Live from Noble Path

The Five Moral Precepts are the backbone of Buddhist ethics and are designed to discipline and purify the three means of human action — body, speech, and mind. The precepts are recited on a daily basis by most Buddhists after reciting the formula for the threefold refuge in the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha. The observance of the five precepts forms the minimum foundation of a life governed by the Buddha’s teachings. The precepts are as follows:

1. I undertake the precept to refrain from destroying living creatures
2. I undertake the precept to refrain from taking that which is not given
3. I undertake the precept to refrain from sexual misconduct
4. I undertake the precept to refrain from incorrect speech
5. I undertake the precept to refrain from intoxicating drinks and drugs which lead to carelessness

The abstention from killing, stealing, and sexual misconduct disciplines and purifies bodily actions ... read more of What are the Five Precepts? ...

The Triple Gems – or the Three Jewels – of Buddhism refer to the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha.

Buddha

The Buddha was born in 543 BC in what is now known as Nepal and was given the name Siddhattha Gotama. At the age of 29 he renounced the life as the son of a king and became a homeless ascetic. After six year’s of practice and contemplation, Buddha attained Nibbana (Nirvana), and spent the next 45 years with tireless teaching until he died at the age of 80.

Dhamma

The Dhamma (Dharma) is the teachings of the Buddha, which has been handed down in the ancient Pali language, and preserved in three collections of hooks, called the Tipitaka (the three baskets) ... read more of What are the Triple Gems? ...

Absorption

With further practice the factors of concentration gain in strength and bring the mind to absorption. Like access concentration, absorption takes the counterpart sign as object. Concentration in the stage of absorption is divided into eight levels, each marked by greater depth, purity, and subtlety than its predecessor. The first four levels form a set called the four jhana. The second four are immaterial states. The eight levels have to be attained in progressive order, the achievement of any later level being dependent on the mastery of the immediately preceding level ... read more of Stages of Concentration 2 ...