Because Medicine Master Buddha knew that living beings have many bad habits and faults and are prone to make mistakes, he made the fifth great vow, saying: I vow that in a future life when I attain Bodhi, when I become a Buddha, I shall enable limitless and boundless numbers of sentient beings, which includes you and me, who cultivate Brahmā conduct within my Dharma to perfectly uphold the three clusters of precepts without exception.” Brahmā conduct refers to pure conduct, to the strict observance of the precepts. Medicine Master Buddha vows that whoever practices the Buddha-dharma will be able to perfectly uphold the pure precepts. Pure upholding of precepts can be compared to a perfectly round, full moon.

The Three Clusters of Pure Precepts

1. The precepts for gathering in living beings
2. The precepts comprised of wholesome dharmas
3. The precepts comprised of the rules of discipline and deportment

Since it’s not easy for people to uphold the precepts, Medicine Master Buddha vowed, “Should there be any violation, upon hearing my name, they will regain their purity. In the event of having violated the precepts, if one hears my Buddha-name, one will return to the origin and not fall into the lower destinies. One will not fall into the hells, the realm of hungry ghosts, or the animal realm.”

In the “three clusters of pure precepts,” each cluster is a collection of many precepts. Just as there are said to be “three hundred rituals and three thousand modes of awe-inspiring deportment,” the precepts comprised of the rules of discipline and deportment are also a large collection of rules.

Wholesome dharmas refers to innumerably many kinds of dharmas. The precepts comprised of wholesome dharmas tell us to “do no evil and practice all good.” The precepts for gathering in living beings encompass all living beings. One wants to take all living beings across to Buddhahood. The three clusters of precepts are very many and therefore not easy to cultivate. What should we do if we accidentally transgress them? Medicine Master Buddha’s vow says, “If sentient beings transgress the precepts, after they hear my name, they will attain purity. They won’t fall into the lower destinies.”

Think it over. Medicine Master Buddha works so hard to gather in living beings. Shouldn’t we acknowledge his compassion? Shouldn’t we cultivate the precepts seriously and stop relying on his aid? Don’t think, “Medicine Master Buddha has vowed to save me even if I violate the precepts, so I don’t have to worry.” If we violate a precept unintentionally, without realizing it, he can help us regain purity. On the other hand, we cannot violate the precepts on purpose and think that the Buddha will save us.