Five Precepts: Buddha's guide to living peacefully and happy.

We all search for happiness and peace, and most of the times it eludes us. Perhaps we are looking it at wrong places, through wrong means. The law of Karma says that we reap what we sow. This means that, if we want to reach a state, where we can even become aware of the path of true happiness we have to first sow the right karmas, the good Karmas.

But, how do we know what is right and what is wrong?  Lord Buddha gave to all people, especially the householders, who cannot leave their houses and have a duty towards their parents, their children, their spouses, a guide, commonly known as the Five Percepts:

1. Panatipata veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami :  "I undertake the precept to refrain from destroying living creatures".  Lord Buddha says we should not involve in activities which kill any other sentient being. Each life is precious, and human life even more so. Let us not waste this precious life by killing other beings, or by becoming a cause of killing/destroying other beings.
2. Adinnadana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami : "I undertake the precept to refrain from taking that which is not given". Buddha tells us not to take something that does not belong to us. We should not take something that is not rightfully ours. This also extends to mean that we should earn truthfully, we should get paid only when we have rightfully done our job. 
3. Kamesu micchacara veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami: "I undertake the precept to refrain from sexual misconduct". Lord Buddha tells us not involve in any form of sexual misconduct. This means that one should not involve in 'sexual acts' with people one is not supposed to, for example involving with someone without that person's permission, having sex with a person married to someone else. 
4. Musavada veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami : "I undertake the precept to refrain from incorrect speech". What is wrong speech? According to Buddha, lying, slandering, gossiping and even speaking harsh words are wrong speech. We should refrain from them. 
5. Suramerayamajja pamadatthana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami: "I undertake the precept to refrain from intoxicating drinks and drugs which lead to carelessness".  Drinking, taking drugs influence our mind, impair our judgment. This can cause us to do and say things that we will regret later.

If we follow these five precepts in our lives, then slowly and slowly we will clean our past karmas, make our vessel clean and be open to receive the "happiness". 

The most remarkable affect of this is that it will make us peaceful, which will allow us to meditate. And it is this meditation which will open gates to the end of misery.