Buddhist-Meditation-Systematic-and-Practical

precepts of the Dharmakaya in Chan which are also
found in the teaching of mahamudra. (See Chenian
Booklet No. 47.) Altogether in this book, then, there are
a grand total of 70 precepts from the different yanas.
"I have classified them according to yanas and then
dealt with each precept under four different
headings." Mr. Chen showed his book to the listener
and writer. Along the top line were written the
original precepts. The second row of characters
contained, he said, accounts of those who had
actually practiced. Then followed the real meanings
of the preceptual words—"We shall only talk about
a few instances from this line," the yogi said. "The
fourth line shows very clearly how the precept of the
first line may be broken."
In this way, the contrast between actions in the different
yanas is clearly brought out. There is no actual
contradiction among them, for all the precepts
emphasize right conduct, but the meaning of this differs
on the various levels.
For example, a Hinayana precept states: "Even though
you are a layman, you should not have sexual
intercourse at the wrong time or in the wrong place."
Now all the yogi's conduct in the Vajrayana is
meditation, he or she never leaves it either by day or by
night, practicing diligently in action. Thus, for the yogi
practicing vajra-love, there is no wrong time and no
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