Five Precepts (pañca sikkhāpadāni)
Precepts / Five Precepts
Part of tag cluster Precepts in key topic Foundations of Dhamma Practice
Also a subtag of Everyday life
Subtags: Killing, Stealing, Sexual misconduct, False speech, Intoxicants
16 excerpts, 46:16 total duration

All excerpts (16) Most relevant (10) Questions about (7) Answers involving (4) Stories (1) Quotes (1) Readings (1) Texts (1) References (1)


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 9 – Apr. 28, 2001

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3. Reading from the draft biography: Young Chah plays at being a monk. Read by Ajahn Amaro. [Ajahn Chah] // [Ajahn Jayasaro] [Almsfood] [Five Precepts]

Reference: Stillness Flowing by Ajahn Jayasaro, p. 23


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 11 – Apr. 28, 2001

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8. Ajahn Chah emphasized sīla and precepts when teaching in the West. Recollection by Joseph Kappel. [Virtue ] [Five Precepts] [Teaching Dhamma] [Culture/West] [Ajahn Chah] // [Communal harmony] [Meditation] [Sensual desire] [Long-term practice]


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9. Reflection by Joseph Kappel: Jumping off the Saṅgha ocean liner. [Saṅgha] [Similes] [Joseph Kappel] [Disrobing] // [Faith] [Five Precepts] [Ajahn Chah]


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 15 – Apr. 28, 2001

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2. Quote: “These Five Precepts are the basis for human existence. If people could only do this, never mind talking about enlightenment, we would have a world without much trouble.” — Ajahn Chah. Quoted by Paul Breiter. [Ajahn Chah] [Five Precepts ] [Human] [Liberation] [Suffering] // [Virtue] [Intoxicants] [Politics and society]


The Gradual Training, Session 2 – Oct. 20, 2012

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9. “Can you speak more about the impermance of goodness?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Impermanence] [Virtue] [Gradual Teaching] // [Conditionality] [Happiness] [Compassion] [Fear] [Suffering] [Clinging]

Sutta: AN 8.39: Five great gifts which give freedom from fear. [Generosity] [Five Precepts]

Quote: “The basis of Right View is knowing that this cup is a broken glass.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Right View]


2014 Thanksgiving Monastic Retreat, Session 6 – Nov. 27, 2014

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1. “A question regarding the 5 precepts. In daily life, I am really good about keeping #1, 2, 3 and 5; but somehow I found that the precept #4 is really hard. I find myself lying everyday such as: ‘Do I look good?’ → Yes, of course. ‘Do you want to eat some more?’ → No, thanks, I’m full (but in fact the food didn’t taste good). Or speaking at a wrong time, speaking too long, too short, too harsh or speaking with a wrong tone of voice. This is the hardest one for me. Kindly advise. Thank you.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Five Precepts] [False speech ] [Right Speech ] // [Monastic life] [Precepts ] [Pāli] [Learning]

Quote: “The function of the precepts in terms of practice is to provide a mirror so we can understand our own intentions and volitions.” [Volition]


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17. “Is having a ½ glass of wine at the Christmas or special dinner breaking that precept? Does the precept mean not getting intoxicated or not ever drinking substance?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Intoxicants ] // [Precepts]

Reference: Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 129: The Five Precepts [Five Precepts]


The Middle Way of Not-Self, Session 2 – May. 27, 2015

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11. Comment: Before I get to all that [deep reflection on not-self], in the meantime I thing of Luang Por Sumedho’s saying, ‘Every time I think of myself, I get depressed.’ [Ajahn Sumedho] [Self-identity view] [Depression] [Not-self]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Five Precepts]

Quote: “It’s difficult but it’s not that complicated. The Buddha’s teachings go against the grain of our conditioning and habits, but the essence of it is quite simple.” [Proliferation] [Right Effort] [Craving] [Simplicity] [Practicing in accordance with Dhamma]


Buddhist Identity in the Modern World – Aug. 15, 2015

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2. “What did the Buddha think following his teachings should mean or entail?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Three Refuges] [Precepts] [Buddhist identity ] // [Virtue] [Lay life] [Five Precepts] [Faith] [Generosity] [Association with people of integrity] [Hearing the true Dhamma] [Learning] [Practicing in accordance with Dhamma] [Conceit]

Sutta: AN 8.26 Jīvaka Sutta


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13. “Should someone who follows the five precepts and meditates but has their own faith and belief call themselves a Buddhist?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Five Precepts] [Meditation] [Faith] [Spiritual traditions] [Buddhist identity] // [Dhamma] [Truth] [Eightfold Path] [Happiness]


Teen Weekend 2017 – Sep. 2, 2017

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7. “I have doubts about the concept of personal property. How does activism following the Five Precepts work in a country whose water supply has been bought out by private interests?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Politics and society] [Environment] [Five Precepts] // [Community] [Virtue] [Discernment]

Story: Ajahn Pasanno investigates a logging operation at Dtao Dtum. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Culture/Thailand] [Dtao Dum]


The New Ajahn Chah Biography, Session 2 – Apr. 21, 2018

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11. “Is refining the Five Precepts sufficient for lay practice to be transformative?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Five Precepts] [Lay life] [Ajahn Chah] // [Vinaya] [Mindfulness] [Right Intention] [Relinquishment] [Compassion] [Truth]


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13. “Can you talk about evolution and growth in regards to the precepts as opposed to just following rules?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Five Precepts] [Precepts] [Attachment to precepts and practices] // [Pāli] [Etymology] [Learning] [Suffering] [Doubt] [Self-identity view]


Chanting, Session 2 – Jun. 2, 2018

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5. Comment: I also get tripped up chanting the fifth precept (Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 130). [Five Precepts] [Intoxicants] [Chanting] [Pāli]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Thai]


Honoring the Buddha: The Mahāparinibbāna Sutta – Apr. 25, 2021

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1. Comment: Thank you for the opportunity to re-take my precepts. I found Ajahn Pasanno’s inquiry questions regarding fixed views very useful. [Gratitude] [Five Precepts] [Views]


Abhayagiri Kaṭhina 2021, Session 1 – Nov. 3, 2021

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4. “You spoke about the teachings and the training. What is the training for a lay practitioner other than the Five Precepts?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro. [Dhamma] [Vinaya] [Lay life] [Five Precepts] // [Meditation] [Communal harmony] [Right Livelihood] [Family] [Work] [Politics and society] [Spiritual friendship]