What are the Five Precepts?

What are the Five Precepts?

The Five Precepts are recommendations given by the Buddha, proposed to be lived by one who wishes to lead a peaceful life while contributing to the happiness of family and society. The Five Precepts are voluntarily observed. They are not “commandments” that have to be abided by without question. They form the basis of universal morality in the Moral Conduct aspect of the Noble Eightfold Path, which is very important as the foundation of practising the Buddhist path.

The Five Precepts are usually expressed in the following form:

1. To refrain from killing

2. To refrain from taking that which is not given

3. To refrain from sexual misconduct

4. To refrain from telling lies

5. To refrain from taking intoxicants

─ Excerpted from Be a Lamp Upon Yourself