The Essential Foundation of Keeping the Precepts

February 3, 2019.

To be born as a human being is to live within a framework of rules and expectations. Within our homes, we follow family traditions and etiquette to maintain harmony. As students, we adhere to school regulations to foster learning. As citizens, we obey the laws of our nation to ensure a stable society. In our professional lives, we follow workplace requirements to complete our duties effectively. Even when we travel on the road, we must observe traffic regulations to prevent accidents and protect both ourselves and others from harm. These are the fundamental principles of living a human life. If we violate these rules, we accept that there will be consequences, for we have grown up in an environment where such order is understood as necessary for the common good.

The Universal Necessity of Discipline

By the same logic, those who embark upon the path of spiritual practice must also observe the Precepts. Whether one is a lay practitioner, a novice, or a fully ordained monastic, there are specific codes of conduct—the Precepts—that must be upheld. If one violates these, one will inevitably face the corresponding karmic consequences, as the laws of karma and cause and effect are the natural standards of the universe. For a practitioner, the purpose of these Precepts is to correct and improve our improper Body, Speech, and Mind, as well as our deep-seated habits and personal ego.

To progress, we must possess the correct understanding and methods. We must use these teachings to regulate ourselves without violating the Truth, ensuring that we do not create negative karma. If we fail to do so, we drift further and further away from the righteous path, which contradicts the very purpose of our practice. For the fourfold assembly of disciples at Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, our practice has clear objectives: the short-term goal is to regulate the body and mind, to remain free from illness, to heighten our spiritual sensitivity and awareness, and to understand the true nature of the universe; the long-term goal is to achieve Awakening, thereby gaining the ability to save ourselves and others, and ultimately to achieve rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The Path to Awakening and Beyond

This process of transformation is certainly not something that can be achieved in a day or two. It requires us to endure rigorous tests, allowing us to peel away the layers of dust and grime that have accumulated on our true self due to our long journey through the cycle of reincarnated life. We must engage in purification, and then more purification. We must correct our erroneous views and truly understand the difference between the illusory and the real. Only then can we truly see through and let go, allowing the light of our true self to manifest. Only then can our great vow to save ourselves and all beings, and to attain rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, be realised.

The Subtle Art of the Heart-Precepts

Throughout this journey, keeping the Precepts is absolutely essential. Beyond the external rules that govern our daily behaviour and speech, the most critical aspect is the "Heart-Precepts." All disciples of Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre must be extremely cautious in this regard. The requirements of these internal, invisible Precepts are far more subtle and rigorous than those of the external rules. Even the slightest violation will lead to suffering.

The root cause of this suffering lies in the habits that we are all too familiar with—the personal ego and selfishness that manifest as the Five Poisons and the Five Desires: greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, and doubt; and the desires for wealth, lust, fame, food, and sleep. Many people find it particularly difficult to overcome the desire for emotional attachment. Anger and resentment harm both ourselves and others, yet they are often incredibly difficult to control. We must be vigilant against the foolish and improper thoughts, words, and actions driven by our desires for wealth, fame, or comfort. We must guard against the arrogance that shows in our expressions, our eyes, and our tone of voice. Furthermore, we must avoid the suspicion and slander of others, of events, and of objects. Most importantly, to doubt or slander the teachings and the philosophy of the Dharma is a grave offence.

The Weight of Our Choices

With the keen awareness cultivated by the students of Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, especially the monastics, any violation of the Precepts is usually felt immediately. The consequences are clear: physical illness manifests, the mind falls into turmoil, and one may even experience the suffering of the spirit wandering through the hells at night. These are all forms of intense suffering. The consequences of breaking the Precepts are truly not what the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Dharma protectors wish to see. I urge all students to understand the significance of these teachings. Be cautious and diligent at all times; do not become lax. You must realise that before you have reached Awakening, your karma has not yet been transformed. If you make a mistake, your karmic creditors are always waiting to seek revenge. Furthermore, there is the risk of attached spirits entering your field of consciousness. When both of these forces take control, it becomes nearly impossible for you to remain the master of your own mind. If you continue to commit transgressions, adding new faults to old ones, how can you avoid the evil consequences?

Take the Precepts as your teacher. For the students of Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, the Precepts are exactly what Namo Amituofo has provided in the explanations of the sutras, and what we have been taught repeatedly during our daily study of the teachings: do not let your mind be stirred, do not let every thought and intention arise, do not give in to anger, and always maintain a heart of compassion. If you violate these, you will suffer. Please, be mindful of this!

Recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

Namo Amituofo