Extracted from the website of Buddhist Vajrayana Charity Funds Association and translated (五 乘) into English:
Five Vehicles
Five Vehicles |
─ |
Human Vehicle, Heaven Vehicle(Deva Vehicle), Sravaka Vehicle(Sound Hearer
Vehicle), Pratyekabuddha Vehicle(Solitary Realizer Vehicle), Bodhisattva
Vehicle. |
The common law of the Five Vehicles — Human and Deva Vehicles |
|
Cultivate the ‘Three Fortune Acts’ : Charitable-Giving, Precepts-keeping, Meditation. |
Life after death : Human and Deva |
|
(1) |
Charitable-Giving: One, willingly and gladly, sacrifices one's own fortune and happiness in order to ensure other people achieve their own fortune and happiness. This is the foundation of Mahayana Dharma.
|
|
(2) |
Precepts-keeping: |
To restraint one's own desires. |
|
|
There are Five Precepts (Near Matter Precept of Upasaka and Upasika). |
|
|
Eight Strand Fasting Precept (Near Sangha Precept). |
|
|
Ten Benevolence Precept (Ten Benevolence Karma). |
|
|
(Notes) |
1. |
Five Precepts: Refrain from killing living creatures, refrain from stealing, refrain from
unchastity (sensuality, sexuality, lust), refrain from incorrect speech (these four precepts
are called nature precept), and refrain from taking intoxicants.
|
2. |
Eight Precepts: |
Five Precepts plus |
|
|
Six: |
Refrain from wearing perfume, cosmetics and garlands(decorative accessories).Refrain from singing, dancing, playing music or attending entertainment programs (performances). |
|
|
Seven: |
Refrain from sitting or lying on grand and luxurious chairs and beds. |
|
|
Eight: |
Refrain from taking food at non-designated times, that is not to eat after noon. |
|
According to the Buddha system, the precepts should be kept during day and night.
Generally, the Eight Precepts are held on the six vegetarian days, that is the eighth day, fourteenth day, fifteenth day, twenty-third day, twenty-ninth day and thirtieth day of each month of the lunar calendar. |
3. |
Ten Precepts: |
|
|
The three Body Benevolence Acts |
─ |
Do not kill, steal and commit sexual misconduct. |
|
The four Speech Benevolence Acts |
─ |
Do not lie, be two-tongued, spread malicious words,use untrue flowery expressions. |
|
The three Mind Benevolence Acts |
─ |
To abstain from Greed, Anger, Evil view. |
|
|
• |
To maintain one's mind in purity, keep one's heart in one state, both body and mind being
light and calm. |
|
• |
There are Four Aspects of Zen and Four States of Emptiness, collectively known as Eight Meditation. |
|
• |
There is Four Immeasurable Meditation. |
|
Conclusion: |
|
Charitable-Giving has miscellaneous contamination. Meditation orientates towards unique benevolence. People who have taken refuge orientates towards the Buddha Path. Precept-keeping is the main principle. |