I. Definition

Quan means to close; Trai (Posadha) means after noon — to purify, as by fasting or abstaining. The Eight Precepts (Bát Quan Trai) mean to keep the body and mind purified for a 24-hour period (one day and one night) by observing these eight precepts:

1. Not killing living beings.
2. Not stealing.
3. Not having sexual intercourse.
4. Not telling lies.
5. Not taking intoxicants.
6. Not wearing bodily decoration or perfume, not singing or dancing, and not watching singing and dancing.
7. Not sleeping in a high, wide or luxurious bed.
8. Not eating after noon time.

By taking the Eight Precepts one vows to live the life of a monastic within 24 hours by observing the eight precepts above.

II. Understanding the Eight Precepts

1. Not killing: Bring joy to all beings and help them live happily; do not deliberately kill any living being, either by committing the act oneself or instructing others to kill.
2. Not stealing: Do not steal anything from anyone or even think about it. Always think of charity. Do not cause suffering to those around you by taking their possessions.
3. Not engaging in sexual misconduct: Abstain from sexual misconduct in both action and thought. The mind stays pure and the body free of defilement. Toward one's lifelong partner and those around, keep proper conduct and earn their respect.
4. Not telling lies: Do not speak falsely, do not exaggerate, do not speak divisively, do not use harsh words; and encourage those around you to keep the precept. Keep your word.
5. Not taking intoxicants: Intoxicants make one lose control and delude the mind.
6. Not wearing decoration or perfume, not singing or dancing, nor watching singing and dancing: Contemplate the body. The five senses — ear, eye, nose, tongue and body — can open the way for us either to Nirvana or to hell.
7. Not sleeping in a high, luxurious, spacious bed: Gradually cultivate a simple, frugal way of life.
8. Not eating after noon time: The Buddha taught: "The Divine eat in the early morning, the Buddha eats at noon, animals eat after noon, and hungry ghosts eat at night; monastics learning the Buddha's way should eat at noon." Eating at the proper time brings five benefits: fewer wrong thoughts arise; less drowsiness; concentration comes easily; fewer digestive ailments; and the body stays at ease and rarely falls ill.

III. How the Eight Precepts Are Taken

The Eight Precepts ordination should be held on fasting days or on free days, for a period of 24 hours. It is best held in a Temple or a quiet Buddha Hall. If there is no temple, it may be held at home. The eight precepts may be transmitted by:

1. A precept master: A master monk or nun presides over the ordination while the Sangha supports it. Before receiving the precepts one must bathe and repent of past faults so that body and mind are purified; then the ordinand comes in person to request the master to address the Buddha and transmit the Three Refuges and the eight precepts. During the ceremony one must be solemn and reverent, listen single-mindedly to the master, answer the questions, and recite the vows the master indicates.

On the day of receiving the eight precepts, the ordinand must keep body, speech and mind pure, must not break the precepts, and should regard oneself as having left home — above all, not thinking of worldly affairs. Diligently recite the sutras and mindfully invoke the Buddha, not letting the mind wander outward, praying that the Buddhas bless one's Bodhi-mind to grow day by day.

2. Taking the vow oneself: If there is no Sangha or one cannot reach a temple, one may observe this precept practice oneself. Standing before the Buddha statue, the ordinand recites:

"I, named…, take refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha, and for one day and one night take the eight precepts as an Upāsaka (or Upāsikā). The Tathāgata, the Truly and Perfectly Enlightened One, is my World-Honored One." (three times)

"Having taken refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha, I take for one day and one night the eight precepts as an Upāsaka (Upāsikā). The Tathāgata, the Truly and Perfectly Enlightened One, is my World-Honored One." (three times)

"As the Buddhas throughout their lives never destroy the life of beings, I vow to abstain from destroying the life of beings for this one day and one night"… Recite likewise through to the eighth precept. The practice is the same as above.

IV. The Merit of Taking the Eight Precepts

One who takes the Eight Precepts, aided by favorable conditions and diligent practice, purifies the three karmas, commits no evil deeds, and so lets wholesome deeds develop. By observing the precepts and wholeheartedly invoking the Buddha, the mind becomes settled and free of deluded thoughts, planting the untainted seed of liberation. The Buddha said: "Whoever diligently observes the Eight Precepts increases untainted merit and wisdom in this very life; at death one will not fall into the evil paths but be born into the Pure Land. If one dedicates this merit to all beings, one gains immeasurable blessings and realizes Supreme Perfect Enlightenment."

V. Conclusion

One who takes the Eight Precepts commits no more harmful deeds, and the gates of the evil paths (hell, hungry ghosts, animals) are firmly shut. Because we cannot master ourselves, because ignorance covers us, and because of craving for sensual pleasure, people keep creating evil karma; the gates of the three evil paths open of themselves, and one walks in to bear much suffering. Practicing the Eight Precepts for one day and one night purifies body and mind and guards oneself; though one cannot yet escape the three realms at once, by relying on the merit of this observance one sows a superior seed of transcendence, and liberation is surely assured in the future. The Buddhas, wishing to liberate beings, revealed this practice; as Buddhists, let us do our best to follow and practice it.