What does the five precepts tell us about the buddhists understanding of reaching perfection?
The “inside” meaning of the five precepts – and all of the additional precepts – is to pay very close attention to the impulses that result in behavior. For example, the Fifth Precept asks practitioners to avoid intoxication. A person could follow this rule without any reflection or consideration, and still experience a reduction in suffering and an increase in happiness. However, if a practitioner looked into the real meaning of this precept, they would discover within themselves how the mind leans toward avoidance of reality. This practitioner would discover how she/he has an inherent tendency to escape from the truth of life. And by looking into life in this way, a Buddhist practitioner would experience a greater capacity to stay present with whatever life brings. This is the path to enlightenment, and it’s the real point of the precepts.
