The Benefits of the Five Precepts

In the first of the two parts of the sutra, (Skt. Pañcaśikṣānuśaṃsa; Tib. བསླབ་པ་ལྔའི་ཕན་ཡོན།, [[Wyl. bslab pa lnga’i phan yon) The Benefits of the Five Precepts, a man and woman who have been married since they were very young and have never been unfaithful to each other ask the Buddha how they can remain together in future lives. The Buddha replies that this is possible for couples such as them who are equal in faith, ethical discipline, generosity, and wisdom, and who practise the Dharma together. In the second, longer part of the sūtra, the Buddha gives a teaching on the five precepts, by which one renounces the five negative deeds—killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, speaking falsehoods, and consuming intoxicants. The sufferings in various hells that are the consequence of those five negative deeds are described, as are the benefits experienced by those who renounce them.

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The Tibetan translation of this sutra can be found in the General Sutra section of the Tibetan Dergé Kangyur, Toh 37

• English translation: The Benefits of the Five Precepts