Lesson video

Hello, my name's Ms. Ramalli and welcome to today's RE lesson.

In today's lesson, we're going to be exploring the five moral precepts, specifically looking at precepts three, four, and five.

Today's lesson forms part of our unit on Buddhism practises.

Okay, let's begin.

Today's lesson outcome is I can explain the moral precepts: to avoid misusing the senses, speaking falsely, and using intoxicants, and their importance to Buddhists today.

To help guide us through today's lesson, there are five keywords, ethics or ethical, falsehoods, intoxicants, moral, and the five moral precepts, also known as panchasila.

Ethics or ethical relates to moral principles that inform behaviour and attitudes.

Falsehoods refers to untrue statements, intoxicants, a substance, such as alcohol, that produces feelings of pleasure in a person.

Moral is concerned with the principles or beliefs about what is right and wrong, and this includes following the five moral precepts and the five moral precepts, or panchasila, are an important part of Buddhist ethics.

They're also part of the eightfold path, particularly right action.

So today's lesson on the five moral precepts, looking at senses, falsehoods, or intoxicants takes two parts.

So we're going to be exploring the precepts three, four, and five.

First of all, we're going to be exploring senses, falsehoods and intoxicants, and then move on to consider the importance of the moral precepts.

Most worldviews have a code of ethics.

The five moral precepts, or panchasila, are a set of ethical guidelines used in most schools of Buddhism.

By following these precepts, Buddhists aim to lead a virtuous life, reduce suffering, dukkha, and ultimately attain enlightenment.

The term panchasila has its origins in the ancient Sanskrit language, pancha meaning five and sila, moral conduct or virtue.

So panchasila can translate to mean five virtues or five precepts.

The five moral precepts are do not take life, do not take what is not given, do not misuse the senses, do not speak falsehoods, and do not take intoxicants that cloud the mind.

Okay, time to pause to complete a check for standing.

So first of all, I'm going to give an explanation, so give you an example of how to answer this check for understanding.

The five moral precepts are a set of ethical guidelines in Buddhism.

Give one of the moral precepts.

So, for example, you could say, do not speak falsehoods.

Time for your go.

Give another of the moral precepts.

Pause the video here and press play when you're ready to check your answer.

Okay, well done.

You may have said do not misuse the senses, but there are other possible answers.

So you may have also said do not take what is not given, do not take intoxicants that cloud the mind or do not take life.

Well done, everybody.

Okay, so now we're gonna explore the five moral precepts in more detail.

So let's start with number one, do not take life.

This refers to avoiding harming any living beings.

Number two, do not take what is not given.

This involves avoiding taking things that are not yours.

Number three, do not misuse the senses.

This is about avoiding overindulging in things like food and not cheating in relationships.

Number four, do not speak falsehoods.

So this is avoiding lying or spreading rumours.

And number five, do not take intoxicants that cloud the mind.

This involves avoiding alcohol and drugs.

Buddhists will look to the teachings of the Buddha to know what good morals are and how to behave.

In the Dhammapada, verses 246 to 247, it states, "He who destroys life, tells lies, takes what is not given to him, commits adultery and takes intoxicating drinks, digs up his own roots even in this very life." What I would like you to do now is pause the video, and either on your own or with your partner, discuss or consider an answer to this question.

What can a Buddhist learn from this verse about what good morals are and how to behave? Pause the video here and press play when you're ready to reflect on your answers.

Welcome back, everybody.

So perhaps in your answers you said the following points: a Buddhist learns that if they engage in destructive or excessive behaviours, it will cause instability and instability will ultimately lead to suffering and the suffering can happen in this life.

Okay, well done, everybody.

So the third moral precept is do not misuse the senses.

So let's explore what that means.

So in the Dhammapada, it says.

"He destroys life and commits adultery." So what this means is it's discouraging actions that cause harm to others, such as adultery or sexual exploitation.

Let's complete a check for understanding.

True or false? The third moral precept is misuse the senses.

Pause the video here and press play when you're ready to see the correct answer.

Well done if you said that statement is false because the third moral precept is do not misuse the senses, not misuse the senses.

The fourth moral precept is do not speak falsehoods.

So let's explore what is meant by this.

So in the Dhammapada, it says, "He who destroys life, tells lies.

." Now, this precept advises against lying, gossiping, slander, or using hurtful language.

And the fifth and final moral precept, do not take intoxicants that cloud the mind.

Let's explore what is meant by the fifth and final moral precept.

So we saw the Dhammapada says, "He who destroys life and takes intoxicating drinks." This precept advises against using substances like alcohol or drugs that impair judgement.

Izzy says, "As a Mahayana Buddhist, Mike, do you find the five moral precepts easy to follow?" Mike says, "I think the five moral precepts are common sense.

They are guidelines to follow rather than rules that we will be judged upon.

The Buddha followed them so we should too.

The precepts are similar to other societies' laws so it is not impossible." Can you think of religious teachings that are similar to the precepts? Either on your own or with your partner, consider what other religious teachings are similar to the five moral precepts in Buddhism.

Pause the video and press play when you're ready to move on with the lesson.

Okay, let's complete a check for understanding.

Which one of the following is not one of the five moral precepts? A, do not misuse the senses.

B, do not speak truth.

Or C, do not take intoxicants to cloud the mind.

Pause the video and press play when you're ready to see the correct answer.

Well done if you said the correct statement is B.

Do not speak truth is not one of the five moral precepts.

So now we are going to pause and complete our first practise task.

So here we have a statement.

For Buddhists, it is easy to follow the five moral precepts.

In your answer, you should refer to Buddhist teachings, give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view.

Alex has written the first part of this answer.

You need to provide an alternative view.

Alex says, "Some Buddhists might argue that it is not easy to follow the five moral precepts due to the media.

For example, it is difficult to not indulge in sense pleasures as people are bombarded with these via social media.

Also, it is not always possible to never lie or gossip, as it is part of human nature." Good luck completing the practise task.

Remember, in your answer, you should refer to Buddhist teachings and give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view to the one that Alex has given.

Pause the video here and press play when you're ready to check your answer.

Welcome back, everybody.

So the statement that you were given, "For Buddhists, it is easy to follow the five moral precepts," provide an alternative view.

Your answer may include these points.

Some Buddhists may argue that the five moral precepts are easy to follow because they are common sense.

They are guidelines rather than rules, so they are to be worked towards.

This is not impossible.

The precepts also form the basis of the Buddhist moral code, so everyone should abide by them.

The Dhammapada teaches that "He who destroys life, tells lies, takes what is not given him, commits adultery and takes intoxicating drinks, digs up his own roots even in this very life." Therefore, by following the precepts, suffering, dukkha, is reduced.

It makes sense to prioritise these.

Finally, many societies' laws are based around similar precepts, so they must be attainable.

Well done on completing the first practise task.

So now we're going to move on to the second part of our lesson by considering the importance of the moral precepts.

Izzy asks, "As a Mahayana Buddhist monk, why're the moral precepts important to you, Ting? Ting says, "The precepts are important to me because they focus on reducing harm and encourage truthfulness and honesty.

They influence me not to lie, gossip or use hurtful language.

The fourth precept influences me to be clear and truthful in my communication.

This promotes understanding, compassion and reduces suffering, dukkha." Mike, a Mahayana Buddhist, explains why the moral precepts are important to him.

Mike says, "The moral precepts are important because they advocate for healthy, respectful, and responsible sexual relationships.

It influences Buddhists to avoid actions that cause harm to others, such as dishonesty in relationships, committing adultery by having an affair or exploiting someone sexually.

True or false? The moral precepts encourage truthfulness and honesty.

Pause the video and press play when you're ready to see the correct answer.

Well done if you said that statement is true.

The fourth moral precept is do not speak falsehoods.

This precept advises against lying, gossiping, slander, or using hurtful language, thereby encouraging truthfulness and honesty.

Katrina, a Mahayana Buddhist, explains why the moral precepts are important to her.

Katrina says, "The precepts are important to me because they help me develop skillful actions, which produce good karma.

I'm influenced to avoid substances like alcohol or drugs.

These substances would impair my judgement , leading to unskillful actions.

Avoiding intoxicants helps me maintain mental clarity, focus and moral discipline." Niti, a Theravada Buddhist monk, explains why the moral precepts are important to him.

Niti says, "The five moral precepts are important to me because I believe they help me live ethically, reduce suffering, dukkha, and advance me on my path to enlightenment.

The precepts are a foundation to my personal and spiritual growth." Okay, let's check you've understood what you have just heard.

Which of the following two ways demonstrate how Buddhists may practise the moral precepts? A, to be truthful in their communication.

B, to live unethically.

Or C, to avoid substances like alcohol or drugs.

Pause the video and press play when you're ready to see the correct answers.

Well done if you selected A and C, so to be truthful in their communication and to avoid substances like alcohol or drugs are two ways that Buddhists might demonstrate how to practise the moral precepts.

Time to complete our second and final practise task.

Explain two reasons why the moral precepts are important to Buddhists.

Refer to sacred writings or another source of Buddhist belief and teaching in your answer.

So here is some guidance that you might like to follow when answering this question.

So the question asks for two reasons.

So you would make two points and it's always good practise to develop each of those points.

Also remember to include a name and use a source of authority, and explain what it says and what it teaches.

So this might be a quotation, for example, from the Dhammapada, or it might be a general Buddhist belief or teaching.

Good luck completing the practise task.

Pause the video and press play when you're ready to check your answers.

Welcome back, everybody.

So the question you answered was explain two reasons why the moral precepts are important to Buddhists.

Your answer may look something like this.

"One reason the moral precepts are important to Buddhists is because "do not misuse the senses" influences Buddhists to avoid actions that cause harm to others.

In the Dhammapada, it states that he who destroys life, commits adultery, digs up his own roots even in this very life.

This teaching influences Buddhists to practise honesty in their relationships, which reduces suffering, or dukkha.

Another reason the moral precepts are important to Buddhists is because "do not take intoxicants that cloud the mind" influences most Buddhists to avoid substances like alcohol or drugs.

These substances are likely to lead to unskillful actions." So what you can see in this answer is there are two points and each point has been developed, and there is also reference where there is a reference to a source of authority, which is the Dhammapada, but there's also reference to key Buddhist teachings, such as the moral precepts.

Well done on completing the second practise task.

So that brings us to the end of today's lesson on the five moral precepts, looking at senses, falsehoods or intoxicants.

Here is a summary of our key learning points today.

The five moral precepts, or panchasila, are a set of ethical guidelines used in most schools of Buddhism.

The third moral precept, "Do not misuse the senses," advocates for healthy, respectful, and responsible sexual relationships.

The fourth moral precept, "Do not speak falsehoods," encourages truthfulness and honesty.

The fifth moral precept, "Do not take intoxicants that cloud the mind" influences many Buddhists to avoid substances like alcohol or drugs.

And the five moral precepts are important because they help Buddhists live ethically, reduce suffering, dukkha, and advance them on the path to enlightenment.

Thank you very much for joining me for today's RE lesson.

Goodbye.