Sīla—is that which sets a limit to the “outgoing exuberance”1 in a person’s actions of body and speech and the responsibility for these actions and their results rests with the heart. Good people do not like to associate with someone whose “outgoing exuberance” is not restrained by sīla, and nobody trusts him. In business and other affairs, even if there are only one or two people who have bad sīla and no sense of shame in their behaviour, it is certain that the social group in which they live and work cannot remain secure for long. It is bound to be destroyed or set in disorder by them in whatever way they can, as soon as they have a chance when others are off their guard. It is like living with a fierce poisonous snake which is just waiting to bite whenever one is unprotected.
Thus sīla is the Dhamma which protects the world, keeping it cool and happy so that there shall be no cause for doubt, suspicion and mistrust which can arise from a mutual lack of confidence in those things which are liable to cause friction and trouble. These things often start in a small way and develop into larger things, things which everyone wants to avoid. Sīla is of many kinds, but here we will only consider the five sīla, the eight, ten and 227 sīla, which different kinds of people should variously maintain as it suits their status, age, and physical capabilities. The five sīla are the most important for lay people who have dealings with society in its various aspects.
They should maintain these sīla as that which gives a recommendation of their individual personal integrity and of their mutual in-
Ajaan Mahã Boowa Ñãnasampanno Translated by Ajaan Paññavaddho