Often when people first encounter a Buddhist they ask what are you not allowed to do? The hidden assumption in this question is that there is some authority such as a deity or a pope or such like who lays down the rules and the rest of us obey them. But it's not like that at all. The ethical precepts and principles of Buddhism are advice and you are free to take the advice or not, there is no compulsion. Indeed compulsion of that kind would be considered unethical in Buddhism. So the advice is if you want to have a happy and satisfying life you will need to make some effort to live by these principles. The terms used for right and wrong behaviour are 'skilful' and 'unskilful' which indicates that being ethical is a skill, a capability, which we can develop. It is a matter of intelligence not obedience.
The path of ethics involves trying to live your life in accordance with the ethical principles of non-violence, generosity, contentment, honesty in communication and mindfulness. If we were to say those in terms of what not to do it would be – don't harm any living thing; don't take what you are not given; don't coerce or manipulate people, especially for sexual gratification; don't be untruthful or dishonest in your communication and don't get so intoxicated that you become unmindful or unaware.
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