(P.). The five moral vows taken by Buddhist lay-disciples and also by every monk. These five vows are to avoid harming others, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and to abstain from mind-altering drugs, including alcohol. They are also called the upāsaka vows. The Sanskrit equivalent of Pansil is pañca-śīla.

Both Henry S. Olcott and Helena P. Blavatsky took Pansil at Galle in Sri Lanka on May 25, 1880, and were, therefore, among the first Americans to formally adopt Buddhism.

J.C.

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