The successful acceptance and following of the Precepts is greatly facilitated by the belief in the Buddha essence, the acceptance of the Buddha’s teachings (the Dharma), and an association with a support group of likeminded people (a Sangha).
The simple statement of the heart of Buddhist living is that one will cause no suffering for others and one will do what is possible to better the condition of all others.
A more precise elucidation of what that entails would include the practicing of only helpful acts, the taking of only what is given, being pleased with what one possesses, speaking only known truths, following only truthful perceptions, supporting the value of others, always speaking well of all others, minimizing one’s emotional excesses, showing kindness when giving of one’s self and one’s treasure, and always relating positively to the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha.
By practicing the style of living as it is presented above one is following the Precepts. Quite simply, the Precepts show one how to behave in a way that is not harmful to themselves or others. More importantly, the style of living inherit in the Precepts allows one to purify their body, speech and mind. By living within the Precepts, everything one does, says, or thinks clarifies the immaculate body, speech and mind of Buddha Nature, which is the ultimate goal of living life within the Precepts.
It is important to remember that the Buddhas were teachers, not saviors. The following of the Precepts means that one vows to refrain from all excesses in life. The practice comes from within and is successful when one demonstrates a willingness to compassionately apply the guidelines to one’s daily life. The source of Buddhist morality is compassion for oneself and for all others and not an unattainable ideal of moral purity. Human beings make mistakes. One must realize their mistakes and work to not allow those mistakes to recur. One may apply the Precepts to the best of their ability but when the Precepts are broken one must reaffirm a resumption of the path of following the style of living inherit in the Precepts. In that way the realization of the Buddhist way of compassionate living may be realized. The purpose of following the path is to make an ongoing, sustained effort of gradual life conversion for all persons rather than a model for moral perfection.
If one wonders why the following of the Precepts is important today, one might consider the Master Dogen’s words: “Times flies quicker than an arrow and life passes with greater transience than dew. However skillful you may be, how can you ever recall a single day of the past? Should you live for a hundred years just wasting your time, every day and month will be filled with sorrow; should you drift as the slave of your senses for a hundred years and yet live truly for only so much as a single day, you will, in that one day, not only live a hundred years of life but also save a hundred years of your future life. The life of this one day, today, is absolutely vital life; your body is deeply significant. Both your life and your body deserve love and respect for it is by their agency that Truth is practiced and the Buddha’s power exhibited: the seed of all Buddhist activity, and all Buddhahood, is the true practice of Preceptual Truth.”
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