Sila is the first and last step on the path to enlightenment.

[Chanh Dao]

For all coming to follow the Buddha the most important practice to establish in oneself is that of sila.

Morality.

One cannot develop fully the qualities of the Buddha or the understanding without first doing good and renouncing bad.

The more you can cultivate morality in your internal thoughts and external actions the more benefit you will experience in your meditation and in your environment.


At the beginning concentration is only a means to develop and cultivate virtuosity.

At the end, morality is only a means to cultivate concentration.

[char101]

For all coming to follow the Buddha the most important practice to establish in oneself is that of sila.

It is vipassana, why? Because vipassana is what brings enlightment. But vipassana cannot be developed without proper concentration. And concentration cannot be developed without proper morality.

One cannot develop fully the qualities of the Buddha or the understanding without first doing good and renouncing bad.

In the theravada tradition one do not pursue to develop the qualities of the Buddha.

The more you can cultivate morality in your internal thoughts and external actions the more benefit you will experience in your meditation and in your environment.

In my experience morality only provide basic mental peace for the development of concentration. What is more important is to have less desire.

At the beginning concentration is only a means to develop and cultivate virtuosity.

Concentration is a means to develop panna.

At the end, morality is only a means to cultivate concentration.

I think it is a bit premature. At the end, jhana & vipassana are only means to reach enlightment. When cessation is reached, what has been developed must be given up. Morality is still too far away to be taken simply as means.

[bodom]

It certainly leads to the highest:

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:
“Sir, what is the purpose and benefit of skillful ethics?”
“Ānanda, having no regrets is the purpose and benefit of skillful ethics.”
“But what’s the purpose and benefit of having no regrets?”
“Joy is the purpose and benefit of having no regrets.”
“But what’s the purpose and benefit of joy?”
“Rapture …”
“But what’s the purpose and benefit of rapture?”
“Tranquility …”
“But what’s the purpose and benefit of tranquility?”
“Bliss …”
“But what’s the purpose and benefit of bliss?”
“Immersion …”
“But what’s the purpose and benefit of immersion?”
“Truly knowing and seeing …”
“But what’s the purpose and benefit of truly knowing and seeing?”
“Disillusionment and dispassion …”
“But what’s the purpose and benefit of disillusionment and dispassion?”

“Knowledge and vision of freedom is the purpose and benefit of disillusionment and dispassion.
So, Ānanda, the purpose and benefit of skillful ethics is not having regrets. Joy is the purpose and benefit of not having regrets. Rapture is the purpose and benefit of joy. Tranquility is the purpose and benefit of rapture. Bliss is the purpose and benefit of tranquility. Immersion is the purpose and benefit of bliss. Truly knowing and seeing is the purpose and benefit of immersion. Disillusionment and dispassion is the purpose and benefit of truly knowing and seeing. Knowledge and vision of freedom is the purpose and benefit of disillusionment and dispassion. So, Ānanda, skillful ethics progressively lead up to the highest.”

AN 10.1

[SarathW]

Even if a murderer or a thief sit for say 30 minutes and concentrate on his breath for that 30 minutes he has developed Sila, Samadhi and Panna for that time.