Part 2.2 - Sīla Pāramītā (morality) in the Jātakas

Sīla is morality, good conduct or the observance of precepts. Sīla is the foundation of all the meritorious deeds because good behaviour is the beginning of the life of purity. Without Sīla, there is no Samādhi—concentration or meditation. Through lack of Samādhi, Spiritual advancement cannot be achieved. 

Sīla can be divided into two categories—

i) Cāritta Sīla—is morality consisting of performances.
ii) Vāritta Sīla—is morality in avoidance. The avoidance of those evils, killing, stealing etc.

We see in the Saṅkhapāla Jātaka (No. 524)^[1] the Bodhisattva was born as a Dragon—Saṅkhapāla. He lived in the realm of Dragon (Nāgaloka). He was not satisfied with his state of life. On New Moon and Full Moon days he regularly observed the Eight Precepts and went back to his realm. One holy day transforming into a large snake he coiled round an ant-hill at the wayside with the thought that Let those who are wise, make use of my skin, flesh or bones. On that day, sixteen hunters with stakes in hands were returning without any game. Seeing the serpent King, they went up to him to kill and eat his flesh. At first they weakened the snake by beating it with their stakes and weapons. The serpent was not angry. He could have killed them all easily, but he did not want to break his precepts even at the risk of his life. He gladly bore all that suffering, without any ill-will towards them. At last a rich merchant named Alāra saw the pitiful state of the poor reptile. Moved by compassion, he gave various money to the hunters and saved the good serpent king. This is the Saṅkhapāla’s perfection of Morality.

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

Ibid., Vol.V, pp. 161-171; Ibid., Vol.V, pp. 84-90; Ibid., Vol.V, pp. 71-76.