There is an old saying in China: "Without rules, there is no circle." All walks of life and sects have their own rules. For Taoism, these rules are precepts.
The so-called precepts refer to the meaning of enlightenment, realm and cessation. It is said in "Dongxuan Lingbao Xuanmen Dayi" that it can break the bonds of all evils, distinguish the boundaries between good and evil, and prevent all evils. In fact, precepts means prohibition, which is the first important thing for Taoist priests to return to nature. Emperor Tianzhen said: Since you are called a Taoist, you cannot be a Taoist model; any words of a real person should not be followed if they are not a real person. Therefore, precepts are Taoist rules that restrict Taoists' thoughts, words and deeds, and prevent "disgusting and evil desires" and "reverse behavior."
The so-called laws are the rules that prohibit some improper behaviors of Taoist priests. They are the punishment methods for Taoist priests after breaking the precepts. rule.
If there is a precept, it must be taught. Taoist professors have been ordained for a long time. It has entered the Taoist tradition since Taishang Laojun came down to earth to teach. In the early days of Taoism, the precepts were simple, with the main purpose of abstaining from greed and being quiet. During the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, Shangqing Sect, Lingbao Sect, Xintianshi Dao, etc. drew on some Confucian concepts and some provisions of Buddhist precepts to formulate the "Three Refuges", "Five Precepts", "Eight Precepts", "Ten Precepts", etc. commandments. In addition to the Five Precepts and the Eight Precepts which are basically the same as those of Buddhism, the Ten Precepts also list "You shall not violate your parents and teachers", "You shall not kill any living creature", "You shall not rebel against the king", "You shall not commit adultery with your own flesh and blood", and "You shall not slander Taoism". , "Do not pollute the quiet mandala", etc. Laojun's thinking precepts are the most important precepts for Buddhist monks. "Lao Jun Wants to Precept" is the precepts of the early Celestial Master Tao, "Shu Ten Precepts Sutra" and "Four Majesty Decoration Ten Precepts Sutra" are the precepts of Shangqing Sect and Lingbao Sect, "Lao Jun Speaks of One Hundred and Eighty Precepts" is the precepts of Xintian The precepts of the teacher.
During the Southern Song Dynasty, the Quanzhen sect of Taoism emerged, and the "precepts" system appeared in Taoism. The origin of the "precepts" system
In the early days of the Taoist Quanzhen sect's teaching, according to the ancient system of oral transmission and heart teaching, Taoism was not discussed in the six ears, with the purpose of not spreading bandit laws and the cultivation of gods. The Patriarch of Chongyang passed down the Seven True Methods orally. The key points are the accumulation of merit, alchemy practice, quiet practice, the art of immortality, as well as the specific requirements of the norms and taboos that a Quanzhen Taoist must abide by, such as "Chongyang Religion" "Fifteen Treatises", "Punishment List of the Chongyang Emperor", etc.; Ma Danyang, the first of the Seven Zhens, has "Danyang Zhenzhi", Qiu Zu has "Changchun Zhenzhen's Rules and Regulations" and "Changchun Zhenzhen's Establishment and Instructions". By the time of Qiu Changchun, the precepts of the Quanzhen Sect had been passed down orally, and the mantle and mantle were passed down in single branches. Just as "The Origin of the Taishang Dharma Gate" says: "Since ancient times, the five ancestors' heart transmissions have expounded the wonderful teachings of the void; the seven true transmissions have been described as the Qingjing Xuanzong." On the seventeenth day of the first lunar month in the Gengchen year of the Yuan Dynasty (1280), Zhao Daojian, the first prime minister of Longmen, was awarded the first true precept for assisting Qiu Zu in leading the crowd at Baiyun Temple. In the seventeenth year of the Gengchen year of the Yuan Dynasty, Zhao Daojian (1280) On the first day of the first lunar month, he received the "Zhongji Precepts" and taught the "Zhongji Precepts" as the Dharma. He also taught the "Heavenly Immortal Heart Seal Great Precepts" as the Dharma and practiced for thirty years. Thirty years of practice, the merits are perfect." It can be seen that practicing the precepts of the Quanzhen Sect is not easy.
During the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, clear regulations appeared in addition to the precepts. The precepts are behavioral norms that warn people in advance, and are clearly stipulated It is a punishment regulation for violating Taoist laws. The orthodox Taoist Quanzhen Taoist Collection and the Quanzhen Taoist Collection Clear Regulations as well as the Qing Dynasty Baiyun Temple Qing Dynasty regulations punish Taoist priests by kneeling incense and urging them to leave according to the seriousness of their faults. ), banishment (expulsion), cane punishment (beating with a cane and expulsion), and cremation (execution).
The precepts of the Quanzhen Religion began to be taught publicly by Wang Changyue, the seventh generation lawyer. There are "First True Precepts", "Zhongji Precepts" and "Celestial Immortal Precepts", which are called the "three major precepts". All Taoist priests who receive these three precepts from him must go through a 100-day precepts period. Shunzhi went to Kyoto in the autumn of Yiwei (1655), and was ordained at Baiyun Temple in March of Bingshen (1656). There were more than a thousand disciples of the three altars, making the entire disciplinary system known as Quanzhen Sect from the Qing Dynasty to the establishment of New China. Baiyunguan has preached 14 times, and the 21st generation successor is lawyer Chen Minglin.
In addition, Erxian Temple in Chengdu, Sichuan and Taiqing Palace in Shenyang, Northeast China, and other places have set up altars to preach the precepts, and the precepts of the Quanzhen Sect have spread throughout the country and continue to this day.
According to the tradition of the Quanzhen Sect, the Taoist temple that organizes the ordination altar must first be the Shifang Jungle and the temple. "Shifang" refers to the four directions, four corners, heaven and earth; "Jungle" originally refers to a forest with dense trees, which is a metaphor for a place where talents emerge in large numbers. The Ten Directions Jungle is a place where management standards and clear rules and precepts have become the inherent system, qualifications and strength for Taoist temples to organize large-scale religious activities. Since ancient times, the abbot Taoist priest has been the owner of the public property of jungles and palaces; the palaces and temples are the places where the abbot Taoist lives and practices; the employment system is democratic election and meritocracy; the personnel of jungles and temples (resident Taoist priests) come from all over, so it is necessary to Pay attention to democratic discussions and system management; palace staff are not allowed to worship each other as masters and apprentices, let alone master and apprentice. The resident Taoist priests in the palace are all Taoist ancestors! The disciples of "Tai Shang Lao Jun" therefore have equal status with each other. In the past, the old Taoist priests of Baiyunguan in Beijing called each other by their last names, which meant this.
The Taoist priests stationed in the palace in Shifang Jungle come from all over the country, so the palace is managed according to the system from the beginning, laying the foundation for the precepts and regulations. According to the rituals of the Quanzhen Sect of Taoism, Shifang Jungle should have resident deacons (i.e., persons in charge of various aspects). Their supervisors are hereafter referred to as "three capitals, five masters, and eighteen general managers". Full-time deacons can also be named according to different situations. . "Three Completes": namely, all in charge, all lectures, and all cooks; "Five Masters": namely, the main hall, chief lecturer, chief sutra, and chief quieter; "Eighteen Heads": namely, the head of the treasury, the head of the village, the head of the hall, the head of the bell, The head of the drum; this is one of the guest, willow, treasury, tent, scripture, dian (dot), hall, and number, and is called the "eight stewards", which are the same in all permanent palaces across the country.
The most popular preceptor in the past was Baiyun Temple in Beijing. The temple still preserves a precious historical material - "Legal System". Only the abbot of the temple can provide the "Legal System" for ordination. According to temple history, Baiyun Temple started from the first generation Zhao Daojian in the Yuan Dynasty and has had twenty-four generations of Jiezi.
The choice of abbot is very important. The candidate for the abbot must not only be knowledgeable and of good conduct, but also have meritorious deeds, be able to do things, and be able to convince people. The candidate for abbot must be a preceptor who has received the "three major ordination" in the past, preferably a preceptor who has received the "No. 1 ordination of Tianzi" in the previous altar.
After the candidate for the abbot is determined, the abbot should be hired to teach the precepts together with the eight candidates: Master Jiantan (specialized in the precepts and majesty of the supervisory altar, and prohibiting violations of the precepts), Master Zhengmeng (specialized in charge of the precepts and violations of the precepts) Sutras on precepts and questions on precepts), Dharma protector master (specialized in amulets, ring protection, incense protection, and jungle masters, and the master of the jungle prison where the precepts are usually given is the master), ritual master, and academy master (specialized in the path of the ordained person) number, fill in the "Dengzhenlu"), Tico's master (specialized in chanting and repenting and sutra hall affairs), guide (specialized in presiding over large ashrams and serving as high-level practitioners), picket master (specialized in inspecting the ceremonial guards), It would be especially good if we could recruit a group of altar masters (who specialize in maintaining the order of the altar). In addition, there are road watch masters (who accept the "road watch sign" produced by the abbot every day, patrol the dormitories, and investigate and deal with the deacons who violate the precepts. Generally, they are patrolled by patrols, patrols, and patrol inspectors in turns), such as assisting lawyers in passing on precepts, etc. Under the leadership of the abbot, they implemented the spirit of taking "precepts" as teachers, followed the teachings, and arranged specific procedures for imparting precepts.
To pass on ordination in modern times, you must first apply to the competent government department for approval and registration, and prepare the scriptures, bowls, ultimatums, clothes and other materials needed to pass on the ordination. After obtaining the approval and preparing the materials, you can send the message of precepts to the Taoists in the ten directions. In ancient times, "the instructions for opening the altar, practicing precepts, and registering the life changes are slightly different in each place. There may be a higher yuan, a middle yuan, or a lower yuan. It always depends on the three yuan." You can also choose other auspicious days to open the altar. In ancient times, the date of ordination was "either nine years, three years, or one and a half years". "Erxian Temple in Chengdu was founded in 1883, when an old lawyer from Hui'an and Song Dynasty came to Baiyun Temple in Kyoto to worship at the altar of the old lawyer Gao Santan in Baiyun Temple, Kyoto, and returned to Sichuan. It was opened in the year of Wuzi (1888). The altar performance of the precepts, each period is one year, and the precepts are given five times in a row.
"It can be seen that the time period for ordination does not need to be limited to the key points. The purpose and effect must change according to the changes of the times and the situation!
The content of ordination during the ordination period generally includes raising banners, opening lists, opening altars, Fetch water, put away filth, welcome teachers, invite saints, congratulate generals, salute, review precepts, recite verses, recite sutras and repent, go to the platform, receive ordination, hand alms bowls, give precepts, thank gods on the golden platform, make great dedications, and send flags down The specific explanation of the holy ceremony is as follows:
Flag-raising:
At the beginning of the ordination activity, a grand "flag-raising ceremony" is held to swear an oath to the gods of heaven and earth and inform the The palace is about to open an altar to deliver ordination, and ask for the blessings of the good gods. Opening list: List the temple in a certain mountain on a certain day in a certain year, who is the abbot and the lawyer who will deliver the ordination, and the meaning of opening the altar to impart ordination, etc. The main things to do at the beginning of the big sacrifice are to sprinkle the mandala with sacred water, to bless the gods with rituals, and to receive the protection of the ten directions altar. Welcoming the master: all the believers in the mandala and those going to the mandala perform a grand ceremony. Welcome the abbot master to the altar to preside over the ordination ceremony. The master will perform the ceremony for the ring disciples, display the precepts and etiquette, and use and accept the legal documents, commandments and crowns issued on the ordination altar. The master will be present to review the precepts. At the ordination altar, make an alliance with the precepts face to face according to the etiquette and rules, and ask the precepts one by one whether they can keep the precepts in the same room. If the precepts are not firm, they will not be able to pass the test, and they will not be able to stay in the ordination altar to receive the ordination: the abbot and the masters can pass. This project understands the talents and ambitions of the precepts in order to cultivate Taoist talents in the future. After the examination, the rankings are arranged in the order of the "Thousand-Character Essay": The most important part of imparting the precepts is "speaking of the precepts", and the so-called imparting the precepts itself is. The abbot will teach the precepts in front of the altar in person and help them understand the precepts. During the ordination period, the meal arrangements for the ordained disciples must also be in accordance with the regulations, and the abbot will be accompanied by the attendants. , first walking through the dining hall to the rhythm of bells and board sounds, the monks followed the abbot in a solemn and orderly manner, and filed into their seats. There is a procedure for delivering food, and in modern times, it is generally just a courtesy. The purpose of showing knowledge to Zhensu is that in ancient times, if there was a slight mistake, the Jiuyi master would be punished immediately if he found out. "Wu" is the most important thing to understand.
Taoism believes that if you burn incense, chant sutras, build a house, and watch the gods and heavens on the Sixth Day, you will harm your body. If you know it and commit it, it will be the disaster of the Nine Ancestors , there is no way to forgive. If you are not punished by ordinary people, the sin can be reduced by three levels. However, the Taoist law of burning incense on the fifth day is the most serious. If you violate the six five taboos, you must be careful. , that is: Wuzi Day, Wuyin Day, Wuchen Day, Wuwu Day, Wushen Day, and Wuxu Day, this is called "Ming Wu". Read "Huangji Jingshi" and worship Jingdu Lao to practice, avoid "Dark Wu". ". Memorize: One sheep (the last day), two dogs (one hundred days), three in April, no violation of Yin, five noon, six sons and seven roosters (unitary day), flow to Shen in August, nine snakes (si day) Ten pigs (noon day), eleven rabbits (mao day), and twelve oxen (mao day) weigh a thousand catties.
The recipients have experienced the "three altar precepts" of Chuzhen, Zhongji and Tianxian, and listened to the abbot. The master taught the precepts and taught the Dharma, and his identity and status changed. As a result, the abbot master became the "Dharma Master of Man and Heaven". Traditionally, the "Master of Human and Heavenly Dharma" can preach on behalf of heaven and is respected as "Abbott Counselor"; after the "Three Altar Ordinances", the ordained person, according to the provisions of "Yuanshi Zhenzhuan-Entering the Ordinance": Those who receive the heavenly ordination are called For the master of wonderful ways. The Quanzhen Precept Altar is actually a special classroom for Quanzhen Taoists to learn precepts, knowledge, etiquette, and culture.
After Quanzhen Taoist priests received the precepts, they not only received the precepts, but also learned how to be a qualified Quanzhen Taoist priest. For every ordained member, the traditional Taoist code of conduct requires that their words and deeds must play a regulatory role. This will have a positive effect on the entire Taoism in integrating norms, establishing an image, and displaying elegance.