Updated 10 April 2024
Ajivatthamaka Sila (Eight Precepts with Right Livelihood as the Eighth)
In Theravada Buddhism there are two versions of the Eight Precepts: Atthangika Uposatha Sila (Eight Uposatha Precepts) and Ajivatthamaka Sila (Eight Precepts with Right Livelihood as the Eighth).
The Ajivatthamaka Sila builds upon the framework of Panca Sila (The Five Precepts). It expands the Fourth Precept of the Panca Sila (The Five Precepts) to specify the four types of wrong speech from which a lay disciple should abstain. The Ajivatthamaka Sila also requires abstention from wrong livelihood, including trading in arms; in living beings (slavery, prostitution); meat; alcohol; and poison.
Venerable Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Mahanayaka Thera Aggamaha Pandita Abhidhaja Maharatthaguru DLitt DLitt (1896-1998) explains in Nine Special Qualities of the Buddha & Other Essays on page 16
“The perfect moral conduct or character can be categorised under the Eight Precepts called Ajivatthamaka Sila. These are refraining from eight unwholesome ways, namely, killing, taking what is not given; a life devoted to sensuality; falsehood, slandering, backbiting, harsh speech, gossip; and wrong livelihood. All the good conduct and keeping Precepts or Patimokkha rules of Buddhist monks are included in these eight Precepts.”
Venerable Ledi Sayadaw (1846-1923) explains in Wheel 171-174 A Manual of The Requisites of Enlightenment in Notes note 21 page 156; and in A Manual of The Requisites of Enlightenment, Introduction page 11
The three constituents of the morality-group of the eightfold path when considered in detail, become ājīvaṭṭhamaka-sīla (morality ending with the practice of right livelihood) in the following way: (1) I will abstain from taking life. (2) I will abstain from stealing. (3) I will abstain from indulging in improper sexual intercourse and taking intoxiating drugs. (4) I will abstain from telling lies. (5) I will abstain from setting one person against another. (6) I will abstain from using rude and rough words. (7) I will abstain from frivolous talk. (8) I will abstain from improper livelihood.
The Ajivatthamaka Sila occurs in the Pali Canon in the Abhidhamma Pitaka, the Sutta Pitaka and the Commentaries.
Ajivatthamaka Sila (The Eight Precepts with Right Livelihood as the Eighth)
1) Panatipata veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
I undertake the Precept to refrain from killing and injuring living beings
2) Adinnadana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
I undertake the Precept to refrain from taking that which is not given
3) Kamesu micchacara veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
I undertake the Precept to refrain from sexual misconduct and excessive sensuality
4) Musavada veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
I undertake the Precept to refrain from false and harmful speech
5) Pisuna vaca veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
I undertake the Precept to refrain from backbiting
6) Pharusa vaca veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
I undertake the Precept to refrain from using harsh or abusive speech
7) Samphappalapa veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
I undertake the Precept to refrain from useless or meaningless conversation
8) Micchajiva veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
I undertake the Precept to refrain from wrong means of livelihood
Ajīvaṭṭhamaka Sīla (The Eight Precepts with Right Livelihood as the Eighth) with Diacriticals
1) Pāṇātipātā veramaṇī‧sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi
I undertake the Precept to refrain from killing and injuring living beings
2) Adinnādānā veramaṇī‧sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi
I undertake the Precept to refrain from taking that which is not given
3) Kāmesu micchācārā veramaṇī‧sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi
I undertake the Precept to refrain from sexual misconduct and excessive sensuality
4) Musāvādā veramaṇī‧sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi
I undertake the Precept to refrain from false and harmful speech
5) Pisuṇāvācā veramaṇī‧sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi
I undertake the Precept to refrain from backbiting
6) Pharusāyavācā veramaṇī‧sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi
I undertake the Precept to refrain from using harsh or abusive speech
7) Samphappalāpā veramaṇī‧sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi
I undertake the Precept to refrain from useless or meaningless conversation
8) Micchājīvā veramaṇī‧sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi
I undertake the Precept to refrain from wrong means of livelihood
Bibliography
Articles
“The development and use of the Eight Precepts for lay practitioners, Upasakas and Upasikas in Theravada Buddhism in the West”, Jacquetta Gomes, Contemporary Buddhism, Volume 5(1) (May 2004) 47-63. (ISSN 1463-9947). DOI:10.1080/1463994042000249535
Available at https://www.tandfonline.com/
Books
Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Mahanayaka Thera, Venerable, Nine Special Qualities of the Buddha & Other Essays. (London, World Buddhist Foundation, 1995)
Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada) and Ketumati Buddhist Vihara. Requirements and Ceremonies for the Five Precepts (Panca Sila), The Eight Precepts with Right Livelihood as the Eighth (Ajivatthamaka Sila), Dhamma Teachers Certificate, issued by the Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada) and Ketumati Buddhist Vihara at Wesak 2006).2006.
Available as the Appendix to Introducing Buddhism at https://www-old.budaedu.org/en/
https://www-old.budaedu.org/book-img/CoverL/EN074.jpg
http://ftp.budaedu.org/ebooks/pdf/EN074.pdf
The May 2006 edition available at https://books.google.com/
The May 2006 edition available at
https://archive.org/details/requirementscere00unse
The February 2010 updated edition available at
https://archive.org/details/requirements-ceremonies-buddhistgroupofkendal-bgkt-ketumatibuddhistvihara
BPS Buddhist Publication Society Kandy Sri Lanka
Some BPS publications are available on the Access to Insight website
BPS Books
http://www.bps.lk/library_books.php
The Requisites of Enlightenment: Bodhipakkiya Dipani: A Manual. Ledi Sayadaw, Venerable. 2007. (2nd edition) (Kandy Sri Lanka, BPS Buddhist Publication Society) (BP412S). (ISBN 10: 955-24-0291-3) (ISBN 13: 978-955-24-0291-3).
https://www.bps.lk/olib/bp/bp412s_Ledi_Requisites-of-Enlightenment_.pdf
BPS Wheel Publications (ISSN 0068-3345)
Wheel 171-174 The Requisites of Enlightenment: Bodhipakkiya Dipani: A Manual. Venerable Ledi Sayadaw, 2nd edition, 2007
https://www.bps.lk/olib/wh/wh171_Ledi_The-Requisites-of-Enlightenment.pdf