Broken Sila is the defilement of Sila which produces sorrow. Unbroken Sila is purity of Sila which produces spotless clarity.
Broken Sila is caused by worldly conditions such as desire for gain or dignity, and by the seven bonds of sexuality (Methunasamyoga). [Bonds of Sexuality, sex-bonds which cause the renting or blotching of the life of chastity despite no actual sexual intercourse. They are: (1) enjoyment of massage, manipulation, bathing and rubbing down by women, (2) joking and having a good time with women, (3) enjoy gazing and staring at women eye to eye, (4) enjoy listening to women as they laugh, talk, sing or weep beyond a wall or a fence, (5) enjoyment of recalling the laughs, talks and enjoyment one formerly had with women, (6) enjoy seeing a householder or a householder’s son indulging in sensual pleasures and (7) leading the life of chastity aspiring to be reborn as a god or a deity.]
In fact, in any of the seven types of ecclesiastical offences, if the precepts at the beginning or at the end are broken by a monk, that monk’s precepts are torn like a cloth frayed at the edge. If a monk’s precepts are broken in the middle, his precepts have a hole, like a cloth with a hole in the middle. When a monk’s precepts are broken consecutively, his precepts are blotched, like a cow with long, round black or red spots over her back or belly. When a monk’s precepts are broken in every other order, his precepts are mottled like a speckled cow with small spots all over.
Unbroken Sila can be due to: (1) Not breaking any precept, (2) Confession of broken precepts, (3) No bonds of sexuality, (4) No arising of any unwholesome states such as mental defilement (Upakilesa) which are: Greed and Covetousness, Malevolence or Ill will,Anger, Grudge or Spite, Insult, Ingratitute or Disrespect, Envious Rivalry, Jealousy, Miserliness, Deceit, Boasting, Headstrong, Impetuosity, Conceit, Contempt, Intoxication, and Negligence, and (5) Rising of wholesome states such as being undemanding, content [satisfied], unassuming, or mindful, constantly blocking and erasing defilements.
If Sila is not broken for the exchange of gain or if Sila is broken because of carelessness but then confessed or Sila is not destroyed by bonds of sexuality or unwholesome states such as anger or ill will, it is called Sila that is not torn, not holed, not blotched and not mottled. Sila brings transcendence. Sila brings praise by the wise. Sila brings purity from defilements such as craving. Sila brings concentration. Sila leads to Access Concentration and Attainment Concentration.
Therefore, Purity of Sila can be achieved in two ways: by seeing the dangers of the destruction of Sila and by seeing the benefits of pure Sila.
Note: Bonds of Sexuality or Methunasaÿyoga, sex-bonds which cause the renting or blotching of the life of chastity despite no actual sexual intercourse. They are: (1) enjoyment of massage, manipulation, bathing and rubbing down by women, (2) joking and having a good time with women, (3) enjoy gazing and staring at women eye to eye, (4) enjoy listening to women as they laugh, talk, sing or weep beyond a wall or a fence, (5) enjoyment of recalling the laughs, talks and enjoyment one formerly had with women, (6) enjoy seeing a householder or a householder’s son indulging in sensual pleasures and (7) leading the life of chastity aspiring to be reborn as a god or a deity.