...guidelines? The Buddha put a lot of emphasis on the 'Middle Way' and rejected the more fanatical lifestyle. I thought Buddhism was about trying one's best, none of us are perfect.

I believe a few complications arise from these precepts:

1. refraining from killing. (This encompasses every living organism? How can you always be sure that your pathway is cleared of insects/plant life?)
2. refraining from stealing (fairly straight forward, but what if your friend is having an asthma attack and needs an inhaler immediately, and the only one you can see is on display in an unguarded shop?
3. refraining from sexual misconduct (what does this constitute? Swinging? Gay sex? Sex before marriage/union? Any sex not performed in the standard missionary position (man on top) and only done for the purpose of reproduction?)
4. refraining from telling untruths (if you reveal the where abouts of a certain individual, when asked, you know that that person will be murdered?)
5. refraining from consuming intoxicants (no drugs prescribed by a GP? Never a single drop of alcohol, red wine is supposed to be quite beneficial for your health?)