Abstain.

The Five 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. Kamesu micchacara veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
I undertake the precept to refrain from sexual misconduct.

4. Musavada veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
I undertake the precept to refrain from incorrect speech.

5. Suramerayamajja pamadatthana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
I undertake the precept to refrain from intoxicating drinks and drugs which lead to carelessness.

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/d...pancasila.html No thou's. No shall's or shall not's. No obligations. The precepts are about personal responsibility. Transposing the approach of other religions on top of the precepts is to misunderstand them entirely.

Thank you. That helps alot. I have seen so many translations of it, typically saying 'do not...', but if it says to refrain, if that is the original teaching, then that makes alot of sense, because those words there already add flexability, and personal responsibility like you guys have said. Whereas if you say 'do not', 'never', it makes it irrational, and hurtful.

The pali word is sikkhāpadaṃ, I think the m on the end changes a noun to a verb though I'm not certain. As usual when I look up words on the pali dictionary there is so much info there I'm left none the wiser, see http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/phi...c.4:1:111.pali

If you say there are no exceptions, then you would never break them yourself? Ever? I can not say that, I am not a Buddha.

But I'm trying to do my best to follow the Precepts

*edit* And to follow the teachings that I can fully understand while studying the others.


With Metta

veramanī = abstinence

sikkhā = training

padaṃ = (probably) path; way of walking/acting

samādiyati [saŋ+ādiyati1] to take with oneself, to take upon oneself, to undertake

samādi; similar to samādhi; probably related to the word 'observe'; 'observance'

the ceremony of a layman taking upon himself the eight sīlas is called uposathaŋ samādiyati (see sīlaŋ & samādiyati); uposatha-- sīla observance

yatana effort endeavour undertaking

2 more cents,

This is one of the most beautiful suttas I have ever read.

I wish it can give some guidance so to reflect about a precept:

Here householders, a noble disciple reflects thus:

I am one who wishes to live, who does not wish to die. I desire happiness and dislike suffering. Since I am one who wishes to live... and dislike suffering, if someone were to take my life, that would not be pleasing and agreeable to me.

Now, if I were to take the life of another -of one who wishes to live, who does not wish to die, who desires happiness and dislikes suffering- that would not be desirable and agreeable to him, too.

What is undesirable and disagreeable to me is undesirable and disagreeable to others, too. How can I inflict upon another what is undesirable and disagreeable to me?

Having reflected thus, he himself refrains from harming life, exhorts others to refrain from harming life, and speaks in prise of refraining from harming life.

Thus, his bodily conduct is purified in three respects.

SN 55.7
http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/hands.gif

Thank you Esho, that is a great teaching for all of us.

With Metta