Appendix: The Gradual Teaching

As this book is mainly concerned with meditation, here are some Sutta passages with descriptions of generosity (daana) and moral precepts (siila).

Daana: Generosity

In contrast to the modern emphasis on consuming and possessing, the Lord Buddha spoke of the virtue of giving and being content with whatever one has. There are always circumstances where one can give. For instance, one can offer one's time, help and sympathy. And one can for-give.

If one has wealth, he explained the use of possessions; the benefits which one should get from wealth; reasons for earning and having wealth:

i) to make oneself, one's parents, children, wife, servants and workmen happy and live in comfort.

ii) to share this happiness and comfort with one's friends.

iii) to make oneself secure against all misfortunes.

iv) to make the fivefold offering:

to relatives, by giving help to them.

to guests, by receiving them.

to the departed, by dedicating merit to them.

to the king, (i.e., to the government) by paying taxes and duties and so on.

to the deities, i.e., those beings who are worshipped according to one's faith.

v) to support those monks and spiritual teachers who lead a pure and diligent life.

(A.III.45)

Sappurisa Daana: Gifts of a good man

i) to give clean things.

ii) to give choice things.

iii) to give at fitting times.

iv) to give suitable things.

v) to give with discretion.

vi) to give repeatedly or regularly.

vii) to calm one's mind on giving.

viii) to be glad after giving.

(A.IV.243)

Siila: Precepts

The basic guidelines for the actions and speech of any Buddhist can be appreciated by anyone, of any religion or none. There is no dogma involved, it is a plain and simple way of living without harming or hurting any creature.

The other feature to bear in mind is that it is accepted voluntarily by the individual. This is not something that one is commanded to receive. It is the individual's volition that changes a list of precepts into a way of living. With that change, the appreciation and mindfulness of one's actions and speech become more subtle and which automatically leads on to meditation.

There are the basic Five Precepts and these become more refined with the Eight Precepts. Everyone who listened to the original Dhamma talks (in this book) would be keeping (at least temporarily) the Eight Precepts.

These Precepts can be received by simply saying:

"I undertake the training rule/precept...

i) to abstain from taking life.

ii) to abstain from taking what is not given.

*iii) to abstain from sexual misconduct.

iv) to abstain from false speech.

v) to abstain from intoxicants causing heedlessness."

*iii) "to abstain from unchastity.

vi) to abstain from untimely eating.

vii) to abstain from dancing, singing, music and unseemly shows, from wearing garlands, smartening with scents, and embellishment with unguents.

viii) to abstain from the use of high and large luxurious couches."

[Taken from the Dictionary of Buddhism, compiled by Ven. Phra Debvedi (Prayudh Payutto), Bangkok, B.E. 2528 (1985)]