Precepts

Had a really good chat with Aunt Guo Juan, and here are some words that really resonated with me...

"Precepts are precepts only when you have not embodied them. But when they are already part of you, then there is no more precepts, there is just you. It is like when you first became a vegetarian, there are many temptations. But there will come a time when all of that ceases and even if someone were to cook an extremely delicious dish of meat and place it in front of you, you will not be tempted to eat at all. For you understand the reasons behind your choice of being a vegetarian in the first place, and instead, you feel a great sense of compassion for the animal being killed. That is when being vegetarian has become a part of you. Then you know that you have passed that gate. It is the same with precepts. Always remember why did you took it in the first place. Was it for others? Or was it for yourself? You do not become enlightened overnight. Take it step by step..."