used to object. but after hearing Master Jing Jie excellent explaination on the Vinaya, i no longer object to people who want's to take the percepts and afraid to do so because of fearing that one might break it and fall into the evil realms.
how can the body of Vinaya be destroyed?
it's when one commit the 4 evil deeds - kill, steal, sexual misconduct and lying. and/or, one no longer wish to attain the unsurpassed bodhi, and live a un-righteous livelihood.
even if you break the percepts, we can only say you have a little mistakes. A inperfect/flawed bodhisattva. There's room for improvement. The body of precept/aspiration is still intack and not broken.
don't be afriad that after you take the precepts that you will break the precepts. Past masters would prefer one to uphold percept even if you break it and enter evil realms than one who don't uphold precepts and attain heavenly rebirth. Why? because even the former enter the evil realms, with the strength of the precepts, one can spring out easily, compare to the latter who do not. Chances for the latter to commit evil is inevitable.
Buddha is not afraid you have affliction or you commit evil. Buddha most afraid you don't plant good seeds. As light can destroy darkness. Why is there no darkness, as there's light. Or to turn around is the safe shore. Buddha only afraid you don't turn around. As long as you can turn over a new leaf, there's always hope. Why do people have afflictions, because their good merits are not enough.
no wonder that say:
"Shariputra, if one has few good roots, blessings, and virtues, one cannot be born in that land." - Amitabha Sutra
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amtf!
Precepts are important, it is the way of protecting our blessings.
By acting against precepts, we cannot even be reborn in the 3 higher realms, much less have any Samadhi or Wisdom. Those who wishes to develope Samadhi and Wisdom must first of all keep the precepts.
Yes, the 5 percepts is very important. My master added one more for us:
Don't think and do things that we don't like others to find out.
This one is hard but has a great effect on puriflying our mind.