How to Observe the Eight Precepts

Original text of the Ekottara Āgama, Volume 16, Gaozhuang Chapter: 世尊告诸比丘。十五日中有三斋法。云何为三。八日十四日十五日。云何十五日持八关斋法。是时。诸比丘白世尊曰。如来是诸法之王。诸法之印。唯愿世尊当为诸比丘布演此义。诸比丘闻已。当奉行之。

Explanation: The World-Honored One told the bhikṣus: Within the first fifteen days of each month there are three fasting observances. What are the three? The three fasting days are the eighth day, the fourteenth day, and the fifteenth day. How does one observe the eight precepts fasting dharma on the fifteenth day? At that time, the bhikṣus said to the World-Honored One: The Tathāgata is the king of all dharmas, the seal of all dharmas. We only wish that the World-Honored One would expound this meaning for the bhikṣus. After the bhikṣus hear it, they will surely practice it.

The eight precepts fasting observance can be taken on any day; taking it for seven consecutive days or for a whole month is fine, and one may also take it through self-vow before a Buddha image. It adds three precepts on top of the five precepts, making eight precepts. Regarding the precept against sexual misconduct, the five precepts permit sexual relations within marriage, while the eight precepts do not permit any form of sexual activity. For those who have taken the five precepts, the first five precepts of the eight precepts fasting observance must be kept daily, and the last three precepts must be kept while observing the eight precepts fasting dharma.

The precept against sitting on high, broad, luxurious beds was established so that the Buddha's disciples would not give rise to any pride; having pride increases the view of self and self-grasping, adding to the bondage of birth and death. The precept of abstaining from food after midday (vikālabhojanā veramaṇī) was established so that the Buddha's disciples would eat less, keep the mind pure, and have the wisdom to enter the Path and attain liberation. The precept against wearing flowers, garlands, and cosmetics was established so that the Buddha's disciples would cut off the view of the body and the view of self, and not be attached to the appearance of the physical body. The five precepts, eight precepts, śrāmaṇera precepts, śrāmaṇerī precepts, bhikṣu precepts, and bhikṣuṇī precepts established by the Buddha were all established so that the Buddha's disciples could eradicate the view of self, eliminate afflictions, and attain liberation. These precepts are also called the precepts of individual liberation (prātimokṣa); by keeping one precept, one is liberated from a portion of bondage.

Original text: 世尊告曰。谛听。谛听。善思念之。吾当为汝具分别说。比丘。若有善男子善女人。于月十四十五日。说戒持斋时。到四部众中。当作是语。我今斋日。欲持八关斋法。唯愿尊者。当与我说之。是时四部之众。当教与说八关斋法。先教作是语。善男子。当自称名字。彼已称名字。便当与说八关斋法。

Explanation: The World-Honored One told the bhikṣus: Listen carefully, listen carefully, and contemplate and be mindful of it well; I shall now explain it to you in detail. Bhikṣus, if there are good men or good women who, on the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the lunar month, when the precepts are expounded and the fast is observed, go among the fourfold assembly and declare: "On this fasting day, I wish to observe the eight precepts fasting dharma. I only ask that the Venerable One expound it to me." At that time, the fourfold assembly should teach and explain the eight precepts fasting dharma to them. First, they should teach the precept-seeker to say this: "Good man, you should state your own Dharma name." After the precept-seeker has stated his name, the Venerable One then transmits the eight precepts fasting dharma to him.

If one wishes to receive the eight precepts fasting observance, one must request it from a monastic; this is called requesting the precepts. Precepts are obtained from the Three Jewels, so one must request them from the Saṅgha Jewel among the Three Jewels; only when the precepts are transmitted by a monastic can one obtain the essence of the precepts. Laypeople absolutely cannot perform the precept-transmission ceremony in place of a monastic; otherwise it constitutes overstepping one's authority and position, stealing power and position, and committing the offense of stealing from the Three Jewels. Moreover, laypeople cannot invite the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Dharma-protecting deities to transmit the precepts and witness the reception. The three refuges and five precepts are the same; they must all be received from a monastic, and laypeople cannot substitute for them. Furthermore, if there is a monastic available to transmit the precepts, one cannot take the precepts through self-vow before a Buddha image, bypassing the monastic; otherwise one will not obtain the essence of the precepts. In places where there are no monastics, one may take the eight precepts fasting observance through self-vow.