勸發菩提心集 3.4

3.4

When one is about to receive the bodhisattva precepts, one should first instruct [the candidate] to generate an earnest and pure mind, keeping the fast and making prostrations for a year, or down to seven days, abandoning all evil deeds, practicing all wholesome deeds, and nurturing a pure mind; only then may one confer [the precepts] on them. If circumstances prevent this, one should first instruct them to generate an earnest and pure mind; and when they wish to receive the precepts, they should generate a deeply solemn mind, and only then confer them. The deeply solemn mind is the mind to sever all evil, cultivate all good, and deliver all sentient beings. If they have not previously taken refuge in the Triratna, instruct them to take refuge; if they have already taken refuge, there is no need to instruct them. The refuge formula is: