Understanding the Five Precepts : หน้า 141/207

Do you know what the Five Precepts are? 1. One shall not kill. 2. One shall not steal. 3. One shall not commit adultery. 4. One shall not lie. 5. One shall not consume intoxicants. I will explain to you how the Five Precepts came into existence. Hopefully when you grow up and begin to get angry at either small or large issues, this knowledge can help you control your temper. How did the First Precept, one shall not kill, come into existence? The senior monk : Whom do you love the most? The children : My mother and father, sir. The senior monk : Is there anybody you love more than your parents? The children : Yes, myself, sir. The senior monk : Yes, that’s correct, everybody loves oneself the most. What about fowl? Do they love themselves? The children : Yes, sir. The senior monk : Are you sure? The children : Yes, sir. The senior monk : How can you be sure? Did they tell you that? The children : No, they didn’t. The senior monk : Then how do you know they love their lives? The children : When someone chases them, they run for their lives. The senior monk : Yes, animals are the same as us. When someone threatens them, they will run for their dear lives. Although they cannot say it, we can tell. But what about other animals, such as pigs and cats, do they love their lives? The children : Yes sir. The senior monk : We love our lives, as do the animals, be it birds, or pigs, or cats. There is no one and no animal that does not love his life. Recognizing this fact is how the First Precept originated, that nobody should take life away from another creature, not even those of animals. How did the Second Precept, one shall not steal, come into existence?