Originally posted by Beautiful951:How about if for instance you take vegetarian for lunch but not at dinner? Is it the same?
same as the saying that:
that said, if unfortunately one enter into the lower realms, they will be relieve of suffering every first and fifteen of lunar month, due to this merit of this "precept".
then only at lunch time the ghost feel relieved.
and we know a month is about a day in ghost realm.
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I am intending to be a full vegetarian but jusy not in one go.
I do not understand about the relief of suffering part. Can you explain further?
Originally posted by Beautiful951:I am intending to be a full vegetarian but jusy not in one go.
I do not understand about the relief of suffering part. Can you explain further?
In the lower realm (say hell or ghost realm), the hell beings suffer all the time. If one is reborn in the lower realm (let's say hell or ghost realm) due to some reasons, one will be relieved of sufferings on those days or time when he/she was a vegetarian as a human in his/her past life.
Let's say the person is a vegetarian on 1st and 15th of every month, he will be relieved of sufferings on 1st and 15th if he is reborn in hell or ghost realm due to some reasons. If the person is a vegetarian at lunch time, he will be relieved of suffering in hell or ghost realm during lunch time if he is reborn in hell or ghost realm due to some reasons.
i think, however, the understanding of precept is important.
one have to make a vow to yourself to such discipline, u want to commit. cannot anyhow or any Tom, Dick and Harry with no particular reason, or for just only health reason, he/she only eat vegetarian during lunch time. this kind is not as powerful as one who vowed and commit to such discipline to the Buddha. the seed of virtue is different. as when one unlucky enter the lower realm, you will rembember a vow u took rather than some day to day act. understand?
so one can do it not just for vegetarianism, u can also do it for lust, stealing, lying, intoxication, enjoyment, getting angry on 1st and 15th for example.
if can commit to the 8 precepts at certain period, lucky best!
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Originally posted by sinweiy:i think, however, the understanding of precept is important.
one have to make a vow to yourself to such discipline, u want to commit. cannot anyhow or any Tom, Dick and Harry with no particular reason, or for just only health reason, he/she only eat vegetarian during lunch time. this kind is not as powerful as one who vowed and commit to such discipline to the Buddha. the seed of virtue is different. as when one unlucky enter the lower realm, you will rembember a vow u took rather than some day to day act. understand?
so one can do it not just for vegetarianism, u can also do it for lust, stealing, lying, intoxication, enjoyment, getting angry on 1st and 15th for example.
if can commit to the 8 precepts at certain period, lucky best!
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Yeah, talking about 8 precepts. I understand that if one observes 1 day of 8 precepts on earth, one has accumulated enough merits to go to heaven. However, heaven is not a permanent place, one will still go through reincarnation after the merits are depleted. I'm actively participating in observing 8 precepts event in temples nowadays but my aim is to be reborn in Amituofo's Pureland.
I also understand that observing 1 day of 8 precepts on earth is equivalent to 100 years of practice in Amituofo's Pureland. Reason being it is more difficult to practice on earth than in Amituofo's Pureland.
Yes u are right on! Dawn.
in Contemplation Sutra, we see the Queen observing the 8 precepts given by a Buddha's disciple. Queen later reborn in PL. 8 precepts is a powerful merit that one can recall even during the bardo state, good rebirth will still befall you. can use it as a "王牌" to reborn in PL. :)
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For the eight percepts, about not eating in the afternoon, is it that we cannot eat dinner?
Originally posted by Beautiful951:For the eight percepts, about not eating in the afternoon, is it that we cannot eat dinner?
Yes. Followings are the 8 precepts. In fact, it is not difficult to observe just for 24 hours because sleeping already takes up at least 8 hours.
1) No stealing
2) No telling lies
3) No sexual activities (including husband and wife relationship)
4) No drinking of alcohol (including drugs that make one feels high)
5) No killing
6) No sleeping or sitting on high beds or high chairs, no watching TV programme or hearing music or songs ( sometimes these entertainments will make us emotional)
7) No cosmetics or jewelleries
8) No eating after 12 noon but allow to drink (don't worry that you will go hungry. I'm the type who can't skip a meal on normal days but during observing 8 precepts, strangely I don't feel hungry at all. Not only I say that, many devotees say that too. It must be the blessings from the Bodhisattva).
Originally posted by Dawnfirstlight:Yes. Followings are the 8 precepts. In fact, it is not difficult to observe just for 24 hours because sleeping already takes up at least 8 hours.
6) No sleeping or sitting on high beds or high chairs, no watching TV programme or hearing music or songs ( sometimes these entertainments will make us emotional)
What about reading books? I usually read books on psychology and new age.
Originally posted by Beautiful951:What about reading books? I usually read books on psychology and new age.
I think it is better to read Dharma books on that day as we have to try our best to have a pure mind on that day. Anyway, I don't think you will have the time to read any books because the event usually starts early in the morning like 8.00 am till night about 8 pm. By then you reach home, take a bath and it will be almost bed time.
Originally posted by Dawnfirstlight:Yes. Followings are the 8 precepts. In fact, it is not difficult to observe just for 24 hours because sleeping already takes up at least 8 hours.
1) No stealing
2) No telling lies
3) No sexual activities (including husband and wife relationship)
4) No drinking of alcohol (including drugs that make one feels high)
5) No killing
6) No sleeping or sitting on high beds or high chairs, no watching TV programme or hearing music or songs ( sometimes these entertainments will make us emotional)
7) No cosmetics or jewelleries
8) No eating after 12 noon but allow to drink (don't worry that you will go hungry. I'm the type who can't skip a meal on normal days but during observing 8 precepts, strangely I don't feel hungry at all. Not only I say that, many devotees say that too. It must be the blessings from the Bodhisattva).
Originally posted by Beautiful951:What about reading books? I usually read books on psychology and new age.
Sheer curiosity... why the interest in New Age books? Any specific areas of interest?
Originally posted by Dawnfirstlight:I think it is better to read Dharma books on that day as we have to try our best to have a pure mind on that day. Anyway, I don't think you will have the time to read any books because the event usually starts early in the morning like 8.00 am till night about 8 pm. By then you reach home, take a bath and it will be almost bed time.
Oh. I was thinking about doing it by myself. I didn't know I had to go to a temple to observe the 8 percepts.
Originally posted by realization:Sheer curiosity... why the interest in New Age books? Any specific areas of interest?
I enjoy reading about psychic abilities. It seems a very interesting subject and seems even more so since it is not discussed by many.