There are five foundational Precepts that received by Buddhoist practitioners. In our Sangha, our Precepts come from the Bramajala Sutra as do all other Mahayana Sanghas. Our approach is to say what ethical behavior is in ddition to what not to do to live that life. For example, the First Precept is to "I vow to support all living creatures; refrain from killing." We also vow to respect the property of others, to regard all beings with dignity, to be truthful, and to maintain a clear mind. If we can do these things, we don't have to be concerned so much with what not to.
We take Precepts not to gain merit points, or to avoid negative outcomes only for ourselves. We do it for the sake of all beings. And with the sake of all beings in mind, we are also aware that depending on the situation, relationship, and function in a given setting, that "breaking" a Precept might also be correct action.
Here is Myeong Jin Eunsahn's Dharma talk from May 31, 2023.
