BUDDHISM

1. BUDDHISM THE FIVE PRECEPTS AND THE ADDITIONAL PRECEPTS

2. Introduction • They are simple guidelines for ethical conduct that provide morals to a Buddhist life. • These rules help people avoid improper and non-beneficial behavior that might cause suffering. • Each Buddhist is responsible for keeping his/her commitments.

3. The Five Precepts

4. 1 Abstain from killing or harming living beings.

5. 2 Abstain from stealing.

6. 3 Abstain from improper sexual behavior.

7. 4 Abstain from false speech, e.g., telling lies, setting people against each other, and gossiping.

8. 5 Abstain from taking alcohol and harmful drugs.

9. Importance of the Five Precepts • Guidelines help followers lead their life in an efficient manner to gain peace and end suffering. • The last precept is very crucial because if an individual disregards it, he/she could break all other precepts.

10. Existence of Additional Precepts • Practiced commonly by the Buddhist monks, nuns and others in asceticism. • The additional precepts allow one to follow the religion more in depth.

11. Examples of Additional Precepts • Abstain from eating after noon. • Abstain from looking at dancing, singing, or drama. • Abstain from the use of perfumes and things that tend to beautify and adorn a person. • Abstain from using comfortable beds. • Abstain from accepting gold or silver.

12. Buddhism and Other Religions • The five precepts in Buddhism are very similar to the ten commandments in Christianity, Judaism and Islam. • The overall general idea of the precepts is to help you guide your life in the best possible way.

13. Bibliography: • World Religions textbook • http://web.singnet.com.sg/~alankhoo/Precepts.htm

14. THANK YOU! 