What are the Precepts of Buddhism?
A precept, or “sila” (from the Pali for “virtue”), is an aspect of Buddhist philosophy. Sometimes construed by people with a non-Buddhist background to be a type of “commandment” for Buddhists to follow, precepts are actually more like guidelines to help practitioners lead more moral lives. A precept is something Buddhists should strive to live by. It is an action that is an intentional effort. Depending on which school you follow, and how devoted you are to your practice, there are anywhere from five to sixteen precepts. Monastic orders have additional vows to follow. They are often divided into different groups. For example, the Three Pure Precepts are usually practiced (in some schools, especially Mahayana) in addition to the Five Precepts. Also, many Mahayana Buddhists follow what are called the Ten Grand Precepts. So, without further ado, let’s look at these groups and explore exactly what the precepts tell us about moral behavior.
