Buddhism Practices: The Five moral precepts and Six Perfections

Question 1

What are the five moral precepts?

Answer 1

• Buddha taught the Five Moral Precepts as an ethical code for Buddhists. They are:
  
  • Do not steal
  • Do not kill
  • Do not misuse the senses
  • Do not lie
  • Do not consume drugs or alcohol

Question 2

Why are the five moral precepts importrant?

Answer 2

• The Buddhist belief in Kamma means that a person’s intentions are the most important thing: it is important to act out of Karuna and metta
• Buddhists do not believe in a god who will punish them if they don’t follow the precepts
• Practising the Five Moral Precepts will help Buddhists overcome the Three Poisons and achieve enlightenment

Question 3

What are the six perfections?

Answer 3

• They are guidelines for how to live a good life and behave in a morally good way
• A Mahayana Buddhist must achieve all of the Six Perfections in their own life to become a Bodhisattva
• The Six Perfections are:
  
  • Generosity or giving
  • Morality
  • Patience
  • Energy
  • Meditation
  • Wisdom

Question 4

Generosity or Giving

Answer 4

• This means giving without expecting anything in return
• There are 3 main types of giving. These are:
  
  • Material Goods
  • Protection from fear
  • The Dharma

Question 5

Morality

Answer 5

• Buddhists must follow the The Five Moral Precepts
• There are five extra precepts in Mahayana Buddhism. They are, Don’t:
  
  • Talk about other people’s faults
  • Praise oneself and speak badly of others
  • Be stingy
  • Be angry
  • Speak badly of The Three Refuges

Question 6

Patience

Answer 6

-All Mahayana Buddhists should aim to have patience and tolerance
- They will try to show patience to those who treat them with anger or behave unskilfully towards them
- A Boddhisattva embodies patience

Question 7

Energy

Answer 7

• This is about mental energy
• It takes a lot of energy and mental strength to strive for enlightenment through meditation, studying and practising the Dhamma over a long time

Question 8

Meditation

Answer 8

• Meditation is important for the development of wisdom and all virtues
• By meditating on qualities like generosity, Buddhists try to achieve the Six Perfections in their lives

Question 9

Wisdom

Answer 9

• Buddhists aim to gain wisdom through practising the other five perfection