There are some other important points I haven't mention and its
all in here:
http://www.jenchen.org.sg/vol7no4a.htm
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. Isnt 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 wont 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, (
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.
