Sila (Precept) is first in the world where exists many fields of knowledge. In conclusion, the study of Sila is the best and far reaching in the world. Sila is the foundation of Vipassana meditation and Sila is the master of carrying out wholesome actions.
This is why in Dharma practice, Sila is the most important condition. Anyone practising Sila could attain the world of Paradise, Brahma and Nibbana. There are the Five Precepts, Eight Precepts, Ten Precepts and Two Hundred Twenty Seven Precepts. At this stage, I would like to discuss about the Five Precepts and the Eight Precepts. Sila is the most sought after by those practising Dharma, and especially for those wishing to attain Nibbana. However, for them, they must have three good factors:-
1. Good Knowledge
2. Good Ability
3. Good Practice which are all described in Buddha Teachings ‘
Silangloke Anudharang’ - Sila is the basic principles in carrying out good Karma - Sila brings happiness
For Dharma Practitioners, they should understand and follow these three factors mentioned as follow:-
Good knowledge means knowing Sila as the subject of Sila is the most sought after by of the five worlds. This is because whoever practises Sila he or she will attain Heaven, Brahma and Nibbana world. The study of Lord Buddha Dharma has 84,000 Dharma Khandho (Categories) and there are Four levels in all:-
Primary Level. There are a maximum of Five Points. Basic teaching principles in Buddhism,
Secondary Level. This is the Second level and there are a maximum of Eight Points .Secondary Teaching principles in Buddhism
Pre-Tertiary Level. This is the Third Level and there are a maximum of Ten points at this level of study,
Tertiary Level. This is the final Level of study in Buddhism and there are a maximum of 227 (Two Hundred Twenty Seven) Points.
At this stage, I would like to discuss only the Primary and Secondary levels of study which is the Five Precepts and the Eight Precepts so that Dharma Practitioners can gain benefits from compliance to these Precepts (Sila).
The Five Precepts:
‘Panatipata Veramani’ - To abstain from taking life in our whole life. The person who would observe this Precept fully will gain The First Point.
‘Adhinnadana Veramani’ - To abstain from taking what is not given in our whole life. The person who can would observe this Precept fully will gain the Second Point
‘Kamesumicchacara Veramani’ - To abstain from sexual misconduct in our whole life. The person who would observe this Precept fully will gain the Third Point,
‘Musavada Veramani’ - To abstain from false speech in our whole life. The person who would observe this Precept fully will gain the Fourth Point,
‘Surameraya maccapan Daddana Veramani’- To abstain from causing carelessness in our whole life. The person who would observe this Dharma Precept fully will gain the Fifth Point
Dharma practitioners who can manage to pass these Five Precepts, after passing away, will not go to any of the four planes mentioned earlier in the ‘Ubhay 4 Section’. However, once a soul leaves a body, it will be re-born in the same plane. These Five Dharma Precepts, in another word, is called ‘Manusa Dharma’. It is Dharma for all beings in the Four worlds. Every beings needs these Dharma precepts for their well beings and their happiness.
Dharma practitioners who do not observe these precepts, starting from the Third Level, that is, ‘Kamesumicchacara Veramani’ after passing away from this world, will not be re-born in the same plane again. They will go to the lowest places in Hell (Niraya) where they will serve their bad karma until completion. Then they will be re-born as human beings again.
Anyone who manages to observe only four precepts, after passing away, he or she will be re-born again in the human world, but he or she will have short span of life.
Anyone who kills many other beings, will be re-born in this world, but he or she will have very short span of life as killing other beings is bad karma. Anyone who tortures other beings, once re-born in this world, will have many kinds of skin diseases and will not have good health. Anyone who cannot observe the second precept, once born into this world, they will be poor, they will be unhealthy and will be short of all necessities in life, and whatever they do they will not prosper. Anyone who cannot observe the Third Precept, goes to Hell only to climb thorny trees. He or she will be demons and will suffer endlessly. After the completion of the punishment, he or she will be re-born in world, but will be abnormal sexually.
Once we learn that failure to observe any of the Dharma Precepts by anyone will cause enormous sufferings in this world and the worlds beyond, we must avoid doing bad karma.
At the same time, we must carry out good karma and be charitable in order to reduce our wrong doings. This is like one the Lord Buddha saying ‘ Karmunava wattatiloko’ which means world beings live according to what karma they have committed in the past. Once we know this, we must to get away from our bad karma - Good Karma will defeat Bad Karma, Light will defeat Darkness. Therefore, at this point, I would like to stress that all of us must stop doing Bad Karma which is sinful and start doing Good Karma which is meritorious actions.
At this point, I would like to give an example Angulimala ( One of the Indian Princess who was forced by jealousy, conspiracy and misunderstanding, to be to become the most brutal killer in Lord Buddha period. Later on he became Lord Buddha’s disciple.) who has killed 999 persons and after killing each one of them, he cut off one of their fingers and make a necklace of fingers around his neck. He was known to be the cruellest killer in the region. When he listened to Lord Buddha’s teachings, he realised his bad karma (sinful actions) and started doing good karma. At the end, he became Arhanta himself.
Anyone who fails to observe the Fourth Precept, after passing away, will go to Hell where he or she will serve his or her punishment until completion. Once the punishment is completed in Hell, he or she will be re-born in this world with impaired hearing, speaking and eyesight. Also, he or she will not be able to walk properly. Anyone who fails to observe the Fifth Precept, after passing away, will go to Hell where Lord of Hell will force him/her to drink boiling water. After the completion of the punishment in Hell, he or she will be re-born in this world as a human being with mental disability. He or she will be forgetful.
These are some of the effects of not observing the Dharma Precepts. In Buddhism, there are ways of eliminating karma, that is, Good Karma to eliminate Bad Karma. There are two methods which are:-
1. Karmathana
2. Vipassana Karmathana - method of eliminating karma in Buddhism.
This is why Pra Ong Kulimal was able to free himself and became Arhant. Anyone wishing to go to Heaven, Brahma and Nibbana world, he or she must sincerely and honestly observe the Five and Eight Dharma Precepts.
I have already described the effects of the Five Dharma Precepts. Now I will continue talking about the Eight Dharma Precepts which is very important in eliminating karma. The Eight Dharma Precepts is a continuation of the Five Dharma Precepts. The First to the Fifth have been discussed, and now the Six Dharma Precept which is
‘Vikara Phosana Veramani’ To abstain from consuming food from noon until early in the morning. Although food consumption is very important for all human beings, for Dharma Practitioners who wish to go to Heaven, Brahma and Nibbana world, it is very necessary to strictly observe this Dharma Precept. For a layman, not consuming sufficient food make life sad. Anyone who can honestly observe this Precept will undoubtedly gain two merits (Anisamsa) which are:-
Khanti Parami - Khanti means endurance/patience. To observe this precept we must be patient otherwise it will be a failure. The time that we can consume food is between six o’clock in the morning until noon. Outside these hours, it is not acceptable to consume food. After passing away, they will be born in heavenly plane where they will enjoy divine food. Once they consume divine food, they will have neither sickness nor sufferings. One meal of divine food can last them for seven days. These are food for Gods and Goddesses.
Anyone who is born in the Heavenly plane because of his observation of the six Precept, he would enjoy every thing which is divine.
The Seventh Precept is ‘ Naccakhitava Visukka Thasanamala Khandavilepa Natharana Muddana Vibusanaddana Veramani’ In observing this Precept it is forbidden to watch any kind of entertainment such as any kind of dancing or music as well as to wear any kind of jewellery or to use any kind of cosmetic. They must wear simple and white clothes for 24 hours (one day and one night) .
When observing the Uposatha Sila, it does not mean that we have to do it everyday, but we must do it on every Uposatha days. There are 48 Uposatha days in one year.
It is highly recommended that we must sincerely observe this Precept. Anyone who sincerely observes this Precept, after passing away he or she will be born in one of the heavenly planes where he or she will enjoy divine clothing which will be decorated with every kind of precious stones which was named in Pali as ‘Rattanataya phon’. They will live in Heaven for 16,000 years which was named in Pali as ‘Ayuvatthana Tayaphon’.
‘UccasaYanamahasayanaVeramani’This means that it is forbidden to sit above or lie down onto something padded with soft materials such as foam or kapok.
Anyone who sincerely and honestly observes this precept, after passing away, he/she will be born in one of the heavenly plane where he/she will enjoy everything divine. Whatever he/she would see and feel are divine. So these are merits for observing the Five and Eight Dharma Precepts according to Lord Buddha Teachings. Anyone can practice and observe these Dharma Precepts. There are no exceptions.