GOING FOR REFUGE & TAKING THE PRECEPTS

Preface The first two steps in the process of becoming a lay disciple of the Buddha are the going for

Going for Refuge The Buddha’s teaching can be thought of as a kind of building with its own distinct foundation,

II. The Existence of a Refuge To realize that the human situation impels the search for a refuge is a

III. IDENTIFICATION OF THE OBJECTS OF REFUGE The fruitfulness of the act of taking refuge is proportional to the depth

IV. THE ACT OF GOING FOR REFUGE To enter the door to the teaching of the Buddha it is not

V. THE FUNCTION OF GOING FOR REFUGE The going for refuge is the door of entrance to the teaching of

VI. THE METHODS OF GOING FOR REFUGE The methods of going for refuge divide into two general kinds: the superior

VII. CORRUPTIONS AND BREACH OF THE REFUGE Corruptions of the refuge are factors that make the going for refuge impure, insincere,

VIII. THE SIMILES FOR THE REFUGES In the traditional Indian method of exposition no account or treatment of a theme

Taking the Precepts Going for refuge to the Triple Gem — the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha — is

X. THE FIVE PRECEPTS 1. The First Precept: Abstinence from Taking Life The first of the five precepts reads in

XI. THE EIGHT PRECEPTS Beyond the five precepts Buddhism offers a higher code of moral discipline for the laity consisting

XII. THE BENEFITS OF SILA The benefits sila brings to the one who undertakes it can be divided into three

XIII. THE UNDERTAKING OF SILA The Buddhist tradition recognizes three distinct ways of observing the precepts. One is called immediate

XIV. THE BREACH OF SILA To undertake the precepts is to make a determination to live in harmony with them,

XV. THE SIMILES FOR SILA The texts illustrate the qualities of sila with numerous similes, but as with the three