What Is the Dharma of the Uposatha Eight Precepts?

Original text of the Ekottara Āgama, Volume 16, Gaozhuang Chapter (Chapter of the High Banner): 云何为八关斋法。持心如真人。尽形寿不杀。无有害心。于众生有慈心之念。我今字某。持斋至明日清旦。不杀．无有害心。有慈心于一切众生。

Explanation: What is the Dharma of the eight precepts of fasting? One maintains one's mind like that of a true person, an arhat, abstaining from killing for one's entire lifespan, without any thought of harming beings, holding only thoughts of loving-kindness toward sentient beings. "My name is now so-and-so; I hold this fast until tomorrow at dawn, abstaining from killing, without any harmful mind, having loving-kindness toward all sentient beings."

Original text: 如阿罗汉。无有邪念。尽形寿不盗。好喜布施。我今字某。尽形寿不盗。自今至明日持心。

Explanation: Like an arhat, without wrong thoughts, for one's entire lifespan not stealing, delighting in generosity (dāna). "My name is now so-and-so; for my entire lifespan I do not steal, and from today until tomorrow I maintain this mind."

Original text: 如是真人。尽形寿不淫泆。无有邪念。恒修梵行。身体香洁。今日持不淫之戒。亦不念己妻。复不念他女人想。至明日清旦。无所触犯。

Explanation: Like such a true person, an arhat, for one's entire lifespan abstaining from sexual misconduct, without wrong thoughts, constantly cultivating the pure brahma conduct, keeping the body fragrant and clean. "Today I hold the precept of abstaining from sexual activity, neither thinking of my own wife nor having thoughts of other women, until tomorrow at dawn, without violating anything."

Original text: 如阿罗汉。尽形寿不妄语。恒知至诚。不欺他人。自今至明日不妄语。我自今以后不复妄语。

Explanation: Like an arhat, for this entire lifespan not speaking falsely, always maintaining a most sincere mind and not deceiving others. "From today until tomorrow at dawn I do not speak falsely, and from now on I will never speak falsely again."

Original text: 如阿罗汉。不饮酒。心意不乱。持佛禁戒。无所触犯。我今亦当如是。自今日至明旦。不复饮酒。持佛禁戒。无所触犯。

Explanation: Like an arhat who does not drink alcohol, whose mind is not confused, who holds the Buddha's prohibitive precepts without violating them. "I too should now be like this: from today until tomorrow at dawn, no longer drinking alcohol, holding the Buddha's prohibitive precepts without any violation."