The Second Treatise on the Perfections – 2708 

 

married persons who want to observe the precepts which have celibacy as the 
fifth

 

at the present time have to abandon their wives with no more attachment 

to them. In other words, it should not be taken that they may not observe this 
morality (

sīla

) unless they are prepared to renounce their wives altogether. 

Because in the words of the Supplementary Readings (

Khuddaka-pāṭha

) 

commentary, mentioned above: “Of the ten precepts, only four: those restraining 
from the taking of life, taking what is not given, lying and intoxicants are 
regarded as permanent precepts (

nicca-sīla

).” 

Hence it is evident that the training rule about celibacy (

abrahma-cariya-

sikkhāpada

) and the remaining precepts, such as not eating at the wrong time 

(

vikāla-bhojana

), etc., are not permanent; they are delimited morality (

niyama-

sīla

), to be observed occasionally. Even though they cannot observe the precepts 

exactly like Ghaṭikāra the pot-maker, they can observe them occasionally as far 
as possible. So also, with regard to the precepts which have celibacy as the fifth, 
the two Uggas, being Non-returners, abandoned their wives without any 
attachment and observed the precepts for life. If other people can follow their 
example and observe this precept, it is all well and good, but if they cannot 
emulate them fully, they should observe the precept according to their ability. 

The Five Precepts with Celibacy as Fifth and One Time Eating 

Furthermore, there are also the precepts which have celibacy as the fifth and 
one time eating, or simply the one time eating morality (

eka-bhattika-sīla

). One 

time eating means taking only one meal a day, in the morning. So, if lay people 
want to observe this morality (

sīla

), they may, after making the vow of the 

precepts which has celibacy as the fifth, take one more precept by saying they 
undertake to refrain from eating at the wrong time: 

vikāla-bhojanā veramaṇī-

sikkhāpadaṁ samādiyāmi

. Or, if they wish to take the vow as a whole, they may 

do so by saying they undertake the precepts which has celibacy as the fifth and 
will refrain from eating at the wrong time: 

brahma-cariya-pañcama-eka-

bhattika-sīlaṁ samādiyāmi

. This morality (

sīla

) was observed by the layman 

Dhammika and laywoman Nandamātā, at the time of the Fortunate One, 
according to the commentary on the

 

Discourse concerning Dhammika 

(

Dhammika-sutta

, Snp 2.14). At the time of Buddha Kassapa, the layman Gavesi 

also observed this morality (

sīla

); so did 500 laymen; see the Discourse 

concerning Gavesi (

Gavesi-sutta

, AN 5.180).