The Ten Major Precepts
1. First Major Precept
On Killing
A disciple of the Buddha shall not himself kill, encourage others
to kill, kill by expedient means, praise killing, rejoice at
witnessing killing, or kill through incantation or deviant mantras.
He must not create the causes, conditions, methods, or karma of
killing, and shall not intentionally kill any living creature.
(24)
As a Buddha's disciple, he ought to nurture a mind of compassion
and filial piety, always devising expedient means to rescue and
protect all beings. If instead, he fails to restrain himself and
kills sentient beings without mercy, he commits a Parajika (major)
offense. (25)
2. Second Major Precept
On Stealing
A disciple of the Buddha must not himself steal or encourage others
to steal, steal by expedient means, steal by means of incantation
or deviant mantras. He should not create the causes, conditions,
methods, or karma of stealing. No valuables or possessions, even
those belonging to ghosts and spirits or thieves and robbers, be
they as small as a needle or blade of grass, may be stolen.
As a Buddha's disciple, he ought to have a mind of mercy,
compassion, and filial piety -- always helping people earn merits
and achieve happiness. If instead, he steals the possessions of
others, he commits a Parajika offense. (26)
3. Third Major Precept
On Sexual Misconduct
A disciple of the Buddha must not engage in licentious acts or
encourage others to do so. [As a monk] he should not have sexual
relations with any female -- be she a human, animal, deity or
spirit -- nor create the causes, conditions, methods, or karma of
such misconduct. Indeed, he must not engage in improper sexual
conduct with anyone. (27)
A Buddha's disciple ought to have a mind of filial piety --
rescuing all sentient beings and instructing them in the Dharma of
purity and chastity. If instead, he lacks compassion and encourages
others to engage in sexual relations promiscuously, including with
animals and even their mothers, daughters, sisters, or other close
relatives, he commits a Parajika offense. (28)
4. Fourth Major Precept
On Lying and False Speech
A disciple of the Buddha must not himself use false words and
speech, or encourage others to lie or lie by expedient means. He
should not involve himself in the causes, conditions, methods, or
karma of lying, saying that he has seen what he has not seen or
vice-versa, or lying implicitly through physical or mental means.
(29)
As a Buddha's disciple, he ought to maintain Right Speech and
Right Views always, and lead all others to maintain them as well.
If instead, he causes wrong speech, wrong views or evil karma in
others, he commits a Parajika offense.
5. Fifth Major Precept
On Selling Alcoholic Beverages
A disciple of the Buddha must not trade in alcoholic beverages or
encourage others to do so. He should not create the causes,
conditions, methods, or karma of selling any intoxicant whatsoever,
for intoxicants are the causes and conditions of all kinds of
offenses.
As a Buddha's disciple, he ought to help all sentient beings
achieve clear wisdom. If instead, he causes them to have
upside-down, topsy-turvy thinking, he commits a Parajika offense.
(30)
6. Sixth Major Precept
On Broadcasting the Faults of the Assembly
A disciple of the Buddha must not himself broadcast the misdeeds or
infractions of Bodhisattva-clerics or Bodhisattva-laypersons, or of
[ordinary] monks and nuns -- nor encourage others to do so. He must
not create the causes, conditions, methods, or karma of discussing
the offenses of the assembly.
As a Buddha's disciple, whenever he hears evil persons,
externalists or followers of the Two Vehicles speak of practices
contrary to the Dharma or contrary to the precepts within the
Buddhist community, he should instruct them with a compassionate
mind and lead them to develop wholesome faith in the Mahayana.
If instead, he discusses the faults and misdeeds that occur
within the assembly, he commits a Parajika offense. (31)
7. Seventh Major Precept
On Praising Oneself and Disparaging Others
A disciple of the Buddha shall not praise himself and speak ill of
others, or encourage others to do so. He must not create the
causes, conditions, methods, or karma of praising himself and
disparaging others.
As a disciple of the Buddha, he should be willing to stand in
for all sentient beings and endure humiliation and slander --
accepting blame and letting sentient beings have all the glory. If
instead, he displays his own virtues and conceals the good points
of others, thus causing them to suffer slander, he commits a
Parajika offense. (32)
8. Eighth Major Precept
On Stinginess and Abuse
A disciple of the Buddha must not be stingy or encourage others to
be stingy. He should not create the causes, conditions, methods, or
karma of stinginess. As a Bodhisattva, whenever a destitute person
comes for help, he should give that person what he needs. If
instead, out of anger and resentment, (33) he denies all assistance
-- refusing to help with even a penny, a needle, a blade of grass,
even a single sentence or verse or a phrase of Dharma, but instead
scolds and abuses that person -- he commits a Parajika offense.
9. Ninth Major Precept
On Anger and Resentment
A disciple of the Buddha shall not harbor anger or encourage others
to be angry. He should not create the causes, conditions, methods,
or karma of anger.
As a disciple of the Buddha, he ought to be compassionate and
filial, helping all sentient beings develop the good roots of
non-contention. If instead, he insults and abuses sentient beings,
or even transformation beings [such as deities and spirits], with
harsh words, hitting them with his fists or feet, or attacking them
with a knife or club -- or harbors grudges even when the victim
confesses his mistakes and humbly seeks forgiveness in a soft,
conciliatory voice -- the disciple commits a Parajika offense.
(34)
10. Tenth Major Precept
On Slandering the Triple Jewel
A Buddha's disciple shall not himself speak ill of the Triple Jewel
or encourage others to do so. He must not create the causes,
conditions, methods or karma of slander. If a disciple hears but a
single word of slander against the Buddha from externalists or evil
beings, he experiences a pain similar to that of three hundred
spears piercing his heart. How then could he possibly slander the
Triple Jewel himself?
Hence, if a disciple lacks faith and filial piety towards the
Triple Jewel, and even assists evil persons or those of aberrant
views to slander the Triple Jewel, he commits a Parajika offense.
(35)
V. Conclusion: The Ten Major Precepts
As a disciple of the Buddha, you should study these ten parajika
(major) precepts and not break any one of them in even the
slightest way -- much less break all of them! Anyone guilty of
doing so cannot develop the Bodhi Mind in his current life and will
lose whatever high position he may have attained, be it that of an
emperor, Wheel-Turning King, Bhiksu, Bhiksuni -- as well as
whatever level of Bodhisattvahood he may have reached, whether the
Ten Dwellings, the Ten Practices, the Ten Dedications, the Ten
Grounds -- and all the fruits of the eternal Buddha Nature. He will
lose all of those levels of attainment and descend into the Three
Evil Realms, unable to hear the words "parents" or "Triple Jewel"
for eons! (36) Therefore, Buddha's disciples should avoid breaking
any one of these major precepts. (37) All of you Bodhisattvas
should study and observe the Ten Precepts, which have been
observed, are being observed, and will be observed by all
Bodhisattvas. They were explained in detail in the chapter, "The
Eighty Thousand Rules of Conduct."
/\