The consequences of all the actions abstained from in the precepts would be fully realised and contemplated to reach a full understanding. Those consequences of such actions would be suffering and bad karma, preventing spiritual development for all people involved.
Right Thought would help the enhancement of appreciation for the first precept, which is to abstain from the destruction of life, as it would eliminate negative thoughts of greed and ill-will, by over coming sense pleasures and replace it with the cultivation of loving kindness, by practicing acts of amity and concord. It would enhance the appreciation of the second precept, which is not to take things that are not given, as it would enable the individual to develop renunciation and overcome any cravings by practicing acts of kindness. Appreciation of the third precept, which is not to indulge in sexual misconduct, would be enhanced, as right thought would enable the individual to give up sense pleasure such as sex, and by practicing acts of kindness which would teach them to respect their spouses and other peoples spouses. Right thought would enhance the appreciation of the fourth precept, which is not to tell lies or speak falsehood, as it would enable the individual to practice goodwill, which obviously does not incorporate lying. Right thought would develop appreciation of the fifth precept, which is to abstain from the use of intoxicants, as it would enable the individual to see that intoxicants prevent a clear mind, which is essential in Right Thought, and in Buddhism generally, to think clearly about consequences of actions. The consequences of the actions abstained from within the precepts, which would be bad karma and suffering, would be realized and understood as the reason to refrain from any such activities, as they prevent spiritual development for the people involved.
Comprehension for the first precept, abstaining from the destruction of life, would be improved by Right Effort as it would stop thoughts of ill-will arising and get rid of any that do arise and instead endeavour to produce thoughts of loving kindness and maintain those wholesome thoughts. Right Effort would enhance the appreciation of the second precept, not to take things that aren’t given, as it would make the individual see that such an act is unwholesome and unwholesome thoughts must be abandoned and prevented. Appreciation of the third precept, not to indulge in sexual misconduct, would be improved, as the individual would see that taking part in sexual transgression is an unwholesome thought and such thoughts must be prevented from arising. The fourth precept, abstaining from speaking falsehood and lies, could be more appreciated with the development of right effort, as speaking lies is an intended action that is not wholesome. With right effort these unwholesome thoughts would be abandoned and their arisal in the future prevented and replaced with wholesome thoughts. An individual could improve their appreciation for the fifth precept, abstaining from the use of intoxicants, with right effort as it would be seen that intoxicants cloud the mind and encourage unwholesome thoughts while under the influence. Intoxicants do not allow one to retain a clear head, which is vital for all the five precepts to be followed and understood. The consequences of such actions mentioned within the five precepts would be realised with right effort, which could be bad karma and suffering for more than just the person who chooses to indulge.
Right Concentration would help the improvement of comprehension for the first precept, abstaining from the destruction of life, as it would enable the individual to overcome the five hindrances that cause such actions to take place, in this case, ill will. Comprehension for the second precept, abstaining from taking what is not given, would be enhanced, as it would enable the individual to overcome the hindrance of desire for sensual pleasures, which would have been the cause of the person wanting to take someone else’s possession. For similar reasons, the improvement of comprehension for the third precept, abstaining from partaking in sexual misconduct, would be helped by right concentration as it would enable the individual to overcome the desire for sense pleasures, in this case sex. The fourth precept, abstaining from speaking falsehood, could be more appreciated with right concentration as it would allow the individual to overcome whichever of the 5 hindrances was causing them to lie. The improvement of grasp for the fifth precept, abstaining from the use of intoxicants, would be aided by right concentration as it would enable the individual to overcome sense pleasures and the other hindrances causing them to use intoxicants. The consequences of such actions would be realised, which would be karmic energy produced and suffering also, preventing further spiritual development.
Right Mindfulness would help the improvement of comprehension for the first precept, abstaining from the destruction of life, as it would enable the individual to contemplate why it is pointless and wrong to take life because the body is impermanent, ‘Anicca’, as is everything else which causes them to want to destruct life. It would help the improvement of comprehension for the second precept, abstaining from taking what is not given, as it would enable the individual to contemplate that body, sensation, mind and mind objects are all Anicca so taking what is not given will only keep them going in the Samsaric cycle and impermanent existence. The improvement of comprehension for the third precept, abstaining from sexual misconduct, would be helped as it would enable the individual to contemplate and see that as everything is impermanent it is pointless to take part in an act which would produce significant karmic energy and they would pay the cost of their actions later on in the Samsaric cycle. The fourth precept, abstaining from lying, could be appreciated more with right mindfulness, as it would enable the individual to see that there is no point in lying as everything is impermanent anyway and it will only produce Karma and Dukkha for them, keeping them away from spiritual development for longer. It would also help the appreciation for the fifth precept, abstaining from the use on intoxicants, because the individual would contemplate the impermanence of everything and see that clouding the min will only cause them to do things which will prevent them from spiritual development. With the help of right mindfulness, the consequences of such actions suggested in this precept would be realised. The individual would therefore see that the karmic energy and suffering produced from taking part in those activities should be avoided for the spiritual development it prevents.
Right Action would help the improvement of comprehension for the first precept, abstaining from the destruction of life, as it directly teaches not to take life. It would enrich the appreciation of the second precept, abstaining from taking what is not given, because it directly says “do not steal.” Right action would help the improvement of appreciation for the third precept, abstain from sexual misconduct, as it says directly “do not take part in sexual misconduct.” Right action would aid improvement of respect for the fourth precept, abstain from speaking falsehood, and also the fifth precept, abstain from the use of intoxicants, as these actions may lead to a destruction of life, or stealing. For example if under the influence of intoxicants, ones mind would not be clear and therefore unwholesome actions would be more likely to take place. Or, if one lies, or speaks unskilful words they are more likely to have to continue doing these unwholesome actions which are preventing them from spiritual development.
Right Speech would help the improvement of comprehension for the first precept, abstain from the destruction of life, as it enable the individual to prevent using unskilful speech which may otherwise lead to the destruction of a life. The second precept, abstaining from taking what is not given, would be understood better because rather than harsh speech only courteous and gentle communication would be perfected, aiding to prevent the unwholesome thought and intent to steal from arising. Right speech would help to improve the understanding of the third precept, abstain from sexual misconduct, as it would enable the individual to prevent saying the unskilful speech that may lead to sexual misconduct. Instead one would speak only meaningful things, therefore preventing the disrespect to ones spouse or another’s spouse that would result from adultery. The fourth precept, abstaining from speaking falsehood, would be better appreciated with the development of right speech, as it would prevent the individual from lying and instead replacing unskilful speech with courteous and gentle communication, in other words only speech that is meaningful.
Right Livelihood would help the improvement of comprehension for the first precept, abstaining from the destruction of life, as it would restrict the individual from making a livelihood from the destruction of a life. For example a butcher or somebody trading in poison, or intoxicants, that may destruct another’s life would be considered as not right livelihood and therefore one following the precepts could abide by the first precept to a further extent, if they were also to go by right livelihood. The second precept, abstaining from taking what is not given, could be helped in the same way, as it would advise the individual not to make an income as the result of theft. For example a burglar or somebody trading in stolen goods would not be abiding by right livelihood. The Third Precept is to not to indulge in sexual misconduct. This could be aided by right livelihood as it prevents the individual from making a living out of sexual misconduct, for example a prostitute or pimp. The Fourth Precept, abstaining from telling lies or speaking falsehood would be aided by right livelihood, as it would stop the individual making a living from lying. For example, a conman or somebody overpricing goods would be considered not to be following right livelihood.The Fifth Precept, abstaining from the use of intoxicants would be aided by right livelihood, as it would prevent the individual from making a living from the sale of intoxicants. For example, a drug dealer.