The Five Precepts, Pañcasīla, are the everyday ethics of Buddhism. Monks keep hundreds of rules; lay Buddhists keep five. In Thai temples they are chanted at almost every ceremony, right after the Three Refuges. Here are the exact words, what each one means today, and why the Buddha saw them not as burdens but as gifts.
The five precepts in Pāli and English
1. Pāṇātipātā veramaṇisikkhāpadaṁ samādiyāmi.
I undertake the precept to refrain from killing living creatures.
2. Adinnādānā veramaṇisikkhāpadaṁ samādiyāmi.
I undertake the precept to refrain from stealing.
3. Kāmesumicchācārā veramaṇisikkhāpadaṁ samādiyāmi.
I undertake the precept to refrain from sexual misconduct.
4. Musāvādā veramaṇisikkhāpadaṁ samādiyāmi.
I undertake the precept to refrain from lying.
5. Surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā veramaṇisikkhāpadaṁ samādiyāmi.
I undertake the precept to refrain from intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor that cause heedlessness.
Precepts 1, 2, 4 and 5 and their English follow the Khuddakapāṭha (Kp 2), translated by Bhikkhu Sujato. Kp 2 lists the ten precepts for novices, whose third precept is celibacy; lay people chant the third precept above instead, matching "sexual misconduct" in AN 8.39. The English for 3 and the "cause heedlessness" in 5 are ANEW's rendering of the Pāli.
The key words
| Pāli | Meaning |
|---|---|
| veramaṇī | refraining, abstaining |
| sikkhāpadaṁ | training rule, precept |
| samādiyāmi | I undertake, I take on |
| pāṇātipātā | from killing living beings |
| adinnādānā | from taking what is not given |
| kāmesu micchācārā | from wrong conduct in sexual matters |
| musāvādā | from false speech |
| surāmeraya-majja-pamādaṭṭhānā | from alcohol and intoxicants, the basis for heedlessness |
Notice the word sikkhāpada: a training rule. The precepts are things you train in, day by day, not a test you pass or fail.
What they mean in modern life
- Not killing: respect for every life. Many people extend it gently: not harming insects needlessly, not hurting others with cruelty.
- Not stealing: taking only what is freely given. That includes time, credit for work and things "nobody will miss."
- No sexual misconduct: not causing harm through sexuality: no betrayal, no exploitation, no relationships that hurt others.
- Not lying: honest speech. Many teachers connect it to its cousins: no harsh words, no gossip, no idle talk that does harm.
- No intoxicants: keeping the mind clear, because a clouded mind is where the other four are most easily broken.
Why the Buddha called them gifts
In the Abhisanda Sutta (AN 8.39), the Buddha calls the five precepts five gifts that "are great, primordial, long-standing, customary, and traditional." By keeping them, a person gives countless beings "the gift of freedom from fear, enmity, and ill will," and enjoys that same freedom themselves. It is a beautiful reframe: every day you keep the precepts, the people around you are a little safer with you, and you have a little less to regret.
How to say them
The first line: pah-nah-tee-pah-tah ve-rah-mah-nee sik-khah-pah-dang sah-mah-dee-yah-mee. Every precept ends with the same three words, veramaṇī sikkhāpadaṁ samādiyāmi, so once you know one line, you know the rhythm of all five. In Thailand it sounds softer: wey-ra-ma-nee sik-ka-pa-tang sa-ma-tee-ya-mee.
How to take them each day
- Begin with the homage, Namo tassa, three times.
- Say the Three Refuges, three rounds.
- Say the five precepts once, slowly.
- Choose one precept to pay special attention to today.
For the full morning sequence, see the Buddhist morning prayer, or read how to practice Buddhism at home.
Questions people ask
What are the Five Precepts?
To refrain from killing living beings, from stealing, from sexual misconduct, from lying, and from alcohol and drugs that cloud the mind.
Are the Five Precepts commandments?
No. Each one begins 'I undertake the precept...' It is a commitment you choose for yourself, not a rule handed down by a god.
What if I break a precept?
You simply begin again. In Thai temples people renew the precepts regularly, often every Uposatha day. Each renewal is a fresh start.
Do I have to keep all five?
The tradition encourages all five, but many people start with the ones they can keep sincerely and grow from there. Honesty about where you are matters more than perfection.