For many lay Buddhists, ethical life begins with the five precepts — a foundation of non-harming, honesty, restraint, truthfulness, and clarity. But some choose to go further. They take on extra precepts, not because they must, but because they wish to deepen their inner discipline, cultivate renunciation, and bring a sense of sacredness to everyday life.
The most common extension of the five precepts is the Eight Precepts, traditionally taken by laypeople on observance days (uposatha) or during periods of retreat. These eight precepts do not simply add new rules — they invite a fuller renunciation of worldly attachments and sensory distractions. They are not only about ethics, but also about mental clarity and simplicity of living .
The eight precepts include the original five, with one significant change: the third precept, which usually concerns avoiding sexual misconduct, becomes a vow to abstain from all sexual activity (abrahmacariya) — a move toward celibate conduct for that day or period. This brings the practitioner closer to monastic restraint and supports the cultivation of calm and insight.
Three additional precepts follow:
- To abstain from eating at unseasonable times (usually solid food after noon),
- To refrain from entertainment, beautification, and adornment (such as music, dancing, makeup, jewelry, and colorful clothing),
- To abstain from sleeping on high or luxurious beds .
Each of these precepts supports mental calm and non-attachment. By reducing sensory stimulation, the mind is less pulled outward and becomes more receptive to stillness and insight. In Southern Buddhism, those who take the eight precepts often wear simple white clothing and spend the day at a monastery or in quiet meditation. These observances are especially common among devout practitioners over forty, though many younger people take them periodically.
Beyond the eight are the Ten Precepts, usually reserved for novice monks and nuns, though some devout laypeople adopt them permanently. The ten include the eight, with one precept split into two, and a final addition: abstaining from handling money (symbolizing complete renunciation of worldly exchange). This precept is particularly powerful, as it represents a step out of the economic systems that bind much of daily lay life .
What sets these extra precepts apart is that they go beyond mere morality. While the five precepts aim to prevent harm, the eight and ten precepts aim to cultivate simplicity, mindfulness, and a state of deep inner quiet. They are tools not just for ethical restraint, but for spiritual awakening.
In practice, the precepts are often taken temporarily. On full and new moon days in TheravÄda countries, many visit monasteries, observe the eight precepts, and dedicate the day to reflection and meditation. These short-term commitments are understood as acts of purification — a way to refresh the mind and draw closer to the Dharma.
And yet, some take these precepts permanently. In Thailand and Sri Lanka, a number of elderly laywomen — and occasionally men — live by the ten precepts for life, wearing white robes and living in semi-monastic simplicity. Their lives are a visible expression of a deeper renunciation, a quiet devotion that echoes the discipline of monks and nuns while remaining rooted in the lay world .
In the end, taking extra precepts is not about severity or withdrawal. It is about creating space — space from the cravings, habits, and distractions that cloud the mind. Whether taken for a day or for a lifetime, these precepts serve as invitations to live with more mindfulness, less clutter, and greater peace.