Once there was a tall, verdant tree growing in a royal palace. It was heavy with delicious fruits, though they grew very high on the tree. One day a man came to the palace. The king asked him, “This tree is full of wonderful fruits that are too high to pick. Can you think of a way to obtain the fruits?”
The man replied, “Although this tree is very tall, there is still a way to get its fruits.” Without further ado, the man took an axe and chopped down the tree. He waited for the fruits to ripen, thinking they would be easy to pick. They waited and waited, but no fruit ever ripened. In fact, they had all withered and died along with the tree.
The Buddhist precepts are like a tree that grows wonderful fruits. If we want to eat the fruits, we must keep the precepts and practice wholesome deeds. One who breaks the precepts is like the man who chopped down the tree. After the tree dies and the roots dry up, it is impossible to bring it back to life.
REFLECTION
The sutras teach, “The precepts are the root of perfect wisdom. One should single-mindedly uphold the precepts. One who firmly upholds the precepts is praised by all the buddhas.” The precepts are the fount of all spiritual attainment. Through observing the precepts, we examine and purify our body, speech, and mind. When the three karmas are pure, we are on the path to enlightenment.