Monk Who is Perfected in Morality (Second Discourse)

He eats once a day and not at night, refraining from eating at improper times. He avoids watching dancing, singing, music and shows. He abstains from using garlands, perfumes, cosmetics, ornaments and adornments. He avoids using high or wide beds. He avoids accepting gold and silver. He avoids accepting raw grain or raw flesh, he does not accept women and young girls, male or female slaves, sheep and goats, cocks and pigs, elephants, cattle, horses and mares, fields and plots of land; he refrains from running errands, from buying and selling, from cheating with false weights and measures, from bribery and corruption, deception and insincerity, from wounding, killing, imprisoning, highway robbery, and taking food by force.

Thus he is accomplished in morality.

(Reference: DN 1.10)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how a Practitioner can become “accomplished in morality” or moral conduct. This Teaching is mostly for the guidance of Ordained Practitioners but can also benefit Household Practitioners when understood and practiced based on household life.

This guidance is explained in Chapter 46 of this book as part of The Eight Precepts. “He eats once a day and not at night, refraining from eating at improper times. He avoids watching dancing, singing, music and shows. He abstains from using garlands, perfumes, cosmetics, ornaments and adornments. He avoids using high or wide beds”.

This guidance helps an Ordained Practitioner to further purify Right Action and Right Livelihood. “He avoids accepting gold and silver. He avoids accepting raw grain or raw flesh, he does not accept women and young girls, male or female slaves, sheep and goats, cocks and pigs, elephants, cattle, horses and mares, fields and plots of land; he refrains from running errands, from buying and selling, from cheating with false weights and measures, from bribery and corruption, deception and insincerity, from wounding, killing, imprisoning, highway robbery, and taking food by force”.

Detailed explanation of Teachings to guide Ordained Practitioners is available in this same book series found in the book “Lowly Arts” (Volume 12). There are also Teachings in Volume 12 that will help Household Practitioners.