MyKunlun / MeetandGrow

From http://www.intrex.net/chzg/precepts.htm

"According to Ch’an Master Sheng-yen, a common saying in Mahayana Buddhism is "Having vows to break is the bodhisattva path. Not having vows to break is a non-Buddhist path." I have heard this expressed as "it is better to take the precepts and break them than not to take them at all." Of course, the point isn’t to break the precepts but to receive and maintain them. In the time between our arousing the aspiration to receive the precepts and mature our practice, and the actualization of that vow, we can use the precepts to support and clarify our practice. Working with the precepts can be compared to a baby learning to walk. The baby takes a step and falls down, takes another couple of steps and loses his balance. Slowly, by trying over and over, the baby learns to maintain the walking motion longer until, eventually, he can not only walk, but run and dance."

In the Zen tradition I studied with my Sensei, Stefano Mui Barragato of Treetop Zendo

Three Treasures
I vow to be one with the Buddha.
I vow to be one with the Dharma.
I vow to be one with the Sangha

The Three Pure Precepts
I vow to cease from evil I vow to do good.
I vow to do good for others.

The Ten Grave Precepts
I vow to take up the Way of not killing.
I vow to take up the Way of not stealing.
I vow to take up the Way of not being greedy.
I vow to take up the Way of not telling lies.
I vow to take up the Way of not being ignorant.
I vow to take up the Way of not talking about others’ errors or faults.
I vow to take up the Way of not elevating myself and blaming others.
I vow to take up the Way of not being stingy.
I vow to take up the Way of not being angry.
I vow to take up the Way of not speaking ill of the Three Treasures.

Additional Precept:
I vow to take up the way of non-violence.