The five moral precepts: senses, falsehoods or intoxicants
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain the moral precepts: to avoid misusing the senses, speaking falsely and using intoxicants, and their importance to Buddhists today.
Key learning points
- Not misusing the senses can include seeking base pleasures.
- The most common application includes adultery.
- Not speaking falsehoods includes lying but also gossiping.
- Many Buddhists will interpret this as not drinking alcohol or taking recreational drugs.
- This is because they impact the way you think and decisions you make.
Keywords
Ethics/ethical - relating 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 - concerned with the principles or beliefs about what is right and wrong; includes following the five moral precepts
The five moral precepts - an important part of Buddhist ethics; part of the Eightfold Path (Right action)
Common misconception
The five moral precepts are strict 'rules' or commandments that must be followed rigidly, like laws in some religious traditions.
The five moral precepts are not seen as absolute commandments imposed by an external authority, but rather as guidelines or principles for ethical living.
Teacher tip
Sensitive content. Reference to adultery and sexual exploitation. Teach the first two moral precepts to consolidate the learning in this lesson.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match each moral precept to its main focus or teaching.
avoid harming all living beings
respect others’ belongings
the means to reduce suffering and live ethically
Q2.What other key Buddhist teaching are the five moral precepts part of?
Q3.Why do Buddhists avoid taking what is not given?
Q4.How are the five precepts understood in Buddhism?
Q5.What does the precept ‘do not take life’ influence many Buddhists to do?
Q6.What is the purpose of following the five moral precepts?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Complete the following teaching from the Dhammapada: “He who life… digs up his own roots even in this very life.” (Dhammapada, verses 246-247)
Q2.Why do Buddhists avoid intoxicants?
Q3.What does the precept 'do not misuse the senses' usually include?
Q4.What does the precept 'do not speak falsehoods' encourage?
Q5.According to the Dhammapada, what happens when a person breaks the precepts?
Q6.The five moral precepts help Buddhists to reduce suffering by encouraging ethical actions. The Pali word for this is .
To help you plan your 10 religious education lesson on: The five moral precepts: senses, falsehoods or intoxicants, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 religious education lesson on: The five moral precepts: senses, falsehoods or intoxicants, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 religious education lessons from the Buddhism: Practices unit, dive into the full secondary religious education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.