Eight precepts
eight precepts (aṣṭa-śīla, 八關齋戒). Besides the five precepts, which are observed for life at all times, lay Buddhists may accept the eight precepts. They should observe them regularly each lunar month on the six purification days.
The eight precepts are
(1) no killing;
(2) no stealing; (
3) no sex;
(4) no lying;
(5) no drinking alcohol;
(6) no wearing perfumes or adornments, and no singing, dancing, or watching song-dance entertainments;
(7) no sleeping on a luxurious bed; and
(8) no eating after lunch, until morning. Note that the third of the eight precepts is no sex whereas the third of the five precepts is no sexual misconduct.
Observing these eight prohibitions (關) for 24 hours at a time, one abstains (齋) not only from sins prohibited by the five precepts but also from sensory gratification.
