The Five Precepts

The Five Precepts provide the basic foundation for morality (sila) for the practitioner.  They are not commandments, but, rather a framework to live out of to assure basic compassion and compatibility among humans and other sentient beings.  The wording of the five precepts is from Thich Nhat Hanh.

 

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FIRST PRECEPT
Being mindful of suffering caused by the taking of life,
we are determined to live in ways that preserve and protect life in all its forms.

SECOND PRECEPT
Being mindful of suffering caused by the taking of what belongs to others, we are determined to take only what is freely given and to give freely as we are able to those in need.

THIRD PRECEPT
Being mindful of suffering caused by sexual acts that break commitments, we are determined to keep our commitments and to respect the commitments of others.

FOURTH PRECEPT
Being mindful of suffering caused by careless or malicious speech, we are determined to use words to heal the wounds of misunderstanding, anger, hate, and fear.

FIFTH PRECEPT
Being mindful of suffering caused by taking poisons into our bodies and minds, we are determined to take into our bodies and minds only those things that nourish awareness, life, and love.