There are five lay, ten major, and forty-eight minor Bodhisattva Precepts.
The first Five Precepts are known as the “Lay Precepts,” as anyone, planning to be ordained or not, can receive them. Taking them indicates a desire to follow the Buddhadharma and be involved in the Sangha (community of practitioners) as best as one is able. The Ten Bodhisattva Precepts are for more advanced practitioners who may or may not be considering ordination. While all Precepts are largely aspirational, they are likewise to be taken seriously. We don’t just give them lip service, reciting them and then going back to our worldly ways of violating one or more on a daily basis.
The Lay Precepts:
1) The First Precept;
I vow to support all living creatures, and refrain from killing.
2)The Second .Precept;
I vow to respect the property of others, and refrain from stealing.
3) The Third Precept
I vow to regard all beings with respect and dignity, and refrain from objectifying others.
4)The Fourth Precept;
I vow to be truthful, and refrain from lying.
5) The Fifth Precept:
I vow to maintain a clear mind and refrain from harming myself or others with intoxication.
The First states what proper action is—“Support all living creatures,” and then what not to do in order to accomplish that. But there are many ways to support all living creatures that don’t involve not just killing them!
The Second means refraining from not taking credit for someone else’s work to not using a Chat AI to write a term paper.
The Third could mean that we don’t objectify or separate ourselves by defining someone solely based on sexual orientation.
The Fourth would include spreading rumors, gossip, and conspiracy theories in addition to not telling outright falsehoods.
The Fifth means to keep a clear mind, the mind of the Buddhadharma, the mind of the Middle Path. There are many things that can cloud our minds, not just getting drunk or high!
The Bodhisattva Precepts:
The Sixth Precept:
I vow to be kind and to encourage others, and to refrain from discouraging others including myself.
The Seventh Precept:
I vow to be kind to others and refrain from being boastful and self-centered.
The Eighth Precept:
I vow to be generous, to be grateful for what I have, and refrain from yearning for things that do not belong to me.
The Ninth Precept:
I vow to promote harmony and refrain from acting in anger or hatred.
The Tenth Precept:
I vow to affirm and uphold the three jewels (the Buddha, the Sangha and the Dharma).
You may notice that these ten Precepts are basically the same as all other versions taken from the Bhramajala Sutra. Our Sangha’s are slightly different from some Orders in that we state the aspiration of the Precept. In addition to what not to do; they also include what to do.
Prior to taking new precepts, reflect on how each one might express itself in your own life. In what ways, for example, do your actions harm other living creatures. Use each precept as a mindfulness exercise that enables you to minimize harm to others and to reduce your tendencies toward greed, hatred, and delusion.
It’s also important to note that these are vows we are taking to demonstrate our desire to live an honorable life. They are not Commandments in the Judeo-Christian sense—there’s no soul burning in hell for all eternity. There is however an acknowledgement that our actions do have consequences—karma good or bad—which may not manifest itself immediately or even in an obvious way. Our individual and collective actions leave a wake and a legacy. We should bear in mind what the possible outcomes to our actions may be, and whether we’re willing to accept them.
Likewise important that there may be times when correct action actually means breaking a Precept is a given situation. In the Lotus Sutra the Buddha himself lied in order to lure children out of a burning building. An important factor to consider in these situations is whether we are breaking a Precept in order to benefit others, not just ourselves.
That is the bottom line of these Precepts. We receive them as individuals, but we practice them for the sake of all beings, not just ourselves.
Myeong Jin Eunsahn
Won Yung Sunmin
July 9, 2023
