Eight Lifetime Precepts by Bodhicarini Upasika Jayasili Jacquetta Gomes

Eight Lifetime Precepts
By Bodhicarini Upasika Jayasili Jacquetta Gomes BGKT Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada) England UK
Updated 31st August 2015

The Eight Lifetime Precepts Precepts were developed by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana Maha Thera at the Bhavana Society, West Virginia, USA.

http://www.bhavanasociety.org/

The Eight Lifetime Precepts are an expansion of Ajivatthamaka Sila. The first seven Precepts are the same but the eighth Precept is an amalgamation of the eighth Precept of Ajivatthamaka Sila and the fifth Precept of Panca Sila (The Five Precepts):

I undertake the training rule (Precept) to abstain from wrong livelihood; and drinks and drugs that cause heedlessness

The Bhavana Society website explains "The lifetime precepts … include the right speech precepts found in the eightfold path and right livelihood… In traditional Buddhist countries, abstaining from intoxicants is assumed to be included in the precept on right livelihood. For clarification, we spell it out."

Bhante Henepola Gunaratana described the development of the Eight Lifetime Precepts in his 2001 book Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness: Walking the Path of the Buddha. He also explains them in his 2008 book Bhavana Vandana: Devotions for Meditation.

Bhante Henepola Gunaratana Maha Thera is one of the Spiritual Advisors to BGKT Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada). http://buddhistgroupofkendal.co.uk/spiritual-advisors-venerable-dr-balangoda-ananda-maitreya-and-venerable-henepola-gunaratana/

Source

By Bodhicarini Upasika Jayasili Jacquetta Gomes BGKT Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada) England UK