The Result of Observing Precepts is Physical Freedom and Mental Clarity

In the Śūraṅgama Sūtra, Venerable Aniruddha said: "By controlling the body, I attained freedom with the body; then by controlling the mind, I attained thorough understanding with the mind."

Precepts are like traffic rules. Because the roads are bustling with heavy traffic moving in all directions—east, west, north, and south—if there were no traffic rules, vehicles traveling toward each other might collide with even a slight delay in reaction, resulting in the tragic scene of vehicles destroyed and lives lost. If traffic lights were not installed, vehicles, horses, and pedestrians would become tangled together, and no one could move. If driving on the right side were not regulated, people would collide with each other, and people would collide with vehicles, leading to unimaginable consequences. If zebra crossings were not established, people would cross the road at will, greatly increasing the chance of colliding with vehicles.

Those who understand this principle do not complain that traffic rules cause them much inconvenience or restrict their freedom of movement. That kind of freedom, which comes at a great cost, is not the safest; freedom is insignificant compared to life. Initially, obeying traffic rules might feel restrictive, but once it becomes a habit, any discomfort completely vanishes. People then take it for granted to follow traffic rules and will reprimand or warn those who do not. All feelings are matters of the mind. If one subdues the mind, then nothing remains—there is no longer any feeling of freedom or restriction.

The same applies to precepts. Initially, when upholding precepts, one might feel restricted and bound in many ways, because it contradicts previous habits. But once it becomes a habit, upholding precepts feels natural and proper. All discomfort and sense of restraint automatically disappear; there is no thought of breaking the precepts, nor is there any feeling of guarding or upholding them. At this point, all actions are performed spontaneously yet conform to the precepts. The mind is at ease with the precepts, without any appearance of precepts. It becomes upholding without upholding, guarding without guarding—there is no upholding or not upholding, no breaking or not breaking. One completely transcends the precepts, not called a precept-upholder nor a precept-breaker. One is natural, free, and at ease.