The teachings become clearer when connected to ordinary choices: how people speak, work, give, meditate and care for a community.
A practical starting point
The five precepts are training principles followed by lay Buddhists. They encourage care with life, property, relationships, speech and intoxicants.
Lay and monastic life
Lay people support the monastic community with food, robes, medicine and shelter. Monks preserve a detailed discipline and make teaching and practice available in return. The relationship is based on generosity rather than a commercial exchange.
Ordination
The guide to becoming a monk or novice introduces novice and full ordination, the role of a preceptor and the importance of training within a recognised community.