Question [1]: Is it so that on Purification Days (斋日) and in Purification Months (斋月), there are good gods (善神) more watchful over our conduct?
Answer: The Six Purification Days (六斋日) are every lunar month’s 8th, 14th, 15th, 23rd, 29th and 30th days (or 28th day for minor months [小月] without the 30th day). The Three Purification Months (三斋月) are the 1st, 5th and 9th lunar months.
The teachings on concerned gods watching over us more during these periods are true, as taught by the Buddha. Thus were the Eight Precepts (八戒) taught as a skilful means for breaking the continuity of morally lax living. Observing these precepts on and off, yet also regularly aids this.
These gods do not control our well-being, but our good karmas’ rewards and evil karmas’ retribution can be partially expressed through them. As an example, a child’s karma can be expressed through his/her guardians. We are the ones who control our well-being, as we are the ones creating our karmas deliberately.
Question [2]: Should all Eight Precepts be relinquished (舍戒) if unable to observe one or more of them on the Six Purification Days or in the Three Purification Months?
Answer: In these periods, if there really is inability to observe one or more precepts, only those particular precepts should for relinquished for the time being, while upholding the others, instead of relinquishing all.
As the Buddha implied, as an analogy in the Sutra Of A Hundred Parables《百喻经》, as ‘cowherds’ protecting our precepts (represented by the ‘cows’), we should take care of as many of them as possible, and ‘not kill all remaining cows just because one was lost’.
Question [3]: Can any of the Four Root Precepts (四根本戒), which are also the first four of the Eight Precepts, to not kill, steal, have sexual conduct and lie (不杀盗淫) be relinquished on Purification Days or in Purification Months?
Answer: For diligent practitioners, other than the Third Precept for laypeople, which is to ‘not have sexual misconduct’ (不邪淫) on non-Eight Precepts’ Days, the Four Root Precepts should not be relinquished even for a while during purification periods, as they are the roots, fundamental in nature, from which all other precepts extend and grow from, including the basic Five Precepts (五戒).
Since these Four Root Precepts’ essence is in the Ten Heavy Precepts (十重戒) as the first four Heavy Precepts too, to relinquish them is as if to relinquish much of the Precepts’ Essence (戒体).
Question [4]: Is it alright to simply express relinquishing of a precept (舍戒) to anyone?
Answer: Since, for relinquishing any precept, a person who understands should be told, and since those who understand best are well-practised Preceptees (戒子) and Precept Teachers (戒师), it is best to express relinquishing to one of them, to make the relinquishing meaningful.
This is so as if we relinquish a precept to those who do not know much about it, this might make relinquishing of precepts more easy, casual, reckless and frequent, thus not aiding our spiritual progress.
相关教理
Related Teachings:
六斋日与三斋月时该怎么修？
What Should Be Practised On The Six Purification Days And In The Three Purification Months?
持八戒之意义
The Significance Of Upholding The Eight Precepts
如何持第六七八戒
How To Uphold The Sixth, Seventh And Eighth Precepts
Link Pending
四根本戒 / 四重戒 / 性戒
Four Root Precepts/ Four Heavy Precepts/ Nature’s (Natural) Precepts
https://purelanders.com/minghuizhang
一切人须严持五戒
All People Must Strictly Uphold The Five Precepts
https://purelanders.com/2022/02/10/all-people-must-strictly-uphold-the-five-precepts
八戒
Eight Precepts
https://purelanders.com/2018/06/29/eight-precepts-ceremony
十重戒
Ten Heavy Precepts
https://purelanders.com/2024/06/28/brahma-net-sutra-bodhisattva-precepts-text-ten-heavy-pratimok%e1%b9%a3a-precepts-ten-heavy-prohibitive-precepts
菩萨戒
Bodhisattva Precepts
https://purelanders.com/pusa
《百喻经》之杀群牛喻[37] The Parable Of Killing A Herd Of Cows From The Sūtra Of A Hundred Parables
https://purelanders.com/2023/08/24/37-the-parable-of-killing-a-herd-of-cows-from-the-sutra-of-a-hundred-parables
