Why should we receive and uphold the five precepts?

Not killing in this life, we will not encounter disasters and difficulties in future lives.
Not stealing in this life, we will not be robbed in future lives.
Not engaging in sexual misconduct in this life, we will have good marriage in future lives.
Not lying in this life, we will not be cheated in future lives.
Not drinking in this life, we will not experience loss of sanity in future lives.

   Some people have taken refuge with Triple Jewel for many years and yet they do not want to take the five precepts. They fear that once they take the five precepts they will lose their freedom. To that comment made by some lay disciples, the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua replied that a person can choose to lose freedom now and be free in the future, or can choose to be free now and lose freedom in the future. Even so, a person should not define freedom as license to kill, steal, engage in sexual misconduct, tell lies, and drink wine, claiming that he is free since he has not taken the precepts. That is self-deceiving. In fact, it's very easy to fall into the three paths by doing those things. The five precepts are the most fundamental precepts that we should observe. By taking refuge with the Triple Jewel, we are indicating our willingness to study the Buddhadharma. The next step is to become a Dharma-protecting lay person who receives and upholds the five precepts and practices the ten wholesome deeds.

Don't miss the chance to receive the five precepts

   People who receive the five precepts, or the eight precepts, are called "Upasaka" (for men) or "Upasika" (for women). If they take the Bodhisattva precepts then they are called Bodhisattvas of initial resolve, because they are making a commitment to uphold the Bodhisattva precepts and follow the Bodhisattva path. [note: I would change this wording. In SF's tradition, we normally don't go around calling people "Bodhisattvas" when they have received the Bodhisattva precepts. That's dangerous for people's egos, in my opinion.] Left-home people receive and uphold the Bodhisattva precepts. But since Bodhisattvas of initial resolve are people who wish to learn how to benefit both themselves and others, lay people, too, can receive lay Bodhisattva precepts. In Buddhism, receiving and upholding precepts is very important. When there is an opportunity to do so, people should not miss the chance.

   A lay person can receive one precept, two precepts, three precepts, four precepts, five precepts. Lay people can also receive eight precepts. However, lay people are not eligible to receive the ten precepts, as those are reserved for shramaneras (novice monks) and shramanerikas (novice nuns). But you can take Bodhisattva precepts, the ten-major and forty-eight-minor precepts. [well, the lay people in DRBA are no longer allowed to receive the 10 major and 48 minor, so better delete this sentence! Or else add a qualifying statement like: or the six major and twenty-five minor precepts. Or else change 10 and 48 to 6 and 25.] Receiving one precept is called taking "minimum share precept," Receiving two precepts is called taking "half share precept," Receiving three precepts is called taking "majority share precept," Receiving five precepts is called taking "full share precept." If someone has problem with receiving the precept of not killing beings, then that person can refrain from receiving that precept and can receive the precept of not stealing.

   If someone likes to drink like my wine-drinking disciple who didn't want to take the precept prohibiting the consuming of intoxicant,[ I would omit this comment] then that person can refrain from receiving the precept prohibiting the comsumption of intoxicants, but can receive the others. Someone may say, "I like to boast. I cannot receive the precept against lying." Well, that person can receive the other four precepts. Another person may say, "I cannot promise not to kill. Sometimes, unintentionally, I may kill ants and small bugs. If I kill them after receiving the precepts my offenses will be greater." That person doesn't have to receive the precept against killing. In general, each person can do whatever he or she prefers, receiving one, two, three, or up to five precepts. Just don't miss this opportunity. In China, if a person doesn't have money, it used to be two hundred US dollars, then he won't be able to receive the precepts. That money did not go toward the purchase of a sash and robe. The preceptees had to purchase those by themselves. They could buy better or lesser quality sashes and robes, depending on what they had to spend. Just to receive the precepts and to make an offering to the teacher and his temple would require at least two hundred dollars.

Who are the lay people? [we can't use "laity" this way. DM Tso always corrects us. Let's use lay people.]

   A layperson is someone who believes in Buddhism, upholds the five precepts, and practices the ten good deeds and who has not left the home-life. What are the five precepts? They are the precepts against killing, stealing, engaging in sexual misconduct and taking intoxicant. People who have received the five precepts are called lay people. What are the ten good deeds? The ten good deeds are just the opposite of ten bad deeds. The ten bad deeds are: killing, stealing, and sexual misconduct, which are done by the body; greed, hatred, and ignorance, which belong to the mind; and lying, loose speech, harsh speech, and divisive speech, which are committed by the mouth.

   Notice that the ones done by the mouth account for almost half of the ten. Loose speech is crude or lewd speech, such as talking about how women (or men) behave, or discussing things about certain families, and so forth. Lying means not telling the truth. Harsh speech refers to scolding people, which creates mouth karma. Divisive speech means being double-tongued in the sense that one back-bites and causes schisms. Such a person tells A about B and then B about A, trying to split them up. That is how divisive speech works. Turn the ten evil deeds around and they become the ten wholesome deeds.

   What are the ten wholesome deeds? They are: not killing, not stealing, not indulging in sexual misconduct, not being greedy, not harboring hatred, not being deluded, [we want to avoid "stupidity" but ignorance is usually the translation of 'wu ming.' So I suggest deluded here.]not using loose speech, not lying, not saying harsh words, and not engaging in divisive speech. If you can refrain from doing all these bad things, then you will be wholesome. Lay people should abide by these ten good deeds. All lay people must observe the five precepts and practice the ten wholesome deeds.