Chapter 6
Sila-8 or the Eight Precepts
Advanced technology works to help improve the quality of one's daily life by making life easier in many ways.
But nothing can improve the quality of one's mind like Sila practice, especially Sila-8 or the observation of the Eight Precepts. It has been proven over and over again all throughout the ages how the observation of the Eight Precepts is a truly effective means to improve the quality of one's mind. This practice is always effective, for it is timeless.
Generally, the term Sila-8 refers to the observation of the Eight Precepts on special days or on special occasions; and the term Uposathasila refers to the observation of the Eight Precepts on the Buddhist Holy Day. But both have similar meaning and they include:
1. Panatipata Veramani
The intention to abstain from killing
2. Adinnadana Veramani
The intention to abstain from stealing
3. Abrahmacariya Veramami
The intention to abstain from any action that
threatens chastity practice
4. Musavada Veramani
The intention to abstain from lying
5. Suramerayamajjapamadatthana Veramani
The intention to abstain from the consumption
of alcohol and other addictive substances
6. Vikalabhojana Veramani
The intention to abstain from food consumption
from noon to dawn the next day
7. Naccagitavaditavisukadassana Malagantha
vilepana Dharanamandana Vibhusanatthana
Veramani
The intention to abstain from dancing, singing, playing musical instruments, watching different forms of entertainment, decorating the body with flowers, scented items, and color cosmetics.
8. Uccasayanamahasayana Veramani
The intention to abstain from sleeping on a
soft and thick mattress stuffed with kapok and
cotton-wool.
Sila-8 differ from Sila-5 in the following ways.
• The Third Precept in Sila-8 elevates the quality of one's mind through chastity practice.
• The Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Precepts promote chastity practice.
The Eight Precepts work very effectively in removing unwholesomeness from the mind. They can be observed at any time, especially during times of trouble as exemplified in the following story.
The Pancauposatha Jataka
In one of our Lord Buddha's previous existences while He was pursuing Perfections as a Bodhisatta, he was born into a wealthy Brahmin family living in the kingdom of Magadha. When he was grown up, he decided to take up the religious life as a Yogi living in a forest near the border of Magadha.
Not too far from the Yogi's ashram and in the bamboo clumps, there lived a pair of pigeons. There was a termite mound close by. It was the home of a snake. There were also foxes and bear in the area. These animals often came to listen to the Dhamma lectures from the Yogi. (It should be noted here that during certain periods on earth, humans and animals can communicate with each other.)
One day, the pair of pigeons went out to search for food as usual. Unfortunately, the female pigeon was snatched up by a hawk. The male pigeon felt keenly the sadness of its partner's death. It decided that for as long as it could not quell its love and longing, it would not go out to search for food.
It then flew to the Yogi's ashram. Upon its arrival, it proceeded to pledge the Eight Precepts.
On the part of the snake, one day it went out to search for food. When it came to the area where the oxen were grazing, the sound of their hoof-beat frightened it so it slithered quickly toward the termite mound. But an albino ox happened to be standing there. It was worshipped by the villagers who believed it to be a sacred ox. The ox was stomping the ground when it accidentally stepped on the snake. The snake was furious and bit the albino ox and caused it to die. The death of the ox so saddened the villagers that they came to mourn and worship it with flowers and scented items.
The snake felt remorseful thinking how its anger had caused the ox's death and the villager's sorrow. It decided that for as long as it could not quell its anger, it would not go out to feed.
It then went to the Yogi's ashram. Upon its arrival, it proceeded to pledge the Eight Precepts.
On the part of the fox, one day it found an elephant carcass and was glad to have found such a bountiful source of food. It tried to bite into the elephant but found it to be extremely tough. Finally, the only spot it could bite into was the elephant's anus. It started to feed on the elephant until it reached the elephant's abdomen. It had fed on the elephant's flesh and blood and lived inside the elephant carcass for a time.
With the passing of time, the carcass began to dry up and its anal opening was no longer there. The fox was trapped inside until it no longer had anything to eat or drink and became emaciated. It was not until one day that the rain came and caused the carcass to become soggy and soft. Still, by the time the fox could struggle itself free from the carcass, it had lost all of its fur. It decided that for as long as it could not quell its greed, it would not go out to search for food.
It then went to the Yogi's ashram. Upon its arrival, it proceeded to pledge the Eight Precepts.
On the part of the bear, its hunger drove it to invade a village in the kingdom of Malla and was later attacked by the villagers. They shot at it with arrows and beat it with a club until its head bled. It managed to escape and decided that for as long as it could not quell its craving, it would not go out to search for food.
It then went to the Yogi's ashram. Upon its arrival, it proceeded to pledge the Eight Precepts.
On the part of the Yogi, although he had lived the religious life for a very long time, he still could not achieve Jhana attainments because he was pre-occupied with his family background. At the time, there was a Paccekabuddha¹] who knew with His supernormal insight that the Yogi was working toward Buddhahood. He also knew that the Yogi had an arrogant nature. He wished to help the Yogi quell his arrogance; therefore, He left the Himavanta Forest and came to sit on the Yogi's cushion.
When the Yogi saw the Paccekabuddha sitting on his cushion, he became so angry that he rushed toward the Paccekabuddha, clapped his hands and shouted,
"You lowly monk, how dare you sit on my cushion?"
The Paccekabuddha said, "I have already attained Self-Enlightenment and within this Kappa, you will become a Buddha by the name of Siddhattha. Why then should you still be dominated by arrogance and rudeness?"
Even so the Yogi could not bring himself to pay homage to the Pacekkabuddha. So the Pacekkabuddha said to the Yogi, "You have no idea how great my family background is and how I am replete with virtues. And if you are truly capable, I challenge you to come and fly in the air with me."
The Paccekabuddha took off into the air and sprinkled dust from His feet onto the Yogi's headdress.
It was only then that the Yogi realized that the monk was a Paccekabuddha and felt remorseful that he had not paid homage to Him or heeded His words.
The Yogi lamented his arrogance. He went inside his ashram and pledged the Eight Precepts. He then practiced meditation so earnestly that he finally achieved meditative attainments.
. Soon afterward, the pigeon, the snake, the fox, and the bear came to pay respect to the Yogi. The Yogi asked the pigeon, "Why didn't you go out to search for food but are staying here to observe the Eight Precepts?"
The pigeon answered, "Because my wife was snatched by a hawk and my loss caused me to be grief-stricken. Therefore, I decided to come here to observe the Eight Precepts in order to quell the love in my heart."
The Yogi asked the snake, "Why didn't you go out to search for food but are staying here to observe the Eight Precepts?"
The snake answered, "My anger drove me to bite an albino ox. Its death caused the villagers to shed many tears. So I am here to observe the Eight Precepts in order to quell my anger."
The Yogi asked the fox, "Why didn't you go out to search for food but are staying here to observe the Eight Precepts?"
The fox answered, "Because greed nearly cost me my life so I am here to observe the Eight Precepts in order to quell my greed."
The Yogi asked the bear, "Why didn't you go out to search for food but are staying here to observe the Eight Precepts?"
The bear answered, "I had to suffer much as a result of my craving so I am here to observe the Eight Precepts in order to quell my craving."
Then the four animals asked the Yogi, "Why didn't you go out to search for fruits but are staying here to observe the Eight Precepts?"
The Yogi told the animals about his meeting with the Paccekabuddha and how he wanted to observe the Eight Precepts in order to quell his arrogance. He then advised the animals to practice wholesomeness for the rest of their lives.
On one occasion, some male lay devotees decided to observe the Eight Precepts.
The Lord Buddha asked them, "Are all of you observing the Eight Precepts?"
They answered, "We are, Most Exalted One."
The Lord Buddha said, "That is good because it was the practice of the sages of old."
Wise persons all throughout the ages have employed the Eight Precepts as a tool to quickly and effectively remove unwholesomeness from their minds.
Moreover, the observation of the Eight Precepts works in a miraculous way to bless the observer with good things and wish fulfillment as exemplified in the following story.
The Story of King Udaya
There was once a millionaire by the name of Suciparivara who lived in the city of Varanasi. His personal wealth was worth 800 million. He loved to make merit and he encouraged his wife, his children, and his retinue of attendants to observe the Five Precepts on regular days. And on the Buddhist Holy Day, he encouraged them to observe the Eight Precepts.
At one point, a poor man came to ask for work in the millionaire's residence. Normally, before hiring anyone, the millionaire would have him sign an agreement that he would observe the Precepts. But with this man, the millionaire merely said, "Do the work that you are hired to do," and no agreement was signed. This man happened to be a conscientious person. He went out to work at dawn and did not return until evening.
On the Buddhist Holy Day, the millionaire told his maid to prepare breakfast for all the workers in his employ so that afterward, all of them could pledge the Eight Precepts.
Every worker had his breakfast and remained in his room to observe the Eight Precepts except for the new employee who had left the house very early to go to work. He returned after sundown, and a maid brought him his meal. He was surprised to see no one around. He learnt from the maid that everyone remained in his room in order to observe the Eight Precepts.
The man felt that it was not right for him to eat when everyone else in the house was observing the Eight Precepts. He decided not have his evening meal and went to ask the millionaire, "Sir, can I pledge the Eight Precepts at this hour?"
The millionaire said, "Since you did not pledge the Eight Precepts in the morning, I suppose if you pledge them now, it is considered to be half-a-day instead of an entire day." The new employee said, "That is enough for me, sir." He then pledged the Eight Precepts and returned to his own room.
In the middle of the night, the man began to feel very ill because he had had nothing to eat all day long. He refused to take the five kinds of medicinal food offered to him by the millionaire because he wanted to observe the Eight Precepts immaculately.
His condition had so worsened that he became delirious. His fellow workers believed that he would soon die and took him to the balcony to await his death.
At the time, the king of Varanasi happened to be circumambulating the city. The man saw the king and wished that he too could become king one day. It was his last thought before he died. As a result of having observed the Eight Precepts for just half-a-day, he was immediately reborn in the womb of the chief wife of the king of Varanasi. After ten months in the womb, he was born. He was given the name "Udayakumara". When he was of age, he was schooled in all the arts. He happened to be able to recall his previous life. Each time he remembered it, he would exclaim,
"This is the fruit of such an insignificant deed."
After his father's death, he ascended the throne as King Udaya.
Observing the Eight Precepts for just half-a-day seems like an insignificant deed, but it became a turning point in this poor man's life. The merit earned from his determination to observe the Eight Precepts immaculately and at the cost of his life was so great that it allowed his last wish to be fulfilled instantly.
The words exclaimed by King Udaya confirm that the fruit of observing the Eight Precepts is never trivial.
