Training in Higher Morality

Training in Higher Morality is practicing good conduct in actions and speech. From another perspective, Training in Higher Morality is not doing harm to oneself or to others. One aims to purify moral behavior. This is called purity of morality or Sila-visuddhi. Purity of morality leads to purity of mind (Cittavisuddhi) which is the basic foundation for penetrating the Four Noble Truths as well as all conditioned phenomena and the unconditioned which is Nirvana.

What is Sila?

Moral intention (Cetana) is Sila, mental concomitants (Cetasika) are Sila, moral restraint (Samvara) is Sila, and not breaking any precepts (Avitik-kama) is Sila.

Moral intention or Cetana is one’s intention not to commit evil conduct in act and in speech, but to follow the seven wholesome courses of action (abstention from killing, stealing, adultery and improper speech such as lying, backbiting, divisive speech and gossip). This is called CetanaSila.

Moral abstinence or Virati is refraining from all unwholesome courses of action and speech along with other immoral behavior. Virati also includes mental actions or thoughts which are refraining from covetousness, ill will and wrong view. As Lord Buddha said, “Monks, he who eliminates covetousness will have moral mentality.” This is CetasikaSila.

Moral restraint or Samvara is of five types: (1) following the moral code of discipline (Patimokkhasamvara), (2) Mindful restraint (Satisamvara), (3) Restraint based on transcendent knowledge, (4) Restraint based on patience (Khantisamvara) and (5) Restraint based on diligence (Viriyasamvara). Together, these are called moral restraint or Samvarasila.

Avitikkama is not to fail to carry out the moral commitments precepts or Sila that an individual has already undertaken. This includes conduct in both acts and speech. This is called Avitikkamasila.

Moral rules or Sila mean the precepts or resolutions to be well behaved which govern an individual’s conduct in action and speech. For the householder, Sila consists of Five Precepts or Eight Precepts. For Novices, Sila consists of Ten Precepts. For monks, there are 227 disciplinary rules of conduct in the Patimokkha which Lord Buddha established. This is called the Vinaya or discipline.

The Disciplinary Code is a set of formally agreed upon rules of conduct and punishments for all individuals within a social group to control actions, speech and thought.

Two Kinds of Precepts

1. Precepts for Householders (Agariyavinaya)

Agariyavinaya means precepts for householders or laity. This is abstaining from ten unwholesome courses of action: (1) Abstention from killing, (2) Abstention from taking that which is not given, (3) Abstention from sexual misconduct, (4) Abstention from false speech, (5) Abstention from tale-bearing, (6) Abstention from harsh speech, (7) Abstention from vain talk or gossip, (8) Absence of covetousness, (9) Absence of ill will, (10) Possession of Right view.

Phra Buddhaghosa has explained, “The householder who observes the Agariyavinaya well will not be depressed by those ten unwholesome courses of action. He will be stable in the virtue of wholesome actions. This is one of the highest blessings because it bring benefits in both worlds [This world and the next world].” In the third verse of the highest blessings, Lord Buddha said: Great learning, great knowledge in arts and sciences, high discipline, and well-mannered speech, these are highest blessings.

2. Clerical Precepts (Anagariyavinaya)    

Anagariyavinaya is the discipline for monks, including not violating the Code of Monastic Discipline (Patimokkha). The commentary explains, “Not  committing the seven types of ecclesiastical offences is called Anagariyavinaya,” and also adds, “Anagariyavinaya which the monks have well studied so that they do not violate the seven types of ecclesiastical offences,  results in good conduct. This is one of the highest blessings because it brings the benefits of happiness in the present life and in the next life.”

Avoiding the seven types of ecclesiastical offences means strictly observing the rules. If any of those is violated, the monk must confess or live in probation [such as Sanghadhisesa]. When the violation is confessed or the probation is over, there will be no more fault.