The Eight Precepts is a convenient dharma approach that Buddha established to allow lay followers the opportunity to experience monastic life, in order to nourish lay followers’ good karma, to establish an understanding of roots of monastic life and to instill the proper causes for monastic life. Therefore, the purpose of the Eight Precepts is for lay followers to learn the precepts of monastic life.

"Ba" (八; eight) means there are eight precepts; "guang" (關; close) means shut off eight evil deeds so that to refrain from bad conduct arising from the three karmas (body, speech and mind); "zhai" (齋; reverence, abstinence) means cutting off all bad deeds at the same time and replenishing them with good deeds. Not eating after the noon hour is also called "zhai"; "jie" (戒; precepts) has the function of preventing gossip and stopping bad conduct. As a whole, “ba guang zhai jie” (八關齋戒) means upholding the eight precepts that can shut off the eight evil deeds and refrain from making mistakes, can stop all bad deeds at the same time, replenish them with good deeds, prevent bad conduct via the body, speech and mind (the three karmas), lead to the monastic path and close the door to the samsara of life and death. Therefore, ” ba guang zhai jie” is the skillful approach for tending to the path of good conduct and is a shortcut for attaining Buddhahood.

Upholding the eight precepts can provide lay followers with the opportunity to nurture and replenish the good karma root of becoming a monastic. Therefore, it is also called "nourishing and replenishing discipline and bearing". While upholding "ba guang zhai jie", one must live far away from home for one day and night, in order to live by three jewels. Therefore, it is also called "live by discipline and bearing".

The contents of "ba guang zhai jie", based on the《sarvāstivāda》, contain eight precepts. It is also referred to as the eight precepts and one "zhai". The eight precepts are no killing, no stealing, no sexual conduct, no lies, no consumption of intoxicants, no hair decoration or fragrant body cream, no dancing and entertaining, no sitting or lying on a high and large sized bed; the one 齋 is no eating except at meal times.

Upholding the eight precepts and one 齋, together with diligent recitation of Buddha’s name, will lead to the utmost merit.