More WARNING !
Buddha had no precept (the 5 rules, 8 rules, etc.) to begin with.
The true "intention" and meaning of "precepts" (eg. the 5 rules) is to help students to grow compassion and purity in the heart, and to avoid making mistakes to harm others.
The precepts were only established after students made mistakes. Therefore, Buddha set up guidelines for the students to behave...........It is important to understand the "intention" behind the precepts of the Buddha:
The 5 rules are compassionately formuated for helping students to grow on the right path (in practices, in family, in society), it is not for accusing and beating up people, and creating "dogmas" for people to follow, to be afraid of....
The precepts are flexible according to needs of individuals and society. For example, Buddha allows some of the monks to eat after lunch (12:00 noon) if they are sick, old, or too young.......
An other example, during the Japanese War, someone asked about killing the enemies in the battlefield. A famous monk said, "If you kill to save life....it is not in violation of the percepts (rules).....only if your intention is killing for the purpose of hatred...."
People must understand the "intention" of the 5 rules not the "dogmas".
It is for the purpose of keeping harmony in society and compassion in the individual heart. It is not for imposing restrictions and authority onto others and accusing others for not following the"dead rules" !!
Therefore, what is the big deal to have a small sip of wine to make your parents happy during holidays !!!! Why to ruin the happiness of family for "dead rules" !! (the true intention is not to get drink and pollute the mind and involve in wrong actions)
The most important thing is the "intention", we need great flexibilities and acceptance of differences, with open eyes to understanding any practice.
Otherwise, the best practice can become the most terrible "devil" of tyranny and arrogance !!
DON'T ACT LIKE A BIG BROTHER EVEN YOU FOLLOW THE 5 RULES.
There are the 8 rules, the 84,000 rules that you haven't followed.
Even if you follow the 84,000 rules, but you do not follow the "ONE RULE ", that is "rule in the heart " (xin je) -- to have mercy and compassion with all sentient beings. (Chi Bei Xin)
If you have the "one", you don't need the 5, the 84,00000000
ALL RULES CAN BE SUMMED UP AS ONE - THE RULE OF THE HEART.
(Xin Je)....
[此贴子已经被作者于2002-9-30 20:05:50编辑过]
