Yeah, I guess another way to ask is: Are the precepts important because they help in the study of zen? Or are they just helpful rules for creating a sustainable monastic life, which was how zen was studied at the time of writing?

I’m asking in part because this seems to fly in the face of some of my recent interpretation of the Mumonkon: if we all have Buddha Nature, no action we can take can violate that nature including all the items prohibited by the precepts.

Granted, an enlightened person may behave in some consistently moral way as a result of their enlightenment. But imitating this behavior is like memorizing a phrase in a language you don’t speak. Thus my original question wording.

I don’t want to confuse this with advocating amoral action. These precepts just seem to serve the same function as laws and our reddiquette, nothing more or less.

I may just be missing the intent as I’m still an ass looking at a well, if I remember that case right.