The Five Precepts are the cardinal principles of be-ing a human being, and the foundations of achieving Buddhahood. What are the Five Precepts They are: no killing, no stealing, no sexual misconduct, no lying, and no intoxicants.

1. No Killing: Not harming the life of sentient beings, and trespassing on the existence of all sentient beings.

2. No Stealing: Not taking valuables that do not belong to you, and not stealing others' possessions.

3. No Sexual Misconduct: Not to impede the har-mony of other families, and not to endanger the morals of human relationships.

4. No Lying: Not fabricating rumors, and not saying anything that harms others.

5. No Intoxicants: Not becoming addicted to pungent food, and not taking intoxicants that may cause hallu-cinogen effects.

Most criminals in jail would have broken the Five Precepts. For example: killing and assaults represent vio-lation of the first precept. Robbery, theft, fraud, and corruption represent violation of the second precept. Disrupting a family, offenses against public order, bigamy and rape represent violation of the third precept. Frauds, false accusation, and slander represent violation of the fourth precept. Selling opium, injecting morphine, and illegal trading of alcohol and tobacco represent violation of the fifth precept. Thus observing precepts means to discipline our own body and mind, while refraining from violating others.

Buddhism's Five Precepts can be considered as equiv-alents of Confucianism's Five Constant Virtues: Not killing but be benevolent, not stealing but be loyal to friends, not committing sexual misconduct but act ac-cording to the rites, not lying but be honest, and not tak-ing intoxicants but maintain a clear mind.

Those who observe the Five Precepts will enable their transgressions to be lessened and their good fortune in-creased. Furthermore, they will have great achievements not only in their life but also their pursuits of spiritual ac-complishments.

【Keywords： 關鍵字】

Five Precepts ：五戒／Buddhahood： 佛道、成佛／
No Killing： 不殺生／No Stealing ：不偷盜／
No Lying ：不妄語／No Sexual Misconduct ：不邪淫／
No Intoxicants ：不飲酒、不吸毒／
Observing precepts ：持戒／Violating precepts： 犯戒／Confucianism ：儒家／Five Constant Virtues ：五常／