That Religious Studies Website

Buddhism: Introduction

• Buddhism: Key facts
• The Buddha: An introduction
• The Noble Eightfold Path
• The Moral Precepts of Buddhism
• Life after death

World Faith: Ethics

• Buddhist ethics
• Christian ethics
• Jewish ethics

World Faith

• Buddhism
• Christianity
• Hinduism
• Islam
• Judaism
• Sikhism

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The Moral Precepts of Buddhism

Information: This is a list of the moral precepts of Buddhism. These are found in the way of morality (action), in The Noble Eightfold Path. A version of this article was originally published on the website www.faithnet.org.uk.

All members of the sangha promise to keep the first five precepts. These are:

• 1. To refrain from killing or harming living things.
• 2. To refrain from taking what is not given.
• 3. To refrain from indulging in sensual pleasures.
• 4. To refrain from false and wrong speech.
• 5. To refrain from drink or drugs which cloud the mind.

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Monks and nuns promise to keep these additional precepts:

• 6. To refrain from eating after midday.
• 7. To refrain from involvement in dancing, acting or music.
• 8. To refrain from using ornaments or perfumes.
• 9. To refrain from using a high or big bed.
• 10. To refrain from handling gold or silver.

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