this is diligence. The sutra states, “If laypeople are lazy, they will lose all the worldly benefits; and if monastics are slack, they will lose the Dharma trea-sure.” Lazy and slack are serious illnesses in human life; therefore, one must always be diligent to over-come it.

4. Upholding Precepts: Precept is a code of con-duct, rule, and it is a standard for behavior. It is like a railway track that can guide our mind and body to the right moral track, and towards the great path of nirvana (ultimate liberation). The fundamental spirit of precepts is not to offend; As long as you do not offend but benefit others, then you are upholding the precepts. This is in fact, the fundamental spirit of Buddhism of ceasing the unwholesome, and prac-ticing the wholesome.

5. Shame{6}: One feels shame, thus one does not do any wrongdoings. When one approaches the unwholesome dharma, shamefulness arises in the mind. This is shame. The Sutra of Buddha’s Be-queathed Teachings describes, “The garment of shame is the upmost dignity{7}.” One who is able to feel shame because of being unknowledge-able, being incapable, being insufficient, and being impure, then one’s morality and character will improve.

【Key Words】

{6} Shame：慚愧

{7} The garment of shame is the upmost dig-nity：慚恥之服，無上莊嚴