The Five Precepts of Buddhism: Historical Roots in Early Teachings

[@DougsDharma]

✅ Check out this video next on clinging to rules and rituals: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6eykKKgnLJqd9k 🧡 If you find benefit in my videos, consider supporting the channel by joining us on Patreon and get fun extras like exclusive videos, ad-free audio-only versions, and extensive show notes: www.patreon.com/dougsseculardharma 🙂

[@WasanthaHerath28]

Hj

[@WasanthaHerath28]

Uio

[@WasanthaHerath28]

Yhj

[@evaanr1971]

I was born in Sri Lanka and the Noble Eight Fold Path was always taught as an open ended set of guidelines, where you use your own judgement to self-evaluate your own life. The 5 Precepts is, as you said, a shortened version of the Noble Eight Fold Path for Lay people. Particularly if you take into consideration those who are unsure of what to do to or how to interpret the Noble Eight Fold Path, or what they should be doing to stay on the “path”. The 5 Precepts is far less open ended and easier to achieve from a day to day point of view. But if you look at the Pail sentence structure it is more like a promise you make to yourself rather than commandments imposed by anyone else, and therefore the extent to how far you take this is up to your own volition. (For example, most people will stick to not taking the life of another and others may chose to take this further and be full vegetarian. By doing this they are not only avoiding killing but also to avoiding contribution to other people killing animals.). The 5th Precept about avoidance of intoxicants was also taught to us as something that would cloud your judgement lose your awareness, which in turn could only lead to breaking the previous 4 precepts. How can you have 'Right View' and 'Right Thought' when you are drunk or on drugs? Thanks for discussing this very interesting topic Doug.

[@DougsDharma]

Great, you're very welcome Evaan! 🙏🙂

[@rileymills7887]

I really appreciate this comment 😊

[@bencharits]

Your observation of Sila (translated as precepts in English) is very enlightening. In Thai, I learned as a child that Sila means normal. It refers to a normal stage of body, speech, and mind. The 5 Sila are the normal stage for a lay person. The Sila for a monastic person are way more. But that is a reflection of different levels of normalcy. We do not look at Sila like commandments as in Westen culture. When we take 5 Sila, we translate as to aviod doing these things. It is not a forbidden concept. It is just suggested for you if you want to be a normal Buddhist person.

[@DougsDharma]

That's definitely one way to consider it Sompop, thanks!

[@ADIMM0]

Sadhu, Sadhu, Sadhu. Thanks Doug for another short and sweet video.

[@DougsDharma]

You're very welcome Ady!

[@ScottieMac79]

I love the way you bring this knowledge with a very mindful and down to earth style. So much good information thank you so much!

[@DougsDharma]

You're very welcome Scott!

[@williamwonders2016]

Thanks for yet another clear treatment of Ann aspect of Buddhism 🙏🙏🙏

[@DougsDharma]

You're very welcome William, thanks for the comment! 🙏🙂

[@williamwonders2016]

My pleasure 😊 I'm not sure who Ann is, but she could do with some typing practice. Best wishes to you 🙏

[@user-qr1cp3rc1g]

I love your content doug, I wish you a great Day today!

[@DougsDharma]

Thanks E! You too! 🙂

[@DustinHamiltonSituatedAction]

I was just looking at your video from ~3 years back and glad to have noticed this update from only ~1 month ago... thanks for covering this in an update video. 🙏 I always enjoy the scholastic-based look at things.

[@DougsDharma]

My pleasure Dustin! Yes I felt the material needed another look. 🙂

[@DustinHamiltonSituatedAction]

@@DougsDharma I took the Seon Buddhist precepts for my lineage back around 2004, and currently doing a group study with my temple to renew the precepts… some are doing it for the first time and a couple of us renewing. I shared your video here as one more resource from which to learn. What I felt was a good video reminder for me is now additive to others as they learn the precepts. ❤️

[@wibuhakase3522]

Five precepts are very important to build foundation for concentration. Regardless of historicity, they are very benificial for our good life. Thanks for your video 👍

[@DougsDharma]

Yes that's right Ucup, you're very welcome!

[@xiaomaozen]

Thanks and love from Germany! ❤🙏🏻

[@DougsDharma]

You're very welcome xiao mao, and thanks for your comment! 🙏

[@WS-rj4ti]

Satu from Thailand. Glad to see a sophisticated follower of our Lord from the other side of the world.

[@DougsDharma]

Thank you W S! 🙏

[@asia9188]

Love from Malaysia ❤️

[@DougsDharma]

🙏🙂

[@paulinanunez8166]

Thanks for this video, Doug. I really like your content 💛

[@DougsDharma]

Very kind of you to say Paulina, thanks for the comment!

[@tylermcqueen232]

Thanks Doug, your videos are great as always. I've heard another reason you should avoid intoxicants is that it cultivates wrong view, in that you start to chase the pleasure that comes with the intoxicant rather than true pleasure which is cultivated with cessation.

[@DougsDharma]

Yes that makes sense Tyler. In that however intoxicants are no different from any sense-pleasure.

[@tylermcqueen232]

That's true, you could take pleasure in any of the wrong actions. Thanks for pointing that out!

[@triciahutchins5407]

If there is a practice based on the Four Immeasurables, I would appreciate a video. Thanks for all of your guidance.

[@DougsDharma]

Yes I have a playlist on them already Tricia! kzbin.info/aero/PL0akoU_OszRi-PrNLubfI0LVwkjXbZ-c7 🙂

[@7cTube]

Looks like AN9.20 wasn't mentioned where The Master says that keeping 5 precepts is one of the most fruitful gifts that a person can give to the world!

[@DougsDharma]

Ah yes there are a lot of suttas about the precepts!

[@stevevest7206]

One of the things I recently learned was about which precepts would cause a monastic to be asked to disrobe, and there were only four: Sex, Killing a human (not a sentient being), Lying, and Claiming Attainments.

[@DougsDharma]

Yes I don't recall them offhand but that seems right. It's a small number.

[@jigmetzasay1331]

Thank you sir.

[@DougsDharma]

🙏😊

[@jean-michellaurora1854]

THANK YOU!

[@DougsDharma]

You're very welcome Jean-Michel!

[@manrewilding6387]

Thoughts on coveting people’s belonging. Part of the 10 practices under mind category... I’ve been sitting with the idea of possession for some months now. I heard this expecting to hear... coveting people. Acting as if we possess them, through say a direct relationship like a marriage, or less direct through expectations of conformity. From my perspective as of late, much suffering is rooted not in the possession of things, but of people, and self. How many men topple trees to prove they are worthy to a woman/someone they think they deserve? Surely if I’m king of the clan I’ll get the love I deserve. I’m going to investigate some sutra translations to see if there is some pointing at possession of people under these 10 practices.

[@DougsDharma]

Yes, one can also covet other people for sure.

[@peace7582]

Doug there are about 227 precepts for monk.....read them carefully ......very carefully......like buddha advised not to put his or her fingers in mouth after eating....and not to wipe bowl with finger after eating....not to choose foods from the heap of foods....etc. Buddha is here trying to dispelling their ignorance towards food....and he is converting their mind slowly towards food.....why he was making such precepts???......those who don't believe in rebirth will say these type of precepts are useless.......but these precepts are dispelling your ignorance towards sound, taste, touch, smell, etc......but the question remains.....why such rules???.......the deepness in these precepts is that he wanted to end REBIRTH of his disciples.

[@peace7582]

Or trying to show the path for Heavenly rebirth......like deva and brahma......as he described the qualities of deva and brahma in many sutra..... these precepts are taking us to the qualities of deva and brahma.

[@DougsDharma]

One cannot end rebirth even in the early texts just by following precepts. That's an example of "clinging to rules and rituals": kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6eykKKgnLJqd9k . That said, they are training rules that help us to release clinging to all things, including our own views.

[@user-Void-Star]

200plus precept are for yellow robe monk not all monks. Even in yellow robe there two types of yellow robe.

[@fa18superhornt46]

Jay bhim 🙏 Mamo buddhay 🙏 Love from Nagpur. India

[@DougsDharma]

🙏🙂

[@7cTube]

Uposatha coming soon poggers :O awesome day!

[@DougsDharma]

👍😀

[@zack-vk2nm]

Hey Doug what are your thoughts on the astro plain and the higher realms? I've heard people say they are only the universe within and don't mean anything else

[@DougsDharma]

Well I did a video on that general topic awhile back: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gHbagqmim7KInJo

[@nakcooking1213]

love buddha speech

[@DougsDharma]

Yes, me too!

[@moegyi7455]

🙏🙏🙏

[@DougsDharma]

🙏😊

[@iknowiamwrong.butstill...2073]

I have a question irrelevant to this video sir,,, it's said that the Buddha was 'trikaldarshi ' meaning he could look into both the past and present,,,does that mean the future is fixed?

[@user-Void-Star]

Individual Future is not fixed but how 4 maha kalpas goes is what buddha sees.

[@Insight_Films927]

Love from india

[@DougsDharma]

Thanks Raman! 🙏

[@thalgamuwesudhirananda5908]

There’re no commandments in The Buddhism , five instructions are only. Don’t take wrong words when u describe the teachings of the exalted one. May the Noble triple jem bless you! With friendliness.

[@DougsDharma]

That's right! 🙏

[@Sewakanund]

Five precepts are not supreme Buddha teaching for the lay persons but The text was probably composed between the 3rd century BCE and the 5th century CE. After supreme Buddha death. This story is number 459 in a large collection of past-life stories of the Buddha (the Jātakatthavaṇṇanā) found in Pali and preserved by the Theravada school of Buddhism.And not supreme Buddha speech. (from Majjhima Nikaya 78) Supreme Buddha first giving the right virtue action to the lay persons is 10 wholesome actions 1. Abstaining from killing living beings 2. Abstaining from stealing 3. Abstaining from sexual misconduct 4. Abstaining from false speech 5. Abstaining from malicious speech 6. Abstaining from harsh speech 7. Abstaining from gossip 8. Abstaining from coveting 9. Abstaining from ill-will 10. Possessing Right Understanding of the Dhamma And the 5th of precepts that you have said is in Apaya-Muka (Avoiding the six channels to ruin) 1.Being addicted to drink and drugs. 2.Always reveling in nightlife. 3.Being bent on entertainment. 4.Being addicted to gambling. 5.Consorting with evil friends. 6.Being chronically lazy.

[@eddygan325]

Hi Doug, do u undertake the 5 precepts ? 🙏 May all be well and happy

[@DougsDharma]

I do my best, though imperfectly!

[@eddygan325]

@@DougsDharma Amazing! Rejoice : ) 🙏🙏🙏

[@mightylotan]

11:35 I see avoiding intoxicants as important because they distort your view of reality

[@DougsDharma]

Yes, that's right. This would imply that drunkenness is the real problem rather than taking alcohol per se.

[@midooley543]

I don’t understand why the fifth precept is always just reduced to ‘do it so you don’t break the other 4’. Alcohol and drugs on their own are damaging and harmful, even if you don’t break any of the other 4 precepts while under the influence.

[@DougsDharma]

They certainly can be, and if that worries you then abstain completely.

[@7cTube]

Niiice my fav topic :D

[@DougsDharma]

Glad to hear Egod! 😀

[@sarathw5740]

It is not "Don't abuse alcohol" it should be "I refrain from consuming alcohol"-)

[@DougsDharma]

Well then for you "abuse" is any consumption at all.

[@bahadursunny1674]

sadhu sadhu sadhu

[@DougsDharma]

🙏😊

[@kanseh4819]

Bro it's not dharma its dhamma .correct your channel name.

[@DougsDharma]

"Dhamma" and "dharma" are the same word in different languages. Since the word "dharma" has now become part of the English language I use it so as not to confuse people.

[@kanseh4819]

@@DougsDharma ok now I understand.

[@DustinHamiltonSituatedAction]

@@kanseh4819 I must say your approach could have been much better - less rude. If one comes from the point of view of there only being what one knows as true, they are going to get educated that life is full of dichotomies. Your approach assumes your knowledge is all there is, which it isn't. In seeing a notion that is different than your truth, it is -always- good to ask questions 'why' rather than to assert your truth to be the only one.