Facts About the Eight Moral Precepts

Fact Concerning “Abrahmacariya Precept”

Abrahmacariya (ignoble practice) means sexual intercourse between a man and a woman. One who observes the five precepts can have sex with his or her spouse. But one who observes the eight moral precepts must avoid all sexual acts. If an unmarried person, in his observance of the five moral precepts, observes “Abrahmacariya precept” instead of “Kāmesumicchācāra precept”, he will enjoy great benefits.

Fact Concerning “Vikālabhojanā Precept”

Abstaining from taking food after midday

In observing this moral precept, one abstaining from taking food such as rice, curry, bread and butter, cakes, biscuits, fruits, etc., from noon till sunrise the next day. If one takes these food, ones’ observance of the precept will be breached.

If one is hungry, one may drink some kind of juice. One should not eat even jaggery but one can make a drink by dissolving jaggery in hot water and drink it.

The Benefits of Abstaining from Taking Food After Midday

Abstaining from taking food after midday is only one of the constituents of Uposatha Sīla, just by not taking any food after midday does not mean that one is observing this precept. The objectives of observing this precept are as follow: -

1. To free oneself from the trouble of preparing afternoon meals and dinner, and to have more time for practising meditation.

2. To control automatically one’s greed (lobha) and hatred (dosa) so that one is not interested in sensual pleasures.

If one takes dinner, one will have to busy oneself preparing meals. Cooking rice and curry is a time-consuming work. So, if one does not take dinner, one will have more time for meditation.

Taking meals after midday will increase one’s energy and will make one inclined to enjoying sensual pleasures. So, abstaining from taking food after midday is only proper for one who observes the precept “Abrahmacariya”.

At the time of Kassapa Buddha, a teacher named Gavesī and his five hundred followers observed the six moral precepts including five moral precepts of Brahmacariyamaka-Sīla and the precept ‘Vikālabhojanā’. This is stated in Gavesī Sutta in Pañcanguttara Pāli text.

Dhammika Upasakā and Nandamātā also observed the six moral precepts as mentioned above throughout their life-time. According to the Pali Texts, the Anāgāmis who have eradicated lust and attachment to sense-objects (Kāmarāga-Saṁyojana) also observed these six precepts.

Fact Concerning “Nacca, Gīta, Vādita Precept”

Dancing (Nacca)

Relating to this precept, one who observes this precept must neither dance nor make others dance. At least one must not make even animals dance. One must not go to watch dances, performances and concerts. One’s moral precepts will not be breached, however, if one encounters dance-performances on the way while one is travelling. If one stops and watches the dances purposely, one’s precept will be breached.

Singing (Gīta)

One who observes this precept must neither sing nor make others sing. One must not recite Pali verse and Dhamma poems in musical tone. One must not listen to other’s singing. If one does so, one’s precept will be breached. If one hears the singing by coincidence, one’s precept will not be breached.

Playing Musical Instruments (Vādita)

One who keeps the eight moral precepts must neither play nor make others play the five musical instruments: timing bells, harp, lute, drum, etc. Also, he must not listen to the sounds of these instruments. If one hears these sounds by coincidence, one’s moral precept will not be breached. If one intentionally listens to the musical sounds, one’s moral precept will be breached.

Seeing Shows Contrary to the Buddha’s Teaching (Visūkadassana)

Dancing, singing and playing musical instruments are praiseworthy from the social point of view. But, indeed, they can cause and develop sensual pleasures from the supramundane point of view. Therefore, watching dances, listening to the songs and playing musical instruments are spikes or obstacles in following the Buddha’s Teachings. So, seeing shows is prohibited when one observes the Uposatha Sīla.

Facts Concerning “Mālā Gandha Vilepana Precept”

Wearing Flowers (Mālādhāraṇa)

When one is observing Uposatha Sīla, one must not wear any flower or garland of flowers, and one does not make others do so. If one does so, one’s precept will be breached.

Using Perfumes (Gandhadhāraṇa)

While one is observing Uposatha Sīla, one must not use any kinds of perfume, nor apply any fragrant powder to oneself. One must not make others do so. If one does so, one’s precept will be breached. One must not also use any scented soap without special reason. One is, however, allowed to use scented soap and body powder to prevent the foul smell of one’s body due to sweating, etc.

Applying Unguents (Gandhavilepana)

While one is observing the Uposatha Sīla beautifying oneself by applying beauty-cream, fragrant paste of sandalwood or make-up, steaming one’s face, and making others do so are forbidden. If one does so, one’s precepts will be breached.

Beautifying Oneself (Maṇḍana)

Applying medicinal lotions in order to cover up pock marks, moles, dark spots, pimples, etc., beautifying one’s hair, curling and shaping one’s lips, one’s eyes, eyelashes, eyebrows, etc., all amount to maṇḍana. One must not beautify oneself in any way while one is observing uposatha precepts. If one does so, one’s moral precept will be breached. Combing one’s hairs and cutting one’s nails under normal conditions do not amount to breaching one’s moral precepts.

One who observes this precept must not use any perfume, any beautifying cream, or make-up. If one does so, one’s moral precept will be broken.

All kinds of beautifying oneself that are prohibited by this precept have their roots in sensual pleasures, observing uposatha precepts is for getting rid of sensuality. One must not beautify oneself by these means in advance before one undertakes to observe the uposatha precepts. That would amount to cheating oneself.

Decorating Oneself (Vibhūsana)

Wearing jewellery, ornaments, wearing various coloured dresses or dresses of new designs to make one attractive, wearing beautiful footwear, using beautiful umbrella, etc. are acts of decorating oneself. If one does so, one’s moral precept will be broken. Therefore, one who observes uposatha sīla should wear ordinary dress, ordinary footwear and ordinary head-wear. Wearing a white upper garment and a brown lower garment is the most suitable dress for one who observes uposatha sīla.

The Cause of Increasing Defilement (Ṭhānā)

All kinds of beautifying oneself by applying various beauty-creams, lotions and wearing flowers are the causes of increasing defilements. So, everyone who observes the uposatha precept refrains from doing so.

Facts Concerning “Uccāsayana Mahāsayana Precept”

High Places (Uccāsayana)

High places mean couches or seats having legs longer than one cubit and a half (27 inches). One who observes this precept must refrain from sitting, lying and sleeping on such couches or seats.

Luxurious Seats and Beds (Mahāsayana)

Luxurious seats and beds mean seats or beds stuffed with cotton, wool or kapok, carpet of fur with hair longer that four finger-breadths (two inches), carpet decorated with pictures of tigers, lions, leopards, and silk or velvet bed sheets embroidered with silver or gold thread. One who observes this eighth precept must refrain from sitting or sleeping on these seats and beds. If one does so, this precept will be broken. If necessary, one may use a mattress stuffed with coconut fibres. Smooth mats and carpets with short hair cannot be called luxurious seats and beds.