How to take the Five and Eight Precepts in Theravada Buddhism
How to take the Five and Eight Precepts in Theravada Buddhism
In Buddhism the act of taking refuge in Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha (Triple Gem) together with undertaking either the Five or Eight Precepts is a vital step in ones practice. The refuge serves as a protective measure towards ones meditation practice. The precepts serve as the ethical foundation, also known as Morality or Sīla in Pali, which can be thought of as the foundation layout when constructing a house. If the foundation is not secure and stable anything thats build upon it will eventually fall and break.
The same goes for the precepts. If they’re not kept it becomes difficult to purify ones conduct and in turn develop concentration and wisdom in ones meditation practice. Concentration is build upon Morality and Wisdom is build upon Concentration. These are the 3 main groups of the Noble Eightfold Path which is also known as the way to end suffering, the way out of Samsara. It is the path that leads to the attainment of Nibbāna . When all eight factors have been fully cultivated the mind takes Nibbāna as an object of meditation. At that point several or all of the Ten Fetters will be permanently destroyed. I will go into detail about the Stages of Enlightenment and the Ten Fetters in another blog post.
Practicing Buddhists should take refuge in the Triple Gem and take either the Five or the Eight Precepts daily, ideally when one wakes up in the morning. One can take refuge alone, with a kalyāṇa-mitta (Dhamma friend), one’s Teacher or a Noble Disciple of the Buddha (a member of the Sangha).
Taking the Five Precepts
THE REQUEST:
Ahaṃ bhante, ti-saraṇena saha pañca sīlāni yācāmi.
Venerable Sir, I request the Three Refuges & the Five Precepts.
Dutiyampi ahaṃ bhante...
Venerable Sir, a second time...
Tatiyampi ahaṃ bhante...
Venerable Sir, a third time...
The monk then recites the following passage three times, after which the lay people repeat it three times:
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammā-sambuddhassa.
Homage to the Blessed One, the Worthy One, the Rightly Self-awakened One.
The monk then recites the following passages line by line, with the lay people reciting line by line after him.
Buddhaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
I go to the Buddha for refuge.
Dhammaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
I go to the Dhamma for refuge.
Saṅghaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
I go to the Sangha for refuge.
Dutiyampi buddhaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
A second time, I go to the Buddha for refuge.
Dutiyampi dhammaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
A second time, I go to the Dhamma for refuge.
Dutiyampi saṅghaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
A second time, I go to the Sangha for refuge.
Tatiyampi buddhaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
A third time, I go to the Buddha for refuge.
Tatiyampi dhammaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
A third time, I go to the Dhamma for refuge.
Tatiyampi saṅghaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
A third time, I go to the Sangha for refuge.
The monk then says:
Ti-saraṇa-gamanaṃ niṭṭhitaṃ.
This ends the going for refuge.
The lay people respond:
Āma bhante.
Yes, Venerable Sir.
The monk then recites the precepts line by line, with the lay people reciting them line by line after him.
Pāṇātipātā veramaṇī sikkhā-padaṃ samādiyāmi.
I undertake the training rule to refrain from taking life.
Adinnādānā veramaṇī sikkhā-padaṃ samādiyāmi.
I undertake the training rule to refrain from stealing.
Kāmesu micchācārā veramaṇī sikkhā-padaṃ samādiyāmi.
I undertake the training rule to refrain from sexual misconduct.
Musāvādā veramaṇī sikkhā-padaṃ samādiyāmi.
I undertake the training rule to refrain from telling lies.
Surā-meraya-majja-pamādaṭṭhānā veramaṇī sikkhā-padaṃ samādiyāmi.
I undertake the training rule to refrain from intoxicating liquors & drugs that lead to carelessness.
The monk then concludes with the following:
Imāni pañca sikkhā-padāni:
These are the five training rules.
Sīlena sugatiṃ yanti.
Through virtue they go to a good bourn.
Sīlena bhoga-sampadā.
Through virtue is wealth attained.
Sīlena nibbutiṃ yanti.
Through virtue they go to Liberation.
Tasmā sīlaṃ visodhaye.
Therefore we should purify our virtue.
BOW THREE TIMES
Taking the Eight Precepts
THE REQUEST:
Ahaṃ bhante, ti-saraṇena saha aṭṭha sīlāni yācāmi.
Venerable Sir, I request the Three Refuges & the Eight Precepts.
Dutiyampi ahaṃ bhante...
Venerable Sir, a second time...
Tatiyampi ahaṃ bhante...
Venerable Sir, a third time...
The monk then recites the following passage three times, after which the lay people repeat it three times:
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammā-sambuddhassa.
Homage to the Blessed One, the Worthy One, the Rightly Self-awakened One.
The monk then recites the following passages line by line, with the lay people reciting line by line after him.
Buddhaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
I go to the Buddha for refuge.
Dhammaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
I go to the Dhamma for refuge.
Saṅghaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
I go to the Sangha for refuge.
Dutiyampi buddhaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
A second time, I go to the Buddha for refuge.
Dutiyampi dhammaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
A second time, I go to the Dhamma for refuge.
Dutiyampi saṅghaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
A second time, I go to the Sangha for refuge.
Tatiyampi buddhaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
A third time, I go to the Buddha for refuge.
Tatiyampi dhammaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
A third time, I go to the Dhamma for refuge.
Tatiyampi saṅghaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
A third time, I go to the Sangha for refuge.
The monk then says:
Ti-saraṇa-gamanaṃ niṭṭhitaṃ.
This ends the going for refuge.
The lay people respond:
Āma bhante.
Yes, Venerable Sir.
The monk then recites the precepts line by line, with the lay people reciting them line by line after him.
Pāṇātipātā veramaṇī sikkhā-padaṃ samādiyāmi.
I undertake the training rule to refrain from taking life.
Adinnādānā veramaṇī sikkhā-padaṃ samādiyāmi.
I undertake the training rule to refrain from stealing.
Abrahma-cariyā veramaṇī sikkhā-padaṃ samādiyāmi.
I undertake the training rule to refrain from sexual intercourse.
Musāvādā veramaṇī sikkhā-padaṃ samādiyāmi.
I undertake the training rule to refrain from telling lies.
Surā-meraya-majja-pamādaṭṭhānā veramaṇī sikkhā-padaṃ samādiyāmi.
I undertake the training rule to refrain from intoxicating liquors & drugs that lead to carelessness.
Vikāla-bhojanā veramaṇī sikkhā-padaṃ samādiyāmi.
I undertake the training rule to refrain from eating after noon & before dawn.
Nacca-gīta-vādita-visūka-dassanā mālā-gandha-vilepana-dhāraṇa-maṇḍana-vibhūsanaṭṭhānā veramaṇī sikkhā-padaṃ samādiyāmi.
I undertake the training rule to refrain from dancing, singing, music, watching shows, wearing garlands, beautifying myself with perfumes & cosmetics.
Uccāsayana-mahāsayanā veramaṇī sikkhā-padaṃ samādiyāmi.
I undertake the training rule to refrain from high & luxurious seats & beds.
Imāni aṭṭha sikkhā-padāni samādiyāmi.
I undertake these eight precepts.
Imāni aṭṭha sikkhā-padāni samādiyāmi.
I undertake these eight precepts.
Imāni aṭṭha sikkhā-padāni samādiyāmi.
I undertake these eight precepts.
The monk then concludes with the following:
Imāni aṭṭha sikkhā-padāni:
These are the eight training rules.
Sīlena sugatiṃ yanti.
Through virtue they go to a good bourn.
Sīlena bhoga-sampadā.
Through virtue is wealth attained.
Sīlena nibbutiṃ yanti.
Through virtue they go to Liberation.
Tasmā sīlaṃ visodhaye.
Therefore we should purify our virtue.
BOW THREE TIMES