Master Chin Kung - Precepts are the Only Methods We can Rely to get Improve 提升自己的境界唯一的依靠就是戒律

(English subtitles) Master Chin-Kung (淨空法師, 1927 - 2022) talk dharma.
Subtitles:
The Nirvana Sutra 31 says: Precepts are the steps and ladders
to all good things. We need stairs to go upstairs. What is precept? It's the stairs for all good things. All good things are upstairs. But you need stairs to go upstairs. In other words, if we want to improve our state, we can only rely on precepts. Away from precepts, What methods do you use to improve your state?
The Avatamsaka Sutra tells us: There are 52 stages for Bodhisattvas: 10 stages of faith, 10 abodes, 10 practices, 10 dedications of merit, 10 grounds, 50. Beyond those, there are perfect enlightenment, marvelous enlightenment, 52 stages. How to get up to the 52 stages? All are based on precepts. This is what Master Janggya taught me in the early years.
2:00
Because I started to study Buddhism from academicism. In other words, from the door of interpretation, not from the door of practice. I studied philosophy with Teacher Fang and treated the sutras as philosophy, so I didn’t enter the door of practice. Master Janggya was anxious, but there was nothing he could do. He asked me to practice the precepts directly. At that state, I wouldn't accept it. And what did I think? That is superstition. At the same time, I have a serious misunderstanding of the precepts.
What are the precepts? The precepts are the rules of life. Set by Sakyamuni Buddha. That was the norm of life for the ancient Indians 3,000 years ago. We have to go back to 3000 years ago to study Buddhism and become Indians. This makes no sense. You see my set of sophistry.
Therefore, Master Janggya was very difficult, but he had an expedient. Every time I visited him, when I left, he would definitely walk me to the door. Seeing me off at the door, he would say: “Precept is important.” Just such a phrase. I've heard this sentence dozens of times, so I'm very impressed. You see, it was the understatement, very slight, probably no one could hear. He walked me out the door, I was very close to him.
4:08
When he was reborn, people built a cremator, especially for him, not to mix with the ordinary, a specially made cremator. Gandruk Living Buddha presided over his funeral. After the cremation, we were in the crematorium. His crematorium is a special place, not an ordinary crematorium but a courtyard behind a temple. We pitched a tent. Ghandruk Living Buddha and others lived in the tent for about 10 days. I lived in the tent for 3 days.
At that time I still had a job and took 3 days off to keep vigil beside his coffin for 3 days. During these 3 days of vigil, I thought every day. I have been with Master Janggya for 3 years, what has he taught me? The most impressive one is teaching me: precepts are important. I thought seriously, why did he say this sentence so many times?
He didn't push me. I finally figured out that the mundane laws are different with the transmundane laws. Originally, I misinterpreted the precepts as the mundane law. The etiquette of the mundane law of the 3 dynasties, Xia, Shang, and Zhou, are different.
6:00
It is revised with the times and with people's living habits. It is like the country's constitution needs to be revised every few years. If it is not revised, it will not be applicable. The society has changed. What the Buddha said is transmundane laws. It is to transcend reincarnations. It can't change, it can't get out once it changes, it can't go beyond.
On this basis, I affirmed that the precepts are the law of the sages. If you want to be a sage or a virtuous person, you must do this. It is not an ordinary thing, it cannot be changed, the precepts cannot be changed. So, one gains meditative concentration by precepts and gains wisdom by meditative concentration. If you don't practice according to his method,
it's not dharma. What is that ? It's called the school of Buddhism in the mundane world.
This is my viewpoint. Learning Buddhism and Buddhist school are 2 different things. Buddhist school regards studying Buddhist scriptures as academic research. I entered from the door. How about learning Buddhism? It's different. It starts from the precepts. It doesn't matter even if you never learn a sutra. As long as you take precepts and chant buddha. When life is ending, Amitabha comes to receive, and you will be reborn.