A Buddhist is a person who takes refuge in the Buddha, the Teachings and the Community of Buddhists and who takes five training rules, precepts, by which he lives his life. Although the same in all schools of Buddhism, in Korea they are expressed as follows:

The First Precept: I take the training rule of abstaining from killing and henceforth practice loving-kindness.

Killing roots out the seeds of love and compassion. To kill another is to feast on our friends and relatives from previous lives. It leads to rebirth in painful states and does not give us rebirth in the human body necessary for attaining enlightenment.

The Second Precept: I take the training rule of not taking things which have not been given and of practicing generosity.

Takings things which have not been given to us roots out virtue and wisdom. By desiring things belonging to someone else, we allow greed to grow and we behave like animals.

The Third Precept: I take the training rule of controlling sensual and sexual desire and of practicing awareness.

Lack of control of the senses destroys the seeds of purity and simplicity. It leads to a life of no peace and stability and a future in the lower realms.

The Fourth Precept: I take the training rule of not lying, gossiping or speaking harshly and of practicing wholesome speech.

The tongue is sharper than the sword, wrong speech destroys the seeds of truth and cuts off the flowers of goodwill. The only future for one who is careless of speech is suffering.

The Fifth Precept: I take the training rule of refraining from intoxicants which cloud the mind and of practicing clear mindedness.

Alcohol and drugs destroy wisdom and cause behavior which creates piles of regrets. Practice awareness and live a life free from regret!