#Mettavalokanaya_International_Buddhist_Magazine_November_2021

Uphold the
Precepts….
It is said, “Precepts are the
foundation of Supreme Bodhi.”
Constructing a tall building needs
a good foundation; attaining Bodhi
requires upholding the precepts. This
is why observing the precepts is so
important! Why do we need to uphold
the precepts? Why do we need to be
restricted from doing something?
In fact, the precepts teach the best
moral conducts, such as doing good
deeds and not committing bad ones.
In other words, we have to sever all
wrongdoings and cultivate all good
deeds. It is commonly said, “Do all
good and nothing bad.” By upholding
the precepts, one can reach the
stage of awakening Bodhisattva. Not
upholding the precepts, one remains
confused and mundane. Those who
uphold the precepts can eventually
achieve liberation, whereas those
who do not would remain as sentient
beings subject to the cycle of birth
and death. By taking the precepts,
one is likely to proceed to the stage
of Bodhisattva, or even the Buddha.
It is said, “When sentient beings
take the Buddha’s precepts, they will
eventually become Buddhas.”
The Five Precepts in Buddhism—
no killing, no stealing, no sexual
misconduct, no false speech, and no
intoxication. Observing these Five
Precepts is a lifetime undertaking.
When you pass away, the Precept
Body will be gone. By receiving and
upholding the precepts, you will at
least retain the human form in the
future and not regress to the Three
Lower Realms. Being a human makes
it easier to practice Buddhism and
you will have the seed to attain
“Fulfilling the
Lifetime”….
Buddhahood. Passively speaking,
“precept” is to avoid all wrongdoings
and evil; proactively, it means both to
avoid evil deeds and to do wholesome
deeds. To benefit others and oneself,
one needs to help other people. By
doing so, one will receive blessings.
We practice the Bodhisattva Path by
helping sentient beings. Hence, we
must create positive affinity with
others.
The Bodhisattva Precepts
include the Six Major Precepts and
the Twenty-Eight Minor Precepts. The
Monastic Bodhisattva Precepts include
the Ten Major Precepts and the Forty-
Eight Minor Precepts. Undertaking the
Bodhisattva Precepts continues until
the future lifetime(s). That is, when
you receive the Bodhisattva Precepts
this life time, the Precept Body will
forever attach with you until you
reach Buddhahood. Therefore, this is
why the sentient beings, who observe
the Bodhisattva Precepts, will reach
the beginning stage of Buddhahood.
If the Bodhisattva Precepts are
observed perfectly and completely,
which means that the Buddhahood
is perfected. The nature of the
Bodhisattva precepts is to bring forth
the Bodhi Mind. The Three Collective
Pure Precepts is the gist of the
Bodhisattva Precepts, such as ceasing
the bad deeds, Learning all good
deeds, and delivering all sentient
beings with compassion. What is the
content of Bodhisattva precepts? To
practice Bodhisattva path, one must
first understand its meaning. What
does it take to perfect Bodhisattva
path? One must be mindful to
attain Buddhahood and to liberate
sentient beings. If we want to attain
Buddhahood, the first step is to make
a Bodhi resolve to benefit others.
This is the spirit of the Bodhisattva
Precepts.
Most Venerable
Master Tze Cheng
The Chief Abbot of Pure
Land Temple & Lingyen
Mountain Temple - Canada
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34 l Mettavalokanaya l November l 2021 2021 l November l Mettavalokanaya l 35