To Observe the Five Precepts and Thus Attain Rebirth in Heaven (Part3/3)

 To Observe the Five Precepts and Thus Attain Rebirth in Heaven

 (A Story Recorded in Volume 5 of The Storehouse of Sundry Valuables; 雜寶藏經 卷5)

Moreover, if one’s practice is not efficacious or if one easily resonates with ghosts and spirits, after taking the Triple Refuge, one will be protected by Dharma-protecting deities, which can reduce the obstacles to practice. In addition, Volume 64 of the Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra states that those who take refuge in the Triple Gem can obtain vast merits or blessings, great joy, samādhi, and great purity, and that the heavenly beings will feel joy for those who have taken the Triple Refuge and will regard them as being like themselves. As the Triple Gem of the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha possess immeasurable meritorious qualities, one who takes refuge in them also possesses many meritorious qualities. As stated in the Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra, those who have taken refuge in the Triple Gem are very much welcomed by heavenly beings. Like the elder’s daughter in the story, they could be reborn in the heaven of the desire realm after their death.

However, we also want to remind everyone that the Triple Refuge has the function of precepts: “Taking refuge in the Buddha, I shall never take refuge in mara demons or non-Buddhist paths. Taking refuge in the Dharma, I shall never take refuge in the false teachings of non-Buddhist paths. Taking refuge in the Sangha, I shall never take refuge in the heterodox teachings of non-Buddhist paths.” Thus, we sometimes call it the Triple Refuge Precept, meaning that once you have taken refuge in the Triple Gem, you naturally can no longer take refuge in non-Buddhist paths or in various false teachings again. Furthermore, if one takes the Triple Refuge at a place that does not uphold the true Dharma, then not only can one not obtain the merit of the Triple Refuge, but one may also commit the offense of destroying the Buddha Dharma. Therefore, one must choose carefully and wisely and avoid taking refuge in places that do not uphold the correct Dharma.

Next, let’s briefly discuss the five precepts. Our current Buddhist rituals involve simultaneously taking the Triple Refuge and receiving and upholding the five precepts: no killing, no stealing, no sexual misconduct, no lying, and no consumption of alcohol. That is to say, after taking refuge in the Triple Gem, one should protect and maintain wholesome dharmas and not violate the five precepts according to one’s capacity and ability. Upholding and endorsing the five precepts is the root of all wholesome dharmas and the basic foundation for being a human in the world; even those who do not study Buddhism should uphold them. People who receive and uphold the five precepts will not fall into the three lowly paths; therefore, generally speaking, upholding the five precepts can at least preserve the human body in future lives. Conversely, those who violate the five precepts violate their humanity, and their mental nature no longer belongs to the human realm. Thus, in the future, they cannot be born as humans and will fall into the three lowly paths, even if they believe in Buddhism. The sutras also state that “for every precept that you receive, five wholesome Dharma-protecting deities will come to protect you.” Thus, people who fully receive all five precepts will be protected by 25 Dharma-protecting deities; they will have no nightmares at night and will not be harmed by plagues, epidemics, disasters, thieves, water, or fire.

If people who have already received the five precepts turn their mental nature toward the wholesome and can further practice the ten wholesome actions without creating evil karma, they can be reborn in the heaven of the desire realm after their death because their mental nature resonates with it. As for the story’s account of the principles of hearing the Buddha teach the Dharma and being able to attain the first fruition of stream-entry and even the Buddha-Bodhi path.

Finally, to summarize, what the story about the father and his daughter wants to tell us is the importance of taking the Triple Refuge and receiving and upholding the five precepts, especially for someone who wishes to practice the path. Therefore, take the Triple Refuge and receive and uphold the five precepts at a place that upholds the correct Dharma is of vital importance for all wise Buddhists. (3/3).  

#Buddha #Buddhiststory #Buddhistwisdom #Dharma #karma #Triplegem