Kyojukaimon and Commentary. - Shasta Abbey

78 Kyojukaimon and Commentary.Buddhism?’ To be beyond both the holy and theunholy, to be beyond praise and blame, to act onlyfrom what the Lord of the House teaches withoutworrying whatsoever what the world may think isindeed to have understood the Three Pure Precepts.Before any act is performed you must askyourself, ‘Am I ceasing from evil in doing thisact? Is it good in the sight of the Lord of theHouse? Shall I cause another being to do harmeither to himself or to others? I cannot stop himdoing harm, for each man his karma makes andmust carry for himself, but I can do that aboutmyself which will prevent me from accidentallystarting the course of karma. I must think carefullyof my every act. I may not cause another to makea mistake in Buddhism.’ By so doing we rescueboth ourselves and others for, in cutting the rootsof karma for ourselves, we help to cut the roots ofkarma for others also.“These three are called the Three Pure Precepts.” Withoutthem one cannot live the Buddhist life.The Ten Great Precepts“Do not kill.No life can be cut off for the Life of Buddha isincreasing. Continue the Life of Buddha and donot kill Buddha.” Above all, do not turn your faceaway from Buddha, the Lord of the House, for thisis indeed to commit spiritual suicide; to killBuddha is to turn away from Buddha. ‘Man standsin his own shadow and wonders why it is darkand only he can turn round.’ To turn away fromBuddha is to say, ‘My ego is greater than the Lordof the House; my opinions are more right; mywishes are more important.’ It is you whom you