Summary Sila or silana is moral discipline，which is conducive to both the well-being of oneself and others. Most importantly，it is the root of good intentions, which in turn produces an excellent result. Whether possesses good or evil sila, transgresses or breaks sila, or defiles or purifies sila follows investigation and is determined by volition in the belongings of mind, which is done with clear consciousness. A collection of commentaries mentions "What is sila"? The Patisambhida provides the answer："Volition is sila. Consciousness-concomitant is sila. Restrain is sila. Nontransgression is sila". In the Pancakanga thapati sutra of the Madhyama Agama, Lord Sakya taught "What is the source of the excellent sila? I will explain their origin. They should be known that the origin is in the mind."
Four collections of Agama explain that there are many states of mind，which produce and maintain sila. These states arise from: 1. Fear of suffering. 2. Fear of the consequences of transgression. 3. Wishing for a state of well-being. 4. Wishing to benefit oneself and others. 5. Feeling of shame. 6. A compassionate mind. 7. A self-reflection mind. 8. An enlightened mind.
The Agama requires four kinds of sila：to transform body and mind through correct mindfulness and correct awareness, to make each aspect of the mind--intellect, emotion，and will--flexible so that one's personality can improve，to be endowed with the purity of sila, and to realize the dhammakaya of sila.
