How should followers of the teaching practice the observance of precepts?
They are not to kill, to steal, to commit adultery, to be double-tongued, to slander, to lie, or to utter exaggerated speech. They are to free themselves from greed, jealousy, cheating, deceit, flattery, crookedness, anger, hatred, and perverse views. If they happen to be monks who have renounced family life, they should also, in order to cut off and suppress defilements, keep themselves away from the hustle and bustle of the world and, always residing in solitude, should learn to be content with the least desire and should practice vigorous ascetic disciplines. They should be repelled and filled with awe by any slight fault and should feel regret and repent. They should not take lightly any of the Tathagata's precepts. They should guard themselves from slander and from showing dislike so as not to rouse people in their delusion to commit any offense or sin.
The Awakening of Faith (trans. Hakeda), p. 94. Punctuation and diction altered slightly, and presented in honor of those who took the five lay precepts last weekend in our sangha.
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