http://www.jenchen.org.sg/vol7no4a.htm
Volume
7 no 4
Feature
Five Precepts and Ten Virtuous Deeds are
fundamental to Jen Chen Buddhism
Human beings have one common aspiration, and that is to be happy
and blissful. There are methods through which we can acquire
happiness and bliss, and more than these. Jen Chen Buddhism is
exactly focused at creating a happy and blissful culture for
humanity. It advocates that we observe the Five Precepts and
perform the Ten Virtuous Deeds, for all goodness shall be duly
rewarded. Precepts may appear to restrict our freedom, but in
reality they safeguard our blessings. When we can understand this
phenomenon, we wish we knew about them sooner!
The Jen Chen Buddhism (Humanity Vehicle Buddhism) advocates to
observe the Five Precepts [1] and to perform the Ten Virtuous Deeds
[2]. Naturally Jen Chen Buddhism based its fundamentals on the Five
Precepts and Ten Virtuous Deeds. In Buddhism “Vinaya” [3] means
precepts and disciplines. Of course, every person who is learning
and practicing Buddhism has to abide by the Vinaya. But in reality
it is not easy, for how many people can do that? Buddhist monks and
nuns must observe many precepts and disciplines, and it is no mean
feat if the lay-Buddhists can observe just the Five Precepts. A
person who cannot even abstain from killing, stealing, sexual
misconduct, telling lies and consuming intoxicants, would not
qualify to be a lay-Buddhist of the Humanity Vehicle, what more to
say about being a Bodhisattva of the Greater Vehicle?
I hope lay-Buddhists understand that they
should not be overly ambitious in their cultivation and in the
process neglect the fundamentals. The first step is to
conscientiously observe the Five Precepts and perform the Ten
Virtuous Deeds, and then they can truly call themselves
practitioners of the Humanity Vehicle. It would be ideal if
everybody observe the Five Precepts and perform the Ten Virtuous
Deeds first; and if the conditions and your capacity permit,
proceed further to observe the Bodhisattva Precepts and practise
the Bodhisattva path of the Greater Vehicle.
All Buddhists need to
understand the concept of Vinaya. It consists of two parts: our
dignity and demeanour, and the boundary of discipline. We must be
dignified in all that we do and under all circumstances in our
daily life, including the way we walk, stand, sit and even the way
we lie down. We need to be dignified in our speech and actions, and
besides
avoiding all evil deeds and
performing virtuous deeds, we also need to exercise compassion.
Then, we are truly followers of Buddha.
All Buddhists need to observe the Vinaya. However, we are not the
Vinaya School of Buddhism which emphasizes precepts and
disciplines. Many people are afraid to embrace Buddhism because
they are afraid of the many strict precepts and disciplines, and
that monks and nuns have to observe hundreds of these. It is a pity
that such good Buddhist teachings are rejected because of this
reason. Thus, to begin with, it is advisable not to place too much
emphasis on precepts and disciplines.
It is not uncommon to hear of
husbands encouraging their wives to take refuge in Buddhism,
observe the Five Precepts, and the Bodhisattva Precepts. But, when
asked why their husbands are not doing the same, a typical reply is
that their husbands feel that there are too many precepts and
disciplines in Buddhism and as businessmen these precepts and
disciplines are an inconvenience to them.
From this point, we can see that many people have misunderstood and
are afraid of precepts and disciplines. Jen Chen Buddhism does not
use precepts to shackle oneself, but it does not mean that Jen Chen
Buddhism does not observe the precepts. On the contrary, precepts
are strictly observed. Jen Chen Buddhism, does not refer to them as
precepts, but rather as “methods to safeguard blessings”, that is
to safeguard the blessings and happiness which we already have. For
example, an originally happy and blissful family will become broken
if the husband or wife neglects the family by indulging in gambling
and drinking, or night-clubbing. Therefore, we say that “to observe
the precepts” is the same as to “safeguard our blessings”. Isn’t it
a very good thing that we uphold our existing blessing in this
manner?
Take another example: If a child shifts a
plate that was safely placed in the centre of the table to its
edge, the mother will say, “This won’t do! Put it back to the
centre.” Of course, the plate is safer when it is in the middle of
the table rather than at the edge. Should it drop and shatters, it
also means that some of our blessings are expended. If the plate
costs a certain amount of money and we need to replace it, then the
total damage is doubled. Thus, when we understand this principle,
we must be alert and raise our awareness so that regardless of
where we are, we are safeguarding our blessings and happiness all
the time, and we constantly examine ourselves if our actions are
frittering away our blessings. For example, if husbands or wives do
not discipline themselves and have no sense of propriety, they
casually indulge in extra-marital affairs without regards for the
consequences, then they are ruining their own
happiness.
Therefore, Jen Chen Buddhism
advocates that we constantly safeguard the blessings which we
already have. This is the way Jen Chen Buddhism observes the
precepts. If we talk about the precepts incessantly, then it
discourages people from learning Buddhism. When we understand this
principle, we must fulfill our responsibility as a human being, be
a good person, learn and practise the teachings of Jen Chen
Buddhism, avoid doing all evil deeds, do all good deeds, purify the
mind, and safeguard our blessings.
Notes:
[1] The Five
Precepts: Refrain from (1) killing, (2) stealing ,(3) lying, (4)
sexual misconduct, (5) consumption of intoxicants.
[2] The Ten
Virtuous Deeds: Refrain from (1) killing, (2) stealing, (3) sexual
misconduct , (4) false speech, (5) frivolous and meaningless talk,
(6) double-tongue or tale-bearing, (7) slanderous speech, (8)
greed, (9) ill will, (10) ignorance or perverted views.
[3] Vinaya:
Rules and disciplines, an intuitive apprehension of which, both
written and unwritten, enables the individual to act properly under
all circumstances.
[4] The Vinaya
School of Buddhism: Emphasizes the monastic discipline; founded in
China during the Tang Dynasty.
© Copyright
2002.Jen Chen Buddhism Centre