Item 8 in Ten Major Bodhisattva Precepts

Do not be stingy with aid or teaching

Do not selfishly withhold responsible material or spiritual help.

Position
8
Form
Mixed formulation
Obligation
Context-dependent
Wording status
Translation
Intended audience
Practitioners formally undertaking this East Asian Mahāyāna precept lineage
Last reviewed
28 June 2027

Names and terminology

Canonical name: Eighth grave precept

Original term: Eighth grave precept

Transliteration: Eighth grave precept

Source wording

<p>Do not selfishly withhold responsible material or spiritual help.</p><p><em>Editorial paraphrase; consult the linked source for full wording and context.</em></p>

Translation

Literal meaning

Do not selfishly withhold responsible material or spiritual help.

Broader interpretation

Do not selfishly withhold responsible material or spiritual help.

Historical context

This principle belongs to Ten Major Bodhisattva Precepts and must be read within that framework's setting.

Practical meaning

Do not selfishly withhold responsible material or spiritual help.

Ethical purpose

Do not selfishly withhold responsible material or spiritual help.

Exceptions and disputes

Ancient institutional wording requires careful modern interpretation, especially where safeguarding, criticism and individual rights are involved.

Variations across schools or traditions

Other Mahāyāna texts transmit different bodhisattva-precept systems; this page concerns the Brahmā's Net ten grave precepts.

Modern application

Do not selfishly withhold responsible material or spiritual help. Modern application should consider consent, evidence, proportionality, power and consequences.

Criticism and difficult cases

Ancient institutional wording requires careful modern interpretation, especially where safeguarding, criticism and individual rights are involved.

Truth By Reason analysis

Do not selfishly withhold responsible material or spiritual help. Application should preserve the ethical purpose while avoiding coercion, discrimination and preventable harm.

Ethical themes

  • Charity
  • Wisdom

Sources