Don't assume there's no benefit in studying the Buddhadharma

"I have studied, investigated, and listened to the Buddhadharma for a long, long time and I have not gained any benefit!" What benefit do you want? In fact, you have gained great benefit without knowing it. What kind of benefit have you gained? When you study Buddhadharma here, you aren't out murdering people. Therefore, you are not among those murderers. Is that not a benefit? When you come here to attend Dharma lectures, you will not be found among theft criminals. If you don't listen to lectures, you may get involved in stealing, robbery, or even arson. Now that you study Buddhadharma, you are free from all these crimes. Wouldn't you say that's a benefit? When learning Buddhadharma, you do not get involved in sexual misconduct. You don't go out to engage in sexual conduct. Since you don't have such conduct, you don't have a share in crimes such as rape. You do many proper things and have no share in any crimes. Isn't that a benefit? When you study Buddhadharma, you won't tell lies or go out to cheat people. Then, you don't share the crime of lying. That is purifying your mouth karma. Not creating the offenses of killing, stealing and lust, you are purifying the body karma. If you can go further to refrain from drinking, smoking, and taking drugs, you will be purifying your mind karma. Since you don't consume those intoxicants, you don't have a share in the crime of substance abuse. If purifying the three karmas is not the benefit of learning Buddhism, then what is it? If you don't study the Buddhadharma, you may kill, or steal, or get involved in arson. Then the police will catch you and put you behind the bars, perhaps for life. Wouldn't you say that's suffering? Since you are studying Buddhadharma, you are free from all these problems. If that is not a benefit what is it then? Therefore, we should not grow weary of studying the Buddhadharma.

Will refusing to receive precepts give you true freedom?

Someone may say to you, "Don't take the precepts. What do you want to take them for? Why get some precepts to restrain you?" That is a deviant view. You think that not receiving precepts is being free. But it's very easy to fall into the hells that way. That's where your so-called "true freedom" may lead you. If you receive the precepts, you will have the protection of precepts. The precept marks, percept dharma, and precept substance will support you. You will not fall into the hells that easily. Even if you do fall into the hells, you will get out quickly. If you like to be free and don't take precepts, then later when you fall into the hells, it's not for sure when you will come out. If you have received precepts, the time span in the hells can be shortened. It is like when someone who committed a major crime gets caught by the police. If the criminal had worked as a personal guard or an attendant for the president, then the president may write a note ordering that criminal's release. If the criminal doesn't have such a relationship, he won't be released for who knows how long. The principle is the same. When you have the protection of precepts, the long time span of your suffering can be shortened to very brief. Therefore, don't get smart and say, "It's good not to receive the precepts." It's good for you to receive the precepts. Let me say this to you, "Having taken the Buddha's precepts, living beings enter the position of all Buddhas." When living beings take the precepts of Buddhas, it's the same as having entered the position of the Buddha. Therefore, don't disparage the precepts or slander the Vinaya of the Buddha.

What if I break the precepts?

Precepts are the mother of Buddhahood. If you want to become a Buddha, you must uphold precepts and you cannot break them. Having transgressed the precepts is just like drifting in the ocean in a leaking boat. Won't the boat sink? Violating the precepts is just like letting your boat sink into the ocean. When you have received the precepts, you must uphold them. If you don't, it's the same as having leaks. When you leak, you are having outflows. You are not free of outflows. Having no outflow come when we do not break the precepts. When you break the precepts, you have outflows. What should you do if that happens? You must mend the precepts. How? By creating merit and virtue. You can create merit and virtue by making monetary donations or by doing volunteer work. By redeeming your offenses and establishing merit before the Triple Jewel, you will wipe out your offenses.