13. How to Fulfill Sīla

It is, here, noteworthy that there is a saying of how to fulfill sīla talked by Webu Sayadaw, a very famous meditation master in Myanmar. He said that:—

“Doing meritorious deeds such as cleaning a pagoda or watering the holy Bo-tree, or serving one’s teachers or parents, or even attending to the needs of your family...all these will go into the credit side of your fulfillment of Sīla. While doing these things one can still meditate. If you neglect any of these duties, can you say for certain that you have fulfilled Sīla? If Sīla is thus unfulfilled, can you acquire the happiness you look for? If there is no happiness, no peace, you cannot get Samādhi. Without Samādhi; you cannot acquire Paññā (Wisdom).”^[1]

According to the aphorism of this, it is evident that how important sīla is! Besides, it is impossible for one to establish samādhi (concentration) and paññā (wisdom) without sīla. It means that one can reach for a higher level of wisdom, such as, insight knowledge (vipassanā paññā) and enlightenment (bodhi-ñāna or magga-ñāna) through sīla. Sīla and paññā are not differentiated or separated from one another. They go side by side. Thus, it is said that sīla is the foundation as mentioned above.

It is stated in the Dīgha Nikāya as follow:—

“Yattha sīlaṃ, tattha paññā, yattha paññā, tattha sīlaṃ. Sīlavato paññā, paññāvato sīlaṃ. Sīlapaññānañca lokasmiṃ aggamakkhāyati.”

It means that “If there is virtue, there is also wisdom and if there is wisdom, there is also virtue. The virtue and wisdom (sīla and paññā) are the greatest in the world.”^[2]

In short, observing the precepts or moral trainings which is prescribed in the teachings of the Buddha is the way to fulfill virtue (sīla).

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

Buddhism Handbook. P. 147.

[2]:

D. I, P. 116. Pali Text Society I, P. 123.