Precepts are merely guidelines for behavior. Many people don't like to hear and be told "Don't do this" or "Don't do that". These people may want to give more emphasis to the "FREEDOM" level of each precept. But since all of us do most of the things mentioned below before we start practicing Dhamma, the first step is to know what we "shouldn't" do. (You can probably agree that to refrain from most of the following is good for you and others.) Only when we see that we're doing most of those things can we make efforts to stop. We can start behaving, speaking, and thinking in more wholesome ways. This means practicing mindfulness as taught in the Buddha's Four Foundations of Mindfulness Sutta (Sutra).

Read each level of each precept carefully and ask yourself, "Do I act, speak, or think like this?" If you confidently answer "no" don't bother any further with this particular behavior. If you answer "yes" and you can see good reasons to stop, make your best efforts to stop. If you answer "yes" but really don't see any reason to stop, you may want to put this one aside for the time being and focus on areas where you see good reasons to stop. For example, "What harm," you may wonder, "is there in getting revenge on someone who "deserves" it. Well, first of all, look in your own mind. Are you peaceful? Of course not. You want to hurt someone. You may call it "teaching him or her a lesson" but if you can't let it go, you aren't peaceful. And consider the likelihood of that person learning the lesson. And with all the other dangers in "teaching that person a lesson" by getting revenge, it just ain't worth it. Nope.

So, read each level of each precept and reflect on your own behavior, speech, thoughts, and feelings. Then determine at what level within each precept you want to practice. For instance, regarding the first precept you may decide that controlling your behavior and speech are within your capability. You may decide that "cleaning up" your CRUDER FEELINGS and SUBTLER FEELINGS is just too hard. You can just decide to practice control of your behavior and speech. And if you are like most people, just this much will be a real challenge and there will be times when you slip up. THIS IS NORMAL. As far as working on your cruder and subtler feelings, just do what you can and be aware of how you act, speak, and feel, and what you think, as a result of these levels of feeling. Do this with each precept. Consider what's listed under each level as just examples, that's all. Understand the spirit of each level. With awareness, you may see that following the precepts more and more closely and to ever deeper and more subtle levels, brings more and more happiness. Or, as Buddhists understand it, less and less dissatisfaction in life.

Following the precepts, and not following them for that matter, are inextricably linked with kamma (karma). Determining the severity and weight of kamma is intricate beyond common understanding. Let's just say this: consider your actions, speech, and mind. Mind is internal while speech and actions are actualizations of what is in your mind. Intending to act or speak and doing so brings on the heaviest kamma. Doing or saying something without intention results in lighter kamma. Intention without actualizion of those intentions brings on the lightest kamma. Keep in mind that not all kamma is bad. Intending to do good things and actualizing them brings on the best kamma. Likewise thinking good thoughts and saying good things results in good kamma. In Buddhism, yes, the focus is on the negative because the vast majority of us usually behave, speak, think, and feel in detrimental ways. And we don't even know it. You know the saying, "You reap what you sow." And how about this one, "Ignorance of the law is no excuse." Likewise ignorance of the Law of Cause and Effect, or the Law of Kamma, does not make one immune to it. Ignorance only deepens and intensifies our involvement in this wheel. Only when we start to study and see how life works, can we start to. free ourselves. That is what Buddhism is all about. And it starts right here, with following the precepts, and right now, right this very instant.

The Foregoing was fluff; the following is the translation of the booklet on the precepts.

FIRST PRECEPT Study and accept this precept in order to reduce and ultimately extinguish anger, exploitation, and oppression. BREACH To intentionally kill or harm the life of any creature whatsoever, including oneself, and to bodily express anger. For example, to kick a dog or hit a cat out of anger. Intention is enough, even without having taken action. SPEECH To intentionally speak out of anger. For example, to order a killing, to order harmful actions, or, to speak violently, to taunt or irritate others out of anger or dissatisfaction. To make any sort of utterance out of feelings of anger which cannot be controlled. CRUDER FEELINGS To feel anger, vengeance, hatred, dissatisfaction, dislike; to feel annoyed or offended, or to think with hateful feelings. For example, to think maliciously, think to harm, or in general to think to do bad things to others, including to insects and animals. SUBTLER FEELINGS To feel bored, fed up, weary, sluggish, dull; to do an activity half-heartedly or unwillingly, to retreat [from difficulties or anything which seems difficult], to be low-spirited, to be unwilling to accept, or, to consider the world "gray". FREEDOM To have developed oneself to the point of freedom. To have none of the above-mentioned defilements, especially with respect to anger, harmful, exploitative, or oppressive actions, and so to know that one feels compassion and loving-kindness all the time.

SECOND PRECEPT Study and accept this precept in order to reduce and ultimately extinguish greed, miserliness, even with regard to one's own time, energy, etc. BREACH To be corrupt, to be competitive, to steal, to even take things without the owner's consent. SPEECH To intentionally speak indirectly in order to get something. To speak deceivingly, or even truthfully but with greed in one's mind, in order to get something wanted. CRUDER FEELINGS To think to take advantage, think selfishly, or think of wanting something belonging to others. Or to use one's rank or position in order to get something, or, in order to be in a situation, not in keeping with one's rank or position. SUBTLER FEELINGS To take pleasure in worldly things, other people's things, or, out of greed, to place yourself in a position to get something. FREEDOM To have developed oneself to the point of being free of infatuation with worldly things, to no longer push away distasteful things; to have extinguished miserliness; to be a seeker of both worldly truth and Ultimate Truth; to be a dream builder; to work diligently with no thought of remuneration, and to have none of the above-mentioned defilements.

THIRD PRECEPT Study and accept this precept in order to reduce and ultimately extinguish all sexual feelings. BREACH To intentionally have sex with another person, to touch another person with sexual feelings, or, to masturbate or touch oneself for sexual stimulation. Also to molest another being, animal or human, child or adult, even one's spouse or girlfriend / boyfriend. SPEECH To flatter, seduce, tease, or, flirt with sexual feelings, no matter how mild or strong, in order to have sex, or, to make an obscene phone call. CRUDER FEELINGS To think often about sex; vacillate between certainty and uncertainty regarding celibacy; have wild fantasies about sex; or reminisce about past sexual adventures and experiences. SUBTLER FEELINGS To enjoy: thoughts of sex; thoughts of having a partner / spouse; sexually stimulating sights, tastes, sounds, smells, or touches; or any other sexual stimulation, either heterosexual, homosexual, or about oneself alone. FREEDOM To have developed oneself to the point of having no interest in sex and not having any of the above-mentioned defilements. FOOTNOTE: Though the wording of this precept does not indicate it, for married couples following the five precepts (not all eight), sexual activity is allowed. Under all other circumstances one should abstain from sexual activity.

FOURTH PRECEPT Study and accept this precept in order to reduce and ultimately extinguish deception and untruths. BREACH To intentionally lie, deceive, distort, or misrepresent the truth [via any mode of communication]. COARSE SPEECH To intentionally speak to express anger, or foster greed or sexual feelings. This is considered coarse speech. SUBTLER SPEECH To speak derogatorily, sarcastically, or insidiously with overtones of anger, greed, sexual feelings, conceit, arrogance, over-confidence, or exploitation, regardless of whether the feelings are mild or strong. Also, to speak in order to cause disputes, arguments, or, to cause rifts among people, breaking them up into opposing factions / groups. STILL SUBTLER SPEECH To blabber aimlessly; complain and grumble (even silently); speak flippantly without reflection; or, upon contact with any stimulus that inflames anger, dissatisfaction, greed, sexual feelings, arrogance, or over-confidence, to orally express the resulting feelings. FREEDOM To have developed oneself to the point where speaking in a friendly, hospitable way is natural. To speak without influence of anger, greed, sexual feelings, conceit, arrogance, tenuous clinging to oneself or one's views, and with none of the above-mentioned defilements.

FIFTH PRECEPT Study and accept this precept in order to reduce and ultimately extinguish indulgence, addictive vices, ignorance and delusion, negligence and indifference, and increase awareness and a sense of responsibility, and, prevent the quality of life from deteriorating. BREACH To willingly indulge in any of 6 vices: 1) any intoxicant: including alcohol, drugs, tobacco, etc. 2) "hanging out", going to bars, discos, or clubs after sunset 3) attending concerts, movies, plays or other entertainment lacking moral value 4) gambling 5) associating with bad people 6) laziness. All these involve a loss or waste of time, money, health, respectability, etc. SPEECH To speak with intention to lead or encourage others to any of the 6 vices, or to fondly, gladly recollect past indulgences in any of them. CRUDER FEELINGS To have favorable feelings and / or a favorable attitude toward any of the 6 vices. To feel envious when seeing another person indulge in any of them. To not have the wisdom to see the damage involved in any of them. FREEDOM To have developed oneself to the point of feeling neither pleasure nor detest regarding ALL of the 6 vices. To be free of the above-mentioned defilements.

FOLKS REALLY TRYING TO REDUCE THEIR WORLDLY ATTACHMENTS / SPIRITUAL DEFILEMENTS WILL FOLLOW ALL EIGHT PRECEPTS. BUT EVEN SOMEBODY ONLY DOING THE FIVE PRECEPTS CAN BENEFIT FROM INCLUDING SOME OF THE FOLLOWING IN THEIR PRACTICE.

SIXTH PRECEPT To study and accept this precept in order to reduce and ultimately extinguish the desire to eat at improper times, infatuation and preoccupation with food, and, to eat all the food you take, having no leftovers. BREACH After already determining the number of meals to eat per day (not to exceed two), then to eat more than that set number of meals. [One can determine each day how many meals to eat that day, but unless it is necessary, to determine to eat more than two meals is a breach.] Also, to resist temptation to snack between meals. SPEECH To demand, call for, ask for, or to speak either directly or indirectly in order to get food that one desires. To speak on and on about food that one enjoys eating. CRUDER FEELINGS To think about food that one enjoys eating. To want to eat food that, upon contact with its sight, taste, smell, or touch arouses desire to eat it, and/or brings up pleasurable memories of its sight, taste, smell, or touch. SUBTLER FEELINGS To take pleasure in the sight, taste, smell, or touch of a food, or, when a food pleases the senses as one has come to expect. FREEDOM To have developed oneself to the point of feeling neither like nor dislike, no matter how mild, towards a food's sight, taste, smell, or touch. Having none of the above-mentioned defilements. Though you realize "good" or "bad" qualities in food, there is no feeling of "I like this" or "I don't like this".

SEVENTH PRECEPT Study and accept this precept in order to reduce and ultimately extinguish: indulgence in things which are heavily made up, gaudy, that foster sexual feelings, and all pleasures of the senses; infatuation with physical, bodily appearance, and with kammically unwholesome entertainment performances of all sorts. BREACH To willingly dance in any style, be it disco, ballroom, even traditional local dance, to sing or hum, to assume postures, make gestures (i.e. winking), any of the foregoing with the intention of fostering sexual feelings [refer to the 3rd precept], anger [refer to the 1st precept] or delusion / wrong understanding [refer to the 5th precept]. To perform any sort of musical instrument to foster sexual feelings, anger, or delusion. To adorn oneself with flowers, garlands, perfumes or colognes, cosmetics, jewelry, or any sort of ornamentation which is inappropriate to one's position or status, or just isn't necessary. All these are intended to arouse, excite or entice others or oneself, especially with regards to sexual feelings. SPEECH To willingly speak to persuade, encourage, or convince oneself or others to perform music or sing songs without moral value, or which are immoral or kammically unwholesome. To invite others to read, see, or hear things which are immoral or kammically unwholesome. To speak to influence oneself or others to wear flowers, perfumes or colognes, make-up, jewelry, or any sort of adornment that is unnecessary. To speak on and on of such adornments. CRUDER FEELINGS To strongly want to: foster, encourage sexual feelings; long for kammically unwholesome entertainment, play music or sing to oneself quietly, or silently (meaning in your mind without voicing the words or melodies); know things which are kammically unwholesome, or use any sort of adornment for fragrance or appearance. To enjoy reminiscing about past experiences involving the breaches mentioned in this precept. SUBTLER FEELINGS To still enjoy indulgence in enhancing sexual feelings. When seeing others do the same, to feel a mild pleasure, somewhat envious, and to not have the wisdom to see the harm involved in the indulgence in and infatuation with the above-mentioned defilements. FREEDOM To have developed oneself to the point of feeling neither pleasure nor displeasure in song, dance or musical performance, or use any sort of bodily adornment. To not strike poses or gestures that foster sexual feelings, anger, or delusion. To help others feel neutral toward the above-mentioned defilements.

EIGHTH PRECEPT Study and accept this precept in order to reduce and ultimately extinguish ambitiously enhancing one's sense of self and feelings of self-importance, conceit, arrogance, and ego. BREACH To willingly indulge in big, fancy, luxurious beds, seats, homes, or in having a certain position, status, or job so as to be able to boast and feel proud. This indulgence arises from a shameful sense of self-importance. SPEECH To willingly speak to encourage, persuade or convince oneself or others to sit, sleep, lie down or live one's daily life with feelings of self-importance and / or ostentation. To speak in such a way as to: elevate oneself while pushing others down, show off one's importance, boast, or exaggerate about oneself. To speak on and on about wanting a large, fancy, luxurious seat, bed, or home. To not be able to refrain from arrogant, or narcissistic speech, or, from putting others down. CRUDER FEELINGS To strongly want to feel big and important. To long for a large, luxurious, fancy, seat, bed, home, status, position, or job. To reminisce about times past when one felt important and thus to feel proud of oneself. SUBTLER FEELINGS To take pride and satisfaction in feeling that oneself or another is big and important, even though that bloated sense of self-importance is apparent or obvious. This includes all manner of big, luxurious, fancy seats, beds, positions, or statuses. To envy a person in a high position or status and jealously want to replace that person. To not have the wisdom to know what's important and what's unimportant in life, and, to know what is appropriate to one's position and status. This includes all manner of mistaken beliefs and mistaken preconceived notions. FREEDOM To have developed oneself to the point of freedom from indulgence in feeling big and important, in having big, fancy, luxurious seats, beds, homes, and positions. And, to have none of the above-mentioned defilements.

Well That's Observance Of The Precepts at Asoke groups temples by Troy Santos. We hope more information of him still advantage for everyone here and another people at oversea too. By www. bunniyom.com from Ben, friends at The University Of London, UK and friends at Thai Airways International Public Company Limited.