The Sutra of
Contemplating Immeasurable Longevity states:
"If there are
sentient beings who can uphold the Eight-fold Fasting-day Precepts for
one day and and one night; if they can uphold the Shramanera Precepts for
one day and one night; if they can uphold the Complete Precepts for one
day and one night without blemishing their awesome deportment, if they
transfer this merit and virtue and vow to seek rebirth in the Land of
Ultimate Bliss, the fragrance of their precepts will permeate as a result
of their cultivation.
Such a cultivator, as he
approaches the end of his life, will see Amitabha Buddha and all his
retinues emitting a golden light, and holding a Seven-Jeweled lotus flower
before him. The cultivator will personally hear a voice from space
praising him thus:
'Good person, because such a wholesome person as you
follows and accords with the teaching of all Buddhas of the Three Periods
of time, I have come to welcome you.'
The cultivator will see
himself sitting on a lotus flower, which will immediately close up.
He is then reborn into the western Land of Ultimate Bliss admist the
jeweled pond.
After seven days, the lotus
flower will bloom. After the flower has opened, the cultivator will
then open his eyes, and placing his palms together, he will laud the World
Honored One. Upon hearing the Dharma spoken, he is delighted and he
attains the fruition of Shrotaapannas.
Half an aeon later, he will
realize his accomplishment and become an Arhat. He is then called
'one who has earned the middle grade and been born in the standard grade
of lotuses.' "
* *
*
The Sutra of Manjushri's
Questions about Prajna states:
"Bodhisattvas in the world are those
people who have taken the Eight Precepts."
The Sutra on Dwelling
in the Womb states:
"The Eight-fold Fasting-day Precepts are the parents
of all the Buddhas."
The Sarvastivada Shastra
states:
"If one
becomes the king of Jambudvipa, and within Jambudvipa, has control of all
his citizens' gold, silver, wealth and jewelry, although he has merit and
virtues such as these, if the merit and virtues of the Eight-fold
Fasting-day Precepts were to be divided into sixteen shares, the merit and
virtues of the Jambudvipa king cannot even match up to one part amid the
sixteen shares. This is the teaching on the ultimate pure Eight-fold
Fasting-day Precepts."
The Vibhasa Shastra
states,
"One who receives the Eight Precepts is called 'Near-dwelling',
which means one is near to the dwelling of Arhats. It is also called
"constantly Nourishing', which means one constantly nourishes one's good
roots, causing them to grow and increase."
Ven. Master Hsuan Hua on the Precepts
Ven.
Master Hsuan Hua on the Five Precepts
The Brahma Net Sutra
Bodhisattva
Precepts for 
