As mentioned in the preface, White Tara tossed a book down to me from the void. When I opened it, I was shocked.
The book was titled Highly Confidential Register of Those Fallen into the Three Lower Realms. As I paged through it, I was filled with dread and completely at a loss.
On the first page, it said:
Many Buddhist practitioners, from taking refuge in the Vajra Master to taking refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, from cultivating external practices to inner practices, secret practices, and most secret practices, maintain unshakable faith in the Three Jewels.
They pray to and make offerings to their teacher and the Three Jewels.
These are all necessary parts of cultivation. However, they forget that abiding by the precepts is the foundation of cultivation.
Because they do not abide by the precepts, they will fall into the three lower realms because of karmic causes and conditions.
These three lower realms are:
Hell
Hungry ghosts
Animals
The book listed various causes and consequences. What caught my eye and horrified me were the names listed there — not merely familiar, but extremely familiar.
Because of this, tears streamed down my face.
How could they be saved? What could be done? These disciples I knew so well had unquestionably fallen into the three lower realms. How could they be saved? The answer was: re-purification.
***
What is re-purification?
Re-purification means feeling remorse and regret for violating one’s precepts or moral principles, and seeking repentance before the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
In this practice, the disciple asks their root guru in person for forgiveness for their wrongdoing. This is followed by renewing one’s commitment to take refuge in the Three Jewels — the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha — receiving empowerment, and reaffirming the vows to uphold the five precepts, eight precepts, and bodhisattva vows.
In addition, the disciple pledges to practice the ten virtuous deeds, which are actions that promote kindness, compassion, and ethical conduct. The ultimate aim is to cultivate bodhicitta, the compassionate wish to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all beings.
Through re-purification sadhanas, one seeks to purify one’s actions, speech, and mind, and to strengthen one’s commitment to the path of virtue and enlightenment.
This process of repentance and renewal should continue until the individual receives a sign indicating that the repentance has been accepted. By engaging in re-purification, one can avoid the dangerous paths that lead to the lower realms of existence.
Otherwise, one will undoubtedly fall into the three lower realms, with no chance of escape.
***
As Buddhists, we understand that:
Keeping the five precepts — human realm
Practicing the ten virtuous deeds — heavenly realm
Following the Theravada precepts — arhat
Cultivating the twelve links of dependent arising — pratyekabuddha
Practicing the six paramitas — bodhisattva
Arousing great bodhicitta — buddha
Countless Buddhas and Bodhisattvas manifest in various forms to guide us in upholding different vows and precepts. To truly understand the Buddha’s teachings, we must first begin by adhering to the ethical guidelines known as the precepts.
(This means we must begin by adopting and living according to the most basic precepts.)
When Shakyamuni Buddha was about to enter nirvana, he left behind a very important teaching: “Rely on the precepts as your ultimate teacher.” This was the Buddha’s guidance.
The Buddha of unsurpassed and perfect enlightenment left behind only one word: precepts. How could I, and how could other Buddhists, not follow this?
If one does not abide by the precepts and still claims to achieve buddhahood, neither I nor others will believe it.
The book clearly says:
It is essential to cultivate a strong commitment to following the precepts. We should understand what actions we must avoid and what actions we should follow. Only by practicing diligently in this way can we remain on the right path of the Dharma.
The practice of abiding by the precepts has immense power. It serves as a remedy for our worries and troubles by helping us let go of harmful behavior. Let us all strive to uphold the precepts wholeheartedly.
Abiding by precepts is noble.
Abiding by precepts is purity.
Abiding by precepts is merit.
Only by cultivating in this way will one be able to progress in practice.