Another important element of Burmese Buddhist ethics is the keeping of "precepts" or "trainings". The most basic set of ethical precepts are the five precepts (abstaining from killing, stealing, lying, adultery and alcohol). There are also extra precepts (see: eight precepts) that Burmese laypersons may take occasionally, during religious holidays, the uposatha days and meditation retreats. It is a traditional practice to request a Buddhist monastic to bestow the precepts on a layperson by chanting the precepts in the Pali language.