The Five Precepts in Buddhist Ethics

First Precept: Avoidance of killing or causing harm to living beings.
Second Precept: Avoiding taking what is not freely given, implying respect for others’ property and fairness in economic dealings.

The Ten Wholesome Actions

Actions of the body: includes not killing, not stealing, and no sexual misconduct.
Actions of speech: involves truthful speech, harmonious speech, pleasant speech, and meaningful speech.

Right Understanding: seeing the world as it truly is and not as it appears to be.
Right Thought: having thoughts free from lust, ill-will, cruelty, and unwholesomeness.
Right Speech: involves speaking in a truthful and non-harmful way.
Right Action: deals with the body as the means of expression, including abstaining from killing, stealing, and sexual misconduct.
Right Livelihood: supports life without harm to others and having an occupation that promotes life.
Right Effort: making an effort to improve one’s self and to promote wholesomeness.
Right Mindfulness: being aware of the body, feelings, mind, and principles.
Right Concentration: concentrating the mind in one direction, away from the worldly things.

The Truth of Suffering: Acceptance that life is permeated by suffering.
The Truth of Origin of Suffering: Understanding that desire is the root cause of suffering.
The Truth of Cessation of Suffering: Belief that by eliminating desire or attachment, we can end suffering.
The Truth of the Path Leading to the Cessation of Suffering: Following the Noble Eightfold Path leads to the cessation of suffering.