The first, the precept of body,
refers to the vow of physical conduct. Here the Buddha teaches that
by observing the precepts of body, the results will be the
achievement of the perfect form of a buddha, adorned with the marks
of excellence. Among all the details of body precepts, the
principal ones are to abandon the three negative actions, killing,
taking what is not given, and engaging in sexual misconduct.
However, the question arises," Should any action that appears to be
negative be avoided in all cases?" The answer is no.
There are some circumstances in which a negative action of body,
when carried out intelligently, for the sake of others and without
any selfishness whatsoever directly benefits other
beings.
A story from a
past life of the Buddha illustrates this. It is the story
about a shipload of five hundred merchants on a ship traveling from
India to the islands off the coast laden with riches. Among
the travelers was a murderer named "Spear-wielding Criminal" who
intended to kill everyone aboard the ship to keep the riches.
The bodhisattva "Prince Fortitude," who was the ship captain, knew
about this intention and thought, "If I kill him first, I can save
him from the negative karma, from killing five hundred
people." So the bodhisattva killed the criminal.
Instead of creating negative karma from this act, he accumulated a
vast amount of merit. So this story illustrates that, by
using discriminating knowledge and pure motivation, a negative
action can become virtuous. If our motivation is utterly free
from disturbing emotions, the action can be carried out if it
relieves the suffering of others or benefits a vast number of
beings. Having described the precepts of body, speech and
mind, the Buddha then gives three hundred listed topics of
instructions. According to some of the pith instructions, we
should regard the aggregates as being like a mirage, the sense-base
as being like magical illusions.
When the
Transcendent Perfect Conqueror expounded these Dharma teachings
defining samadhi that fully reveals the equal nature of all things,
a countless number of sentient beings formed the resolve to attain
unexcelled true and complete enlightenment, and countless numbers
attained non-regression from the state of true and complete
enlightenment. The Buddha said: "The sentient beings
who will hear these Dharma teachings on entering great compassion
will achieve excellence. After hearing this samadhi that
fully reveals the equal nature of all things, whoever writes it
down, memorizes, retains, and reads it, comprehends, and practices
it through non-emotional training, does so repeatedly, and as well,
teaches it widely to others, will become the object of giving of
all sentient beings."
When the
Transcendent Perfect Conqueror finished speaking, all in
attendance, as well as the gods from this world and from the pure
realms, rejoiced and praised the words.
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