Bodhisattva Precepts - in Practice

In Practice

Chinese Chan Buddhist monk, Yin Shun wrote of the Bodhisattva Precepts:

In practice, the acceptance of and ordination of the Bodhisattva Precepts varies greatly depending on the Mahayana Buddhist sect. In traditional Mahayana monastic communities in East Asia, a fully ordained monk or nun ordains under the traditional Prātimokṣa precepts first, as described in the Dharmaguptakavinaya. In Chinese ordination, this was referred to as the "Vinaya in Four Parts" (Chinese: 四分律; pinyin: Shìfēnlǜ; Wade–Giles: Ssŭ-fen lü). Then as a supplement, the same disciple would undertake the Bodhisattva Precepts as well. A monk was not considered "ordained" through by the Bodhisattva Precepts, but rather by the ordaining under the Four Part Vinaya, while the Bodhisattva Precepts served to strengthen the Mahayana ideals.

Similarly, the Bodhisattva Precepts were given to lay disciples to strengthen their devotion to Buddhism as well. Such disciples often take the basic five precepts and then the Bodhisattva precepts as a supplement.