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Why Precepts



INTRODUCTION  |  WHY PRECEPTS  |  THE PRECEPTS




Morality currently tends to have a negative connotation - perhaps in a reaction to earlier repressive approaches. The popular inclination is usually toward minimising restraints rather than deliberately taking them on and rules and regulations are best thought of as being avoided. To appreciate the usefulness of basic precepts try imagining a society without any rules at all.

How would it be if people drove on any side of the road they liked; stole what they could get away with; etc. Under what conditions might anarchy work?

There are two main reasons for establishing precepts:
• To provide a stable, habitable environment; this is social order.
• To sustain a mind free from remorse; this is individual peace.

Venerable Ananda went to the Blessed One and on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side and asked "What is the purpose of skillful virtues? What is their reward?"
Freedom from remorse, Ananda.
And of freedom from remorse?
Joy, Ananda.
And of joy?
Rapture, Ananda.
And rapture?
Tranquillity, Ananda.
And of tranquillity?
Happiness, Ananda.
And of happiness?
Concentration, Ananda.
And of concentration?
Knowledge & vision of things as they actually are, Ananda.
And of knowledge & vision of things as they actually are?
Disenchantment, turning away and detachment, Ananda.
And of disenchantment, turning away and detachment?
This has knowledge & vision of release as its purpose, its reward. In this way, Ananda, skillful virtues lead step-by-step to the consummation of enlightenment.

We can reflect here on the difference between guilt and remorse.
Guilt is the feeling that one is responsible for committing an offense, often connected with a sense of public wrong and impending punishment [explore definitions of sin].
Remorse involves a sense of deep regret, often connected with a personal sense of conscience, shame and sorrow. Guilt invokes fear, remorse solicits repentance. Guilt has no part to play in the Buddhist path.

The mind is of paramount importance in Buddhism. To be able to observe it, and thus come to understand it, a stable and calm inner environment is essential. The confusion that remorse, shame, sorrow, regret, etc. brings into our life makes the process all but impossible. Renunciation is not very popular these days with capitalism promoting the value of more, more, more -- never less. The precepts provide simple guidelines for living a 'good', uncomplicated life. There is a clarity around action leaving one free from doubt. As with many things in Buddhism we must each make the experiment - live wicked, live clean. What are the results? The principles of renunciation will be discussed more fully in the section on vinaya.
INTRODUCTION  |  WHY PRECEPTS  |  THE PRECEPTS