Four Pure Precepts

Pure Precepts or Parisuddhisila are the disciplinary rules that  monks need to study and observe in order to purify the morality of action and speech. This is the foundation for purifying the mind and attaining insight wisdom. It is called Parisuddhisila, which consists of four restraints: Restraint in accordance with the monastic disciplinary code, Restraint of the senses, Pure conduct regarding livelihood, and Restraint regarding the necessities of life.

Pure Precepts are Clerical Precepts (Anagariya-vinaya). They give benefits for attaining both sensual happiness and transcendental happiness. Phra Sirimangala has explained, “Parisuddhisila is also called Anagariya-vinaya. Anagariya-vinaya, well studied and practiced, develops stability in the four Pure Precepts.This in turn leads to attaining Noble Disciple status. That is called being well educated. It is one of the highest blessings, because it brings both sensual happiness and transcendental happiness.”5 The following are the Four Types of Precepts.

1. Restraint in the Monastic Disciplinary Code    

Restraint in the Monastic Disciplinary Code (Patimokkhasanvara)  is the code of Monastic Discipline for Monks. Lord Buddha said, “Monks in this religion restrain themselves with  Patimokkhasanvara. They are, thus, ready in Right Conduct and Right Livelihood. They see danger in the minutest fault and stick to the precepts.”  This means not d  oing what Lord Buddha does not allow and doing what ought to be done. The more morality (Sila) the monk develops with Patimokkhasanvara, the more effective that monk’s practice of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness will become.

2. Restraint of the Senses

Restraint of the Senses (Indriyasanvarasila) is control of the internal sense fields: the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body and mind. When seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, touching and thinking, the meditator remains neutral. One is not excited, aroused, pleased, or glad and does not cling to any pleasurable or unpleasurable emotion. The mind stays neutral regarding what it sees, hears, smells, tastes, touches, or thinks, and it does not create the pleasurable or unpleasurable emotions which lead to unwholesome states such as the defilements of ignorance, craving and attachment which control the mind to commit unwholesome conduct. 

3. Purity of Conduct Regrading Livelihood

Purity of Conduct Regarding Livelihood (Ajivaparisuddhisila) is conducting right livelihood, abstaining from wrong livelihood and the five unwholesome states of violating the six types of precepts (Parajika to Dukkata) on the basis of occupation.

The following are the six precepts that Lord Buddha laid down regarding occupation:

1. A monk with wrong desire controlled by greed who falsely claims a superior human state that he doesn’t have commits a Parajika offence.
2. A monk who arranges a date, affair, or marriage between a man and a woman commits a Sanghadisesa offence.
3. A monk who says, “The monk in your shelter is a Perfect one,” commits a Thullaccaya offence.
4. A monk who is not sick but asks for fine food for himself commits a Pacittiya offence.
5. A  female monk who is not sick but asks for fine food for herself commits a Patidesaniya offence.
6. A monk who is not sick but asks for soup or rice for himself commits a Dukkata offence.

4. Pure Utilization of Necessities         

Pure utilization of necessities (Paccayasannissitasila) means carefully contemplating before using the requisites. The commentary explains that a necessary thing such as a monk’s robe is called a requisite because beings need it in order to survive. Proper Sila regarding these requisites is called pure conduct regarding the necessities of life.