together right now in this human form do not necessarily match in gender.

Meaning, the body can be of one gender and the mind may identify with a different gender. This is completely normal. It is a normal part of life.

Additionally, for one who understands The Universal Truth of Impermanence, it is completely normal and understandable that not every single human born

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with male sexual organs is going to identify with masculine qualities, and not every single human that is born with female sexual organs is going to identify with feminine qualities.

This is completely normal and matches exactly with what Gotama Buddha taught on the topic of The Universal Truth of Impermanence.

Gotama Buddha had nothing to teach on this subject other than make the observation and share that observation because, it is completely normal.

There is no Teaching that anything is wrong or that one should have negative feelings towards a human being whose mind does not identify with the sexual organs of the physical body.

Gotama Buddha taught to love “all beings”, have compassion for “all beings”, to be polite to “all beings”, to be kind to “all beings”, to be friendly to “all beings”, and to be respectful to “all beings”.

There is no one or nothing that we should hate or have anger towards

Those whose mind and body do not identify with the same gender, those who prefer same gender relationships, those who prefer opposite gender relationships, and those who prefer no life partner at all, are “all” the same.

Completely normal.

We are all “human beings” and the more we love and care for one another, the world only gets better and better.

Masturbation

Masturbation is sometimes thought of as immoral. That is not true as one who masturbates is not causing harm to other beings through the self pleasing sensual pleasure. Gotama Buddha’s Teachings are about not harming other beings, thus, masturbation has nothing to do with another being and you are not causing harm with this conduct.

Masturbation is a practice that can be used to thin your sexual craving so that you can ultimately eliminate the craving for sexual contact if you choose. The highest stages of Enlightenment require “thinning” or “eliminating” “sensual desire” which includes sexual contact with a partner.

Masturbation can be used to gradually train the mind to reduce or eliminate the sensual desire of sexual contact with a partner.

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Excessive masturbation can be destructive to your own mind as the craving for sensual desire will cause a discontent mind and one should work to eliminate this craving as they progress closer to Enlightenment.

To attain the highest two stages of Enlightenment, masturbation would need to be extinguished to eliminate the “fetter/taint/pollution” of “sensual desire”.

Sex with Animals

Animals and humans are not meant to closely interact and doing so creates environments in which humans are able to be easily exposed to illnesses that cause significant harm.

A sexual relationship is meant to be between two loyal consenting human adults. If a human being were to choose to have sexual contact with an animal, this would cause harm to the animal and thus, will cause harm to humans. A Practitioner who chooses to practice these Teachings closely would not choose to have sexual contact with any animals but only through loving, loyal, and consenting adult relationships.

Pornography

Pornography did not exist during the lifetime of The Buddha. There was no technology to capture pornographic images and to allow the mind to indulge in viewing pornography at its own leisure.

Viewing pornography mostly harms one’s own mind and because of that, it can also harm one’s relationships with a partner, friends, family, etc., along with impacting one’s social interactions.

Some partners consider viewing pornography as “cheating” and they feel one is being unfaithful, therefore, it can impact one’s relationship by degrading of a partner’s trust and confidence in you and the relationship. There are relationships that have been ended due to one’s indulgence in viewing pornography.

If an individual is secretive in their actions, The Buddha discusses this as being unwholesome. If we are conducting ourselves with good wholesome moral conduct, there is no need to be secretive in our actions. So if we are being secretive about certain things we do, such as pornography, we can understand that this is unwholesome and the mind knows it and is why it’s being secretive in its actions. Therefore, the mind becomes conflicted with its choice of unwholesome moral conduct and oftentimes experiences the painful feelings of guilt and shame associated with viewing pornography.

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This guilt and shame is discontentedness that is caused due to the mind’s craving/desire/attachment to pornographic material.

Additionally, there can be challenges for an individual who is addicted to pornography in that they will find it difficult to relate to others in wholesome ways, becoming socially awkward with anxiety in social settings. When in the presence of others, the mind can be obsessed with pornographic images due to the addiction and they find that relating to others in wholesome ways, through interactive conversations and finding a true “human connection”, can oftentimes be difficult as the mind struggles to develop real life connections.

Because the mind is so hooked (i.e. attached) to pornography and the images viewed, the individual can find it difficult to experience meaningful human interactions because they lack the human experience of intimacy through human interactions but instead, have relegated themselves to viewing of pornographic material. The intimacy the mind craves/desires is being thwarted (i.e. prevented) because the mind gradually slips into its own world of viewing pornography losing its ability to comfortably interact with a partner who would be able to provide the intimacy that the mind craves/desires.

Pornography is like a self sabotaging activity, in that, the mind truly craves/desires intimacy but the more it drowns itself in pornography, it takes itself away from and loses the ability to experience the closeness it craves with a true real life partner.

Rather than directing one’s sexual energy towards pornography, if one developed their life practice and channeled their desire for intimacy towards a real partner, they could more readily satisfy the craving/desire for intimacy rather than allowing the mind to dwell in a fantasy world that is never real or fully satisfying.

Even in emerging from a pornography addiction, the mind can struggle because the real life experiences with a partner seem to never live up to those experienced in the fantasy world of pornography. Therefore, again, the mind is self sabotaging in that the mind is dwelling in an unrealistic world that cannot become real, and even when the mind moves towards true love and intimacy with a partner, the mind can feel as if something is missing, thus, the mind still craves/desires the pornography.

It’s like a downward spiral that can only be resolved through the elimination of craving/desire/attachment to pornography such that, the mind can “let go” of pornography seeing it as part of the problem, not the solution to its

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lack of intimacy. And, that continued viewing of pornography would only further dilute the mind creating constant difficulties and struggles.

For all cravings/desires/attachments, there are skillful means to employ that gradually eliminates the craving and moves the mind in a healthy direction.

But to be successful, the Practitioner needs to be dedicated to elimination of pornography and be committed to training the mind to “let it go”. This is typically accomplished over a gradual period of time as the mind will be most comfortable to let go of craving/desire/attachment gradually. Working directly with a professional or Buddhist Teacher who understands how to accomplish the goal to eliminate a pornography addiction through skillful means would be required so that the mind can move closer to Enlightenment through the elimination of this craving/desire/attachment.

The mind oftentimes lacks self-discipline to eliminate this on its own and will need to reach out for personal guidance to learn and actively practice methods that are known to work to eliminate the obsession.

Allowing the mind to indulge in viewing pornography is based on craving/ desire/attachment. It is due to the mind’s craving/desire for pleasant feelings through the eyes and often includes masturbation, craving/desiring for pleasant feelings through the body.

The mind views the physical body of others as attractive and is looking for gratification to please the senses and longs/yearns for pleasant feelings in the mind.

It is the same issue that all unEnlightened minds experience in that the mind continues to chase after pleasant feelings, seeking the objects of its affection, wanting to cling to pleasant feelings.

Those pleasant feelings are temporary and when they fade away, the mind is typically left with painful feelings of guilt, shame, boredom, loneliness, etc. It is the same cycle the mind experiences with all cravings/desires/attachments.

The mind thinks that it is the next new shining object around the corner that is going to bring it permanent and lasting fulfillment, but the mind is never satisfied and keeps chasing after the objects of its affection (i.e. pornography) never being permanently satisfied because the mind keeps craving, and craving, and craving until it is trained otherwise.

Just like all cravings/desires/attachments, a Practitioner will need to gradually train the mind to eliminate the craving/desire for pornography

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through training the mind to eliminate the fetter/taint/pollution of mind described as “sensual desire” in The Ten Fetters.

There are specialized meditations and specific training that is offered to help the mind eliminate this craving/desire/attachment.

To attain Enlightenment, a Practitioner will need to eliminate pornography from their life practice. As long as this craving/desire/attachment exists in the mind, a Practitioner will not experience liberation, peace, freedom from strong feelings, Enlightenment.

The individual choosing to participate in pornography is harming themselves through their own decision to participate in pornography.

To sustain one’s life on business in living beings is part of “wrong livelihood” as described in Chapter 5 of this book and would oftentimes require multiple sexual partners, thus, leading to harm.

A person who chooses to work in the pornographic industry will have multiple consequences and effects (i.e. Kamma) as a result of their choice to sustain their life through creating pornographic content. There is oftentimes guilt and shame the individual experiences as a result of this work. Additionally, there can be difficulties related to relationships and social interactions as described in this section. There can be a degrading of one’s reputation and even sexually transmitted diseases as a result of this “wrong livelihood” and not practicing this Precept closely.

The choice for an individual to view the pornographic material is providing the financial support and other means for this harm to occur but, that is not a direct harm. If the individual did not choose to participate in the pornographic industry, they would not receive the harm. So it is the individual’s choice to participate in the pornographic industry that creates the direct harm.

The harm caused by the customer/viewer is more of an indirect harm but that would not occur for the other individual if they had not chosen to participate in the pornography profession as their livelihood.

It is the individual’s choice to base their livelihood on pornography that is causing them harm. And, it is the viewer’s choice to view pornography that is causing them harm.

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4.) Abandoning false speech, refraining from false speech, a truth-speaker, one to be relied on, trustworthy, dependable, not a deceiver of the world.

This is often translated as “Do not lie”. That is correct and most of us have been taught this our entire life. There is further and deeper meaning here in this precept.

Through having false speech, one is not a truth-speaker, cannot be relied on, is not trustworthy or dependable, and is a deceiver of the world.

Through practicing only speaking the truth, one is a truth-speaker, one to be relied on, trustworthy, dependable, and well received in the world.

Not only is it wise to speak the truth, in terms of, not telling a deliberate lie but also, it is important to verify the accuracy so that all you share through communication is 100% true. Whether you are speaking, writing, or otherwise communicating in any way, ensuring that you have independently verified what you share with others will ensure the best possible outcomes and the mind can be at ease knowing that what you share is accurate and the truth. Propagating untruths, conspiracy theories, or otherwise unfounded content will only create harm in the world, therefore, it will produce unwholesome results for you. Where you can talk through your own direct experience, this will ensure you are speaking the truth, not only by not telling a deliberate lie, but also ensuring all that is communicated is accurate and based in wisdom.

Through practicing this precept closely, one comes to develop a reputation that they only speak the truth and can be looked to as a leader in their family, career, and/or community leading to wholesome results in your personal and professional life.

We should not gossip, slander, lie, or talk with deceit. While most countries have freedom of speech laws, having false speech and the freedom to do it under the law does not mean it is correct, proper, or wholesome. It can cause harm to others if speech is untruthful and, therefore, will cause harm to you. Just because you are following the law regarding speech, does not mean you have a pure mind and will earn Enlightenment.

It is important to engage in wholesome and purposeful speech that does not harm others. (See “Right Speech” as part of The Eight Fold Path for more details on Speech.)

Gotama Buddha understood Kamma so well and the need to speak the truth, he did not even lie as part of a joke as any lying will cause harm.

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We can use this Teaching from Gotama Buddha to help us make wise choices in our personal and professional relationships. If one is deliberately lying, there is no evil that they would not do.

A significant aspect of learning and progressing on The Path to Enlightenment is to have wholesome friends and associates. Through developing wholesome relationships, a Practitioner will have a tendency to practice wholesome qualities of mind. The converse can also be said that if one chooses to surround themselves with unwholesome friends and associates, a Practitioner will have a tendency to practice unwholesome qualities of mind.

While not judging nor looking down upon others, you may consider that if someone is lying in your relationship, this is an indication that there is no evil that they would not do, and you will need to consider whether it is wise for you to maintain a personal or professional relationship with this person.

5.) Refraining from strong drink and sloth-producing drugs (substances that cause heedlessness), the basis for heedlessness.

This precept is often translated as “Do not take intoxicants”. The purpose of pursuing Enlightenment is to clarify and purify the mind. If we take substances with the “intention” to become “heedless”, this only complicates the process towards Enlightenment as you will find it difficult to observe the true mind and you will lack “Right Mindfulness” or awareness of mind.

Being heedless with alcohol, drugs, or other substances, either legal or illegal, does not promote a mind that is on a path to become clean, clear, and pure.

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The meaning of “heedlessness” is: careless, thoughtless, inattentive, un- calm, unaware, or unmindful.

If one chooses to become heedless, they are more likely to not practice the other four (4) precepts and all the other Teachings that are needed to experience Enlightenment. This means that when one is heedless, they are more likely to kill, steal, commit sexual misconduct, or have false speech causing untold amounts of unwholesome Kamma.

Therefore, this precept is very important, and anyone interested to attain Enlightenment should deeply consider whether substances that cause heedlessness is helping or hurting them on the journey to a peaceful, calm, serene, and content mind with joy.

Based on the negative effects these substances have on the body and the mind, if you view them as “poison”, this can assist you in your training to eliminate these substances. There is no wholesome purpose to ingest substances that cause heedlessness; so “why do it”?

Gotama Buddha could not have envisioned all the various substances that would be invented after his death. So, he used language that is timeless.

With the understanding that the goal is to purify the mind, developing awareness of mind, and that substances that cause “heedlessness” would detract from this goal, one could easily apply this precept 2,500 years ago, now, or 10,000 years from now. These Teachings are timeless and when one understands the true goal of the guidance of Gotama Buddha, they can apply effort towards improving their life practice to experience the results of an Enlightened mind.

While there are many substances in the world that cause heedlessness, let’s explore some of the more common substances to help you understand application of this precept into your daily life. Any and all substances that cause heedlessness should be avoided to produce a mind that is fully aware practicing Right Mindfulness and has developed Right Concentration.

Marijuana

Marijuana is a substance that has recently been known to provide significant medical benefits for patients. An individual consuming marijuana for medical purpose and not for the sake of “heedlessness” would be practicing this precept properly. Only you know your true and real intention in using marijuana. If you are ingesting it for heedlessness, you will not be able to

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attain Enlightenment because you will lack the ability to have “Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration”.

A person who is ingesting marijuana for medical purposes would most likely be interested in looking for versions of this plant that have a low level of THC and a high concentration of CBD. Research shows that THC effects the mind and causes heedlessness, while CBD contains the properties of this plant that are beneficial for medical purposes. You should consult experts in this field for guidance on how to best benefit from the medical qualities of this plant and avoid any potential effects that would cause heedlessness.

Keep in mind that smoking marijuana versus another form of ingesting this substance, can cause harm to the lungs much like cigarettes. This is unwholesome Kamma in that the action is “smoking the substance” with the result being “damage to the lungs”.

There are ways to ingest medical marijuana that could provide medical benefits without the harmful effects of smoking marijuana or other forms of ingesting that is harmful to the body.

Stress and anxiety are not a medical reason for ingesting marijuana. The marijuana is masking the stress and anxiety, not getting to the root of the problem which is craving/desire/attachment. Stress and anxiety are discontentedness, and craving/desire/attachment is the cause of discontentedness. Through training the mind, one can uproot the conditions that are causing the stress and anxiety permanently eradicating these from the mind, rather than the continuous ingesting of a substance that hinders the mind from observing its true nature, and address the source of the stress and anxiety which is craving/desire/attachment - the untrained and unEnlightened mind.

Through training the mind to attain Enlightenment absent of marijuana, stress, anxiety, and all other discontent feelings can be eliminated allowing the mind to reside peaceful and calm. But if one continues to turn to marijuana to push down the stress and anxiety, then they aren’t addressing the true problem and will be dependent on this substance throughout their life. These Teachings provide the remedy to a discontent mind, not marijuana.

Cigarettes

Cigarettes are a craving and attachment that will cause the body to be harmed, and can harm others through second hand smoke. Smoking causes unwholesome Kamma for you, and you can observe this through harm to the body. When you smoke, it does harm to the body, shortens your life

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expectancy and, thus, limits the amount of time you have in this existence to attain Enlightenment and escape The Cycle of Rebirth.

If you are smoking near others, you are causing harm to them through the inhalation of second hand smoke.

To attain Enlightenment, all craving must be extinguished including the craving and attachment to cigarettes. You will need to find a way to train the mind to eliminate this unwholesome craving so that you can attain a clear and content mind while eliminating this craving.

Prescription Medications

There are various medications that if used outside the temporary use prescribed can become an addiction and habit that produces heedlessness. It is important that a Practitioner look closely at any prescription medications they ingest and ensure they are being used for their intended purpose and not through long term addiction to heedlessness.

Caffeine

Caffeine, while legal, is a drug and stimulant that is abused worldwide. Caffeine is a substance that causes heedlessness and should be avoided.

This drug contributes to anxiety, depression, loneliness, boredom, and other unwelcomed emotions that affects the ability to practice “Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration” to attain Enlightenment. Let me explain…

When one ingests caffeine, it provides a stimulant that produces excitement, energy, and pleasure (pleasant feelings). It also helps to speed up the mind and oftentimes contributes to racing thoughts and emotions. Anxiety and rapid thoughts will usually follow the ingesting of caffeine. The more caffeine ingested, the more noticeable the effects. While one might say that is the desired effect, the condition of the mind can become so intense, it is hard to focus and have “Right Mindfulness or Right Concentration”.

As the effects of the caffeine start to diminish, just like with all drugs, there can be withdrawal symptoms that include headaches, limbs shaking, emptiness of mind, dry mouth, aggressiveness, and other conditions.

The mind adapts to the pleasurable feelings of caffeine and will often “crave” this substance regularly giving us the feeling that we can’t conduct our daily activities without it. We become “hooked” or “addicted” just like the potential with all other drugs and stimulants.

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With repeated use, the mind becomes trained and reliant on this substance to get excited, awake, and have pleasurable feelings.

Then, when we do not have caffeine in the body, we feel down or depressed - leaving us feeling more empty or lonely inside (feelings that are neither painful-nor-pleasant).

This up and down of the emotions through use of caffeine can be mistaken as symptoms of bipolar disorder or other conditions - pleasurable feelings and painful feelings or excitement and then lethargy.

By purging this substance from the body, you can see that your real true emotions can be quite stable and calm. You do not need to rely on this substance, or be attached to this substance, as you can feel more stable experiencing the calmness and peacefulness that already exists inside the mind.

You can eliminate caffeine if you currently drink sodas by moving to a soda or fruit drink that does not contain caffeine. If you are a coffee drinker, you can move to a tea with less caffeine or perhaps an herbal tea without any caffeine. Many decaffeinated coffees actually still have some caffeine so those aren’t always a wise choice.

As you move away from coffee, the aroma of coffee can sometimes pull you back in. You will need to mentally manage this craving and desire for coffee and the effects of caffeine. You will need to train the mind to eliminate the craving to ingest caffeine to further liberate the mind from this attachment.

The vast majority of coffee drinkers do not actually enjoy or like the taste of coffee. That’s why we include milk, sugar, and other additives to our coffee to get rid of the bitter taste of completely black coffee.

What we like is the sweet milky flavor of sugar and milk with the effects of caffeine. If coffee drinkers actually liked the taste of coffee, they would drink completely black coffee. Few people enjoy coffee this way and when they do, they are still affected by caffeine which can cause the mind to race with pleasurable feelings and then drop into painful feelings described as depression.

You will do yourself a big service to eliminate caffeine from the body. As you do, allow the withdrawal symptoms of headaches, foggy mind, body shaking and others to remind you that you are indeed “detoxing” from a drug. You will be better off without it.

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You can replace caffeinated drinks with water, fruit drinks, herbal drinks, vegetable juices, and other more wholesome substances that the body can use to create a healthy environment for the mind to exist.

Eliminating caffeine from the body will ensure you do not have any foreign substances creating un-welcomed and unwholesome thoughts, emotions, or mental states. This will allow you to see the true mind with “Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration” ultimately realizing that the natural state of the mind is actually quite calm, stable, and steady. Purging this substance from the body will allow you to see the true mind so that you can work on eliminating other unwholesome mental states.

Sugar

Sugar in large quantities at one time can also cause heedlessness. If you have ever ingested a significant amount of sugar and then crashed afterwards, then you understand the effects of sugar.

There is research that shows sugar in large quantities can have the same effects to the mind as addictive substances like cocaine.

A wise Practitioner will need to be observant of their sugar intake and ensure this is not excessive to maintain awareness and concentration of mind.

Psychedelic Substances

Throughout history and in current times, people have relied on psychedelic substances to induce temporary periods of deep thinking and deep thought. These substances can produce pleasurable feelings that become enveloped into the mind.

Psychedelic substances produce impermanent mental states, not the permanent mental state of Enlightenment. One can become attached or crave the journey experienced through psychedelic mushrooms, LSD, and other substances that produce reflection and thought beyond what one has ever experienced in the unEnlightened state. Some think that through ingesting these substances, it will make their path to the Enlightened state more streamlined or rapid.

The mind will produce many reasons and rational for the various habits and activities one decides to pursue as reasons to continue craving to avoid elimination of various aspects of one’s life practice. Justification that substances help to produce an Enlightened mind sounds quite interesting

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and provides the mind a reason to hold on to this craving for the impermanent pleasant feelings.

Through understanding and practice of these Teachings, you can see how any craving leads to a discontent mind because the mind cannot maintain the mental state permanently. Psychedelic substances are another attachment or craving that will lead to a discontent mind due to the impermanent nature in the effects of these substances.

To attain Enlightenment, one would need to eliminate the ingesting of psychedelic substances, and attain Enlightenment through learning, reflecting, practicing, and observing the results of a dedicated practice of these Teachings. By developing a “life practice” that leads to Enlightenment, you will be able to attain the Enlightened mental state permanently.

Psychedelic substances will never lead to a permanent mental state of Enlightenment. Experiencing Enlightenment will far outweigh what one experiences with psychedelics, and Enlightenment is a permanent mental state while psychedelics are not. Psychedelics can be dangerous and, thus, you can experience long term effects from ingesting these substances both physically and to your quality of life.

There are no shortcuts or rapid paths to Enlightenment. One needs dedication and commitment to learning and practicing The Teachings of Gotama Buddha with Teachers who have already attained Enlightenment as Guides.

It makes sense that in our modern society there are some who would convince themselves that there is a quick fix of the mind that involves ingesting a psychedelic substance to produce Enlightenment.

If The Path to Enlightenment was as simple as ingesting a certain substance, Gotama Buddha would not have needed to teach for 45 years. If attaining the Enlightened mind was as easy as ingesting a psychedelic substance, then the entire world would already be Enlightened as this information would surely spread throughout the world for everyone to rapidly attain the permanent mental state of Enlightenment.

Enlightenment does not require any external substance or any external possession.

To attain Enlightenment, you will need to develop the mind into a pure mind through learning and progressing along The Path making wise personal choices to a dedicated practice of these Teachings. There are no shortcuts.

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Additional Notes

The legality of certain speech or actions versus that which produces Enlightenment are sometimes two separate things unless a government has organized in such a way to follow these Teachings. I am not currently aware of any government that has setup entirely in line with these Teachings. This is why it’s important that you study, learn, and implement these Teachings into your own life. By merely following the law made by humans, this will not produce a pure mind or Enlightenment.

The application of The Five Precepts and other Teachings from Gotama Buddha is not black and white or right and wrong. There is a significant gray area that a Practitioner will need to navigate. Oftentimes the mind wants Teachings like this to be clear cut of either “right or wrong”. But, that is not how these Teachings work. This path requires reflection, deep thought, and wise decision making.

Seeking guidance from a Teacher can help you to navigate the gray area and then you can observe the truth through practice of The Teachings. You should not believe a Teacher but instead, learn, reflect, and practice so that you can discover the truth to acquire wisdom.

Depending on your lifestyle, there are increased numbers of precepts. The precepts one chooses to practice is up to the individual and their lifestyle, however, “The Five Precepts” is a baseline minimum that is required for all individuals to attain Enlightenment. Learning and practicing precepts beyond The Five Precepts provide additional insight and training guidance should a Practitioner choose to explore deeper into The Teachings of Gotama Buddha.

The book titled “Foundation in The Teachings” (Volume 3) in this same book series has additional Teachings on The Five Precepts and detailed Teachings on The Eight Precepts to help you deepen your life practice.

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