Visible violations of precepts are visible to ordinary people; invisible violations of precepts are violations of precepts in Buddhism, but ordinary people are not aware of it.
There are four situations where one has violated the precepts but appears not to have violated the precepts:
First, this Bhikkhu (monk) can observe the precepts, abide by the precepts, and fully implement them. But how did he make a mistake? While observing the precepts, he has an "ego-image". There is also an "I" who can receive the precepts, "I" who can observe the precepts, and "I" who can keep the precepts. There is always an "I" and because he has this "I" inside, this is "attachment". Although he did not break the precepts, he had already failed to keep the true precepts. Keeping the precepts means that at the same time you don't know that you are a person who keeps the precepts, or you don't think that you are superior to others.
The second type is that he can recite the sutras and uphold the precepts, but he is attached to the "body view" and is always unwilling to leave this body view. He always has a body view and is always concerned about his body. He does not say "I" but is attached to his body. What about being attached to this body? He refused to change his body! He is unwilling to change his old ways. For example, if he likes to be lazy, he will always be lazy. If he likes to be lazy, he will always be lazy. Always not wanting this body to work any harder and always making plans for this body is called body view. This is the second type. Although he seems to be keeping the precepts and not breaking them, he actually does not keep the precepts.
What about the third one? That is, he can practice the "Twelve Ascetic Practices (Dhutanga)". "Dhutanga" is a Sanskrit word, which means to cheer up, to not sleep or feel hungry, to cheer up and fight against laziness. This means to be energetic and not lazy. Want to sleep? I sit here and meditate; You want to have a meal? I didn't even drink water, and I practiced the "Twelve Ascetic Practices" in this way. However, he did not know that the person is empty and the dharma is empty, and he still thought that all these dharmas must exist. He did not attain the state of "all dharmas are empty", but believed that all dharmas exist. So it seems that he is keeping the precepts, but in fact his efforts in keeping the precepts are not perfect.
The fourth type is someone who has compassion for all living beings. However, if he hears about the various dharmas, and about the various dharmas that are originally unborn, without anything born and without anything destroyed, when he hears about this kind of dharma, he becomes frightened.
Although the four types mentioned above seem to have not violated the precepts, in fact they have not kept the precepts.
Breaking the fast, "fasting" means not eating meat; Breaking the fast means eating meat. Not only eating meat is a violation of the fast, but also eating at inappropriate times is a violation of the fast.
What is meant by "eating at the wrong time"? It is like making a vow not to eat after noon. If you eat after noon, it is called "eating at the wrong time". This "eating at the wrong time" is also a violation of the precept against stealing, because you said that you should not eat after noon, but then you eat after you said that. This is called violating the precept against stealing.
You have already violated the precept of "not eating after noon" and the precept of not stealing. When someone asks you if you have eaten, you say, "Oh! I haven't eaten!" This has violated the precept of not telling a lie, so a total of three precepts have been violated.
If someone gives you food, this person is also breaking the same precepts and committing the same sin, so the Buddha said: This person is not a disciple of the Buddha, not my disciple.
What are people who break the precepts the same as? Like the "osprey bird", it makes an osprey sound, which is strange to people who hear it. People who break the precepts are also like hungry ghosts eating feces. Hungry ghosts have nothing to eat, so they have to eat feces. Therefore, those who break the precepts and violate the fast are the poorest class among humans, and will definitely suffer the retribution of being reborn as beasts or animals in the future.
Therefore, once Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva encounters someone who breaks the precepts and violates the fast, he will preach the "cause and effect of being reborn as a hungry beast" and tell you that if you break the precepts and violate the fast, you will be reborn as a beast in the next life and will never have anything to eat.
