This includes abstinence from falsehood, slandering, harsh words, and frivolous talk. Right Speech must be followed by Right Action which comprises abstinence from killing, stealing and sexual misconduct. Purifying his thoughts, words and deeds at the outset, the spiritual pilgrim tries to purify his livelihood by refraining from the five kinds of trade which are forbidden to a lay-disciple. They are trading in arms, human beings, animals for slaughter, intoxicating drinks and drugs, and poisons. For monks, wrong livelihood consists of hypocritical conduct and wrong means of obtaining the requisites of monk-life.
Mindfulness is constant mindfulness with regard to body, feelings, thoughts, and mind-objects.
Right Effort and Right Mindfulness lead to Right Concentration. It is the one-pointedness of mind, culminating in the jhanas or meditative absorptions. Without killing or causing injury to any living creature, man should be kind and compassionate towards all, even to the tiniest creature that crawls at his feet. Refraining from stealing, he should be upright and honest in all his dealings. Abstaining from sexual misconduct which debases the exalted nature of man, he should be pure.