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Sila

Sīla

Ethical Culture

References:

The Pāḷi Line: The Gradual Course: Ethical Culture
[DN 1]
Long Discourses I: BrahmaNet Spell: Ethics
ATI: Virtue: sila (an anthology)


Pāḷi MO Hare Horner Punnaji Bodhi Nanamoli Rhys Davids (Mrs)Rhys Davids Thanissaro Walshe Woodward
Sīla Ethical Culture, Ethics Morals Moral habit acts of omission letting go of behaviors rooted in self-centered emotional impulses Virtue, Habits, Rule Virtue, Habits, Rule Morality Morality Virtue Morality Habit

 

Pāḷi Text Society
Pāḷi English Dictionary
Edited by T. W. Rhys Davids and William Stede
[EDITED ENTRY]

 

Sīla: [cp. Sk. shīla. It is interesting to note that the Dhtp puts down a root sīl in meaning of samādhi...1. nature, character, habit, behaviour; usually as-in adj. function "being of such a nature," like, having the character of . . ., e. g. adāna- of stingy character, illiberal...parisuddha- of excellent character A III.124...- dussīla (of) bad character D III.235;...- 2. moral practice, good character, Buddhist ethics, code of morality. (a) The dasa-sīla or 10 items of good character (not "commandments") are (1) pāṇa-tipātā veramaṇī, i. e. abstinence from taking life; (2) adinn'ādānā (from) taking what is not given to one; (3) abrahmacariyā adultery (oṭherwise called kāmesu micchā-cārā); (4) musā-vādā telling lies; (5) pisuna-vācāya slander; (6) pharusa-vācāya harsh or impolite speech; (7) samphappalāpā frivolous and senseless talk; (8) abhijjhāya covetousness; (9) byāpādā malevolence; (10) micchādiṭṭhiyā heretic views. - Of these 10 we sometimes find only the first 7 designated as "sīla" per se, or good character generally. See e. g. A I.269...- (b) The pañca-sīla or 5 items of good behaviour are Nos. 1-4 of dasa-sīla, and (5) abstaining from any state of indolence arising from (the use of) intoxicants, viz. surā-meraya-majjapamāda-ṭṭhānā veramaṇī. These five also from the first half of the 10 sikkha-padāni. They are a sort of preliminary condition to any higher development after conforming to the teaching of the Buddha...- (c) The only standard enumerations of the 5 or 10 sīlas are found at two places in the Saṅyutta...S IV.342...S II.68...- (d) Three special tracts on morality are found in the Canon. The Cullasīla (D I.3 sq.) consists first of the items (dasa) sīla 1-7; then follow specific injunctions as to practices of daily living and special conduct,...and then the Mahāsīla D I.9 sq. The whole of these 3 sīlas is called sīlakkhandha and is (in the Sāmaññaphala sutta e. g.) grouped with samādhi- and paññākkhandha: D I.206 sq.; at A V.205, 206 sīla-kkhandha refers to the Culla-sīla only. The three (s., samādhi and paññā) are often mentioned together, e. g. D II.81, 84...
-anga constituent of morality...
-kkhandha all that belongs to moral practices, body of morality as forming the first constituent of the 5 khandhas or groups (+samādhi-, paññā-, vimutti-, ñāṇadassana-kkhandha), which make up the 5 sampadās or whole range of religious development...- Vin. 162 sq.; III.164; A I.124, 291; II.20; S I.99 sq.;...
-gandha the fragrance of good works...
-caraṇa moral life J IV.328, 332.
-bbata ...good works and ceremonial observances...A I.225; S IV.118...
-parāmāsa the contagion of mere rule and ritual, the infatuation of good works, the delusion that they suffice Vin I.184; M I.433;...A III.377; IV.144 sq.;...sīlabbatupādāna grasping after works and rites D II.58;...- The old form sīlavata still preserves the original good sense, as much as "observing the rules of good conduct," "being of virtuous behaviour."...
-bheda a breach of morality...
-mattaka a matter of mere morality D I.3...
-vatta morality, virtue S I.143...
-saṅvara self-restraint in conduct D I.69;...
-sampadā practice of morality Vin I.227; D II.86; M I.194, 201 sq.; A I.95, 269 sq., II.66;...

 


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