[WhileKelf]

I'm sure it's come up before, but I have never been quite clear on the answer to it.

As lay Buddhists, we should strive to observe the five precepts, the first of which is to refrain from killing human and non-human beings, to cause no harm to anyone or anything.

I want to know if there are exceptions to this?

The most extreme example is that if a madman comes at me with an axe, intent on killing me, I know for sure that I would throw the first precept out of the window and fight for my life, harming or killing my opponent in the process.

Fortunately, that does not happen every day, not to me at least.

Things that do happen more often are like, if a dog attacks me, or my family, or a complete stranger in my presence, I think I should intervene, causing harm in order to prevent other harm. Or if my home is threatened by a wasps' nest or invaded by stinging ants, does the first precept mean I should try to do nothing about it?

I know many Buddhists who eat the meat of slaughtered animals. That can't be done without causing them harm. I don't mean to begin a vegetarian debate here, I just wonder how many compromises can be made to the first precept, while striving to observe it.