The Function of the Precept Substance of the Five Precepts

The precept-substance (sīla-dhātu) is unmanifest form (avijñapti-rūpa), and it has the function of restraining one from violating the precepts. If, after receiving the precepts, one's mind undergoes a change, one is able to exercise self-restraint, and when encountering circumstances that would lead to breaking the precepts, one can avoid them and not violate the precepts, this indicates that one has the precept-substance and that it has taken effect.

Taking the Threefold Refuge means that one's mind has taken refuge in the Three Jewels of Buddha, Dharma, and Saṅgha, and one thereby becomes a disciple of the Three Jewels, but this does not amount to receiving the Five Precepts. When one receives the precepts, one obtains the precept-substance; through taking refuge alone, one does not obtain the precept-substance of the Five Precepts. The precept-substance has the function of restraining one from violating the precepts, and there are also many precept-guarding deities who protect and watch over it, enabling one to prevent wrongdoing and stop evil, to avoid or lessen the retributive results of unwholesome karma, and to progress quickly in cultivation. If one breaks the precepts immediately after receiving them, this indicates that one may not have obtained the precept-substance. There are two reasons for not obtaining the precept-substance: first, the precept master who confers the precepts may not be pure in his practice of the precepts and may himself lack the precept-substance, in which case he cannot enable you to obtain the precept-substance from him; second, one's own karmic offenses may not have been purified through repentance, so that there were obstructions at the time of receiving the precepts—in that case, one needs to repent and purify oneself again and then receive the precepts once more, until the precept-substance is obtained.

If the monastic who confers the precepts upon you has himself violated the precepts and lost the precept-substance, then receiving the precepts from him, you will also not obtain the precept-substance. Therefore, to be on the safe side, one may receive the precepts several times. If the precept master is accomplished in cultivation and virtuous, then the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Dharma-protecting deities will give strong support; at the time of receiving the precepts, the power of blessing will be great, the spiritual response will be great, and after receiving the precepts the transformation will be great, so one's progress on the Path will be relatively swift.