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Author: * NanChan Qin -
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Date: Feb 27, 2005 - 15:44
It is well-known that Buddhists generally are to practice the five precepts, although there are actually eight precepts. The eight precepts are:
1 to abstain from harming living beings.
2 to abstain from taking things not freely given.
3 to abstain from sexual contact/misconduct.
4 to abstain from false speech.
5 to abstain from intoxicating drinks and drugs causing heedlessness.
6 to abstain from taking untimely meals.
7 to abstain from dancing, singing, music and watching grotesque mime.
8 to abstain from use of garlands, perfumes and personal adornment.
and sometimes the following two are also added:
9 to abstain from use of high seats.
10 to abstain from accepting gold or silver.
All ten precepts, it would appear, would have to be adhered to by the monks and nuns in the Theravada tradition (Mahayana monks and nuns only need to adhere to eight precepts), but lay Buddhist only adhere to the first five precepts except during full moons and new moons.
Most of the precepts above is per se understandable. But what I fail to understand is the discrepancy in respect of "abstain from sexual contact" (as oppose to "misconduct", which is self explanatory) in the Theravada tradition of Buddhism. Does it mean that married people (leading a moral life) cannot become Buddhist or that after becoming a Buddhist should abstain from sexual conduct with her/his partner?
Sources:
http://buddhism.kalachakranet.org/resources/8_mahayana_precepts.html
www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/atthasila.html
www.thebigview.com/buddhism/precepts.htm
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The Precepts
The Community of Seekers
(- threads, 16 posts)
The Monastic Communities
(2 posts)
Sexual misconduct
