The Function of the Precept Substance of the Five Precepts

The precept-substance is unmanifest form (avijñapti-rūpa), and it has the function of restraining one from violating precepts. If, after receiving the precepts, one's mind has changed and one can exercise self-restraint, and when encountering conditions that would lead to breaking the precepts one can avoid them and refrain from violating them, this shows that one has the precept-substance and that the precept-substance has taken effect.

Taking the Threefold Refuge means that the mind has taken refuge in the Three Jewels of the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Saṅgha, and one thereby becomes a disciple of the Three Jewels; but this is not the same as receiving the Five Precepts. Receiving the precepts confers the precept-substance, whereas taking refuge does not confer the precept-substance of the Five Precepts. The precept-substance has the function of restraining one from violating the precepts, and there are also numerous 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 cultivate the path quickly. If one breaks the precepts right after receiving them, this indicates that one may not have obtained the precept-substance. The reasons for not obtaining the precept-substance are, first, that the precept-master's own conduct of precepts may not be pure, so that he himself has no precept-substance and cannot enable you to obtain the precept-substance from him; and second, that one's own karmic offenses have not been purified through repentance, so 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 transmits the precepts to you has himself broken the precepts and lost the precept-substance, then you will not obtain the precept-substance by receiving precepts from him. Therefore, to be on the safe side, one may receive the precepts several times. If the precept-master's cultivation and virtue are excellent, then the Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and Dharma-protecting deities will support him well; at the time of receiving the precepts the power of blessing will be great, the responsive resonance will be great, and after receiving the precepts one's transformation will be great, and one's progress on the path of cultivation will be comparatively rapid.