tịnh giới

Definition

1. Noun:

   • Religious precepts / Moral discipline: In Buddhism, the complete and pure observance of the moral rules and disciplines prescribed by the Buddha, such as abstaining from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and intoxicants.
   • A state of purity: The condition of having a mind and conduct purified through strict adherence to these ethical precepts.

2. Verb (less common):

   • To observe the precepts purely: To practice and maintain the Buddhist moral code with diligence and purity.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Giữ tịnh giới là nền tảng của đời sống tu hành. (Observing the pure precepts is the foundation of monastic life.)
  • Nhờ giữ tịnh giới, tâm hồn ông ấy trở nên thanh thản. (Thanks to maintaining moral discipline, his soul became peaceful.)

• Verb:

  • Vị sư ấy đã tịnh giới trọn đời. (That monk has observed the pure precepts for his entire life.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is deeply rooted in Buddhist philosophy and practice. It implies not just external rule-following but an internal commitment to purity, often as a prerequisite for deep meditation and spiritual progress.

Variants and Related Words

• Giới luật (n): The Vinaya; the full code of monastic rules and discipline.

  • Giới luật nhà Phật rất nghiêm ngặt. (The Buddhist Vinaya is very strict.)

• Trì giới (v): To uphold, to keep the precepts.

  • Một Phật tử chân chính phải biết trì giới. (A genuine Buddhist must know how to uphold the precepts.)

Synonyms

• Moral discipline: Training in ethical conduct.
• Precepts: The specific rules of moral behavior.
• Sīla (Pāli): The Buddhist term for moral virtue or precept.

Related Concepts

• Ngũ giới: The Five Precepts for lay Buddhists (against killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and intoxicants).
• Thập thiện: The Ten Wholesome Deeds, a broader ethical guideline.
• Giới - Định - Tuệ: The Threefold Training in Buddhism: Morality (Sīla), Concentration (Samādhi), and Wisdom (Paññā), where is the pure foundation of the first training.