सील
Sīla
Virtue / Ethical Conduct / Morality
戒
beginnerEthics & Virtue (戒律)
Grammar 語法
neuter noun (a-stem)
Definition 釋義
The first of the three trainings (sikkhā) and the foundation of the Buddhist path. Sīla encompasses all ethical restraints — refraining from harmful speech, action, and livelihood. For lay practitioners, sīla typically means the Five Precepts (pañca-sīla); for monks and nuns, the Vinaya (bhikkhu: 227 rules; bhikkhunī: 311 rules). Sīla purifies the foundation of the mind for samādhi to develop.
Canonical Example 典籍例句
Sīle patiṭṭhāya naro sapañño, cittaṃ paññañca bhāvayaṃ, ātāpī nipako bhikkhu, so imaṃ vijaṭaye jaṭaṃ.
Established in virtue, the wise person, developing mind and wisdom, ardent and discerning, the monk disentangles this tangle.
Source: SN 1.23
At a Glance
- Pali
- Sīla
- IAST
- Śīla
- Devanagari
- सील
- Chinese
- 戒
- Difficulty
- beginner
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