Day 4 Adhering to the Precepts

Two monks broke the precepts against licentiousness and killing.
With his shallow knowledge, Upali exaggerated the sin.
The great Vimalakirti instantly removed their doubts,
Like a hot sun that melts ice and snow.


For ordinary sentient beings, abiding by the precepts is both the foundation of Buddhadharma and a prerequisite for progress on the Buddhist path. It is difficult to enter samadhi if one cannot hold to them. This stanza explains the position of the sudden enlightenment teachings on the precepts.

The gradual teaching places great emphasis on obeying the precepts. The Hinayana tradition distinguishes between left-home practitioners and lay practitioners. Standards for the laity are not as stringent as those for monks and nuns. Since lay people raise families and accumulate wealth, they cannot free themselves from desires. A lay practitioner can therefore only achieve the third dhyana level in the Hinayana tradition. Only monks and nuns, through hard work and rigorous discipline, can achieve the fourth dhyana level ─ arhatship.