The Minimum Requirement Of Abstinence - Sila.

In the last post, it was examined that how one has to decide to avoid sex in full, that is to follow the Brahmacharya, if one is a practitioner of Bhavana. Before we discuss further Avoidances or abstinences in Bhavana, let us examine the minimum requirement of Abstinence (Sila) as recommended by Lord Buddha to a lay practitioner.

It is stated in the Eight Precepts, as the minimum required, to be followed by a lay person:-

The Eight Precepts:

1. Panatipata veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami

I undertake the precept to refrain from destroying living creatures.

2. Adinnadana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami

I undertake the precept to refrain from taking that which is not given.

3. Abrahmacariya veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami

I undertake the precept to refrain from all sexual activity.

4. Musavada veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami

I undertake the precept to refrain from incorrect (lying and false) speech.

5. Suramerayamajja pamadatthana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami

I undertake the precept to refrain from intoxicating drinks and drugs which lead to carelessness.

6. Vikalabhojana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami

I undertake the precept to refrain from eating at the forbidden time (i.e., after noon).

7. Nacca-gita-vadita-visukkadassana mala-gandha-vilepana-dharana-mandana-vibhusanathana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami

I undertake the precept to refrain from dancing, singing, music, going to see entertainments, wearing garlands, using perfumes, and beautifying the body with cosmetics.

8. Uccasayana-mahasayana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami

I undertake the precept to refrain from lying on a high or luxurious sleeping place.

 

{Links:-

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sila/atthasila.html

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an08/an08.041.vaka.html }

So, together with the 3rd precepts of abstaining totally from sex, the other first 4 precepts, other than abstaining from sex totally, are even applicable to a lay person, even if he does not practice Bhavana, just to lead a married, sexual life, happily. so I won't take those other 4 precepts into discussion as one has to obviously follow them, even if one does not practice Bhavana.

One can experiment with the 6th precepts, as to his needs, of having a meal three times a day. One who practices full time in a temple, may be able to not to eat, as he is not doing any hard work bodily, hence the body requirement of energy would be less. But a person who practices Bhavana at home, in the morning and in the evening, while going for work, need not alter his three meals a day. But one would find, if one indulges in eating, often in between the meals, then that it would cause the body to be uncomfortable and be difficult to bring the body to a rest, during the practicing of Bhavana. Hence, if one avoids unnecessary meals in between, it would be a help in the practice. But occasionally, when one is free on a particular days, where he does not work, he can experiment with lesser meals or avoiding a meal to test, how body become restful during the practice of Bhavana.

The seventh precepts shows that what one should avoid, while practicing Bhavana, in order to reduce unnecessary thoughts cropping up, due to the daily activities one has done during the day. 

 

For instance, if one has watched a film or read a book during the day, then thoughts about them would come up, when one practice Bhavana. Hence, by avoiding all of such activities, one can easily pay attention to the practice. According to modern day living, avoiding reading papers, books, etc., and listening to the radio, watching TV, Facebook, etc., has to be avoided, if one practices intensively. It is better to avoid unnecessary talks and gossips with friends as well.

Eighth precepts indicate of the way one lives bodily, whether he indulges in body comforts, leading to pride, laziness etc. Practice of Bhavana needs an alert mind. For that one has to maintain an alert body as well. When one indulges in body comforts, the body develops a sleepy, lazy state, which would lead to an inattentive state of the mind.

Though these are the minimum requirement of precepts to be followed, one has to add more to it by way of others, as one discovers them by himself, that there are other things to be avoided, which cannot be introduced as precepts due to certain reasons. Those are discovered as a requirements to be followed, when one continues to practice, through the practice itself. These will be covered in the next post.

< Previous Post                          First Post                              Next Post >