Bodhisattva Precepts
The Bodhisattva Precepts (Chinese: 菩薩戒; pinyin: púsà jiè, Japanese: bosatsukai) are a set of moral codes used in Mahayana Buddhism to advance a practitioner along the path to becoming a Bodhisattva. Traditionally, monastics observed the basic moral code in Buddhism, the Pratimoksha, but in the Mahayana tradition, monks would additionally observe the Bodhisattva Precepts on top of the existing code.
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[edit] Origin
The Precepts are derived from Mahayana version of the Brahma Net Sutra, which lists out 10 Major Precepts and 48 Minor Precepts a monk is expected to follow. Typically, in many traditions, only the 10 Major Precepts are considered the Bodhisattva Precepts.
Chinese Chan Buddhist monk, Yin Shun wrote of the Bodhisattva Precepts:[1]
| “ | To cultivate bodhi mind means to accept the bodhisattva precepts and practice the ten good deeds. | ” |
In Japanese Buddhism, with the rise of Saicho and the Tendai sect, the original Vinaya lineage was bypassed, and a new monastic community was set up using the Bodhisattva Precepts exclusively. All Vinaya ordinations at the time were given at Todaiji temple in Nara Japan, and Saicho had wanted to both undermine the power of the Nara Buddhist community, and establish a "purely Mahayana lineage",[2] and made a request to the Emperor to Later Buddhist sects, which was granted shortly after his death.
Later Buddhist sects in Japan, including Soto Zen and Jodo Shu, adopted a similar approach to their monastic communities, and exclusive use of the Bodhisattva Precepts. By this time in Japan, the Vinaya lineage had all but died out anyways.
[edit] The Sixteen Bodhisattva Precepts in Soto Zen
In Soto Zen, the founder Dogen established a somewhat expanded version of the Bodhisattva Precepts for use by both priests and lay followers, based on both Brahma Net Sutra and other sources. Many various translations exist, the following is used by John Daido Loori, Roshi at the Zen Mountain Monastery[3]:
[edit] The Three Treasures
- Taking refuge in the Buddha
- Taking refuge in the Dharma
- Taking refuge in the Sangha
The Three Treasures are universally known in Buddhism as the Three Refuges or Three Jewels.
[edit] The Three Pure Precepts
- Do not create Evil
- Practice Good
- Actualize Good For Others
These are also known as the Three Root Precepts, and are mentioned in the Brahma Net Sutra as well.
[edit] The Ten Grave Precepts
- Affirm life – Do not kill
- Be giving – Do not steal
- Honor the body – Do not misuse sexuality
- Manifest truth – Do not lie
- Proceed clearly – Do not cloud the mind
- See the perfection – Do not speak of others errors and faults
- Realize self and other as one – Do not elevate the self and blame others
- Give generously – Do not be withholding
- Actualize harmony – Do not be angry
- Experience the intimacy of things – Do not defile the Three Treasures
[edit] References
- ^ Yin-Shun, Ven. (1998). The Way to Buddhahood. Wisdom Publications. p. 329. ISBN 0861711335.
- ^ Abe, Ryuichi (1999). The Weaving of Mantra: Kukai and the Construction of Esoteric Buddhist Discourse. Columbia University Press. pp. 40–44, 50–52. ISBN 0231112866.
- ^ Mountains and Rivers Order of Zen Buddhism
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