有一念而犯鬼神之禁 一言而傷天地之和 一事而釀子孫之禍 最宜切戒 (前 152)

One thought breaks the taboo of heaven. One word breaks the harmony of heaven and earth. One action leaves a disaster on the offspring. It must be carefully guarded against. (Book1 152)

Do Precepts mean 'before concept'?

Etymology of Precept: "commandment or direction given as a rule of action," especially "an injunction as to moral conduct," late 14c., from Old French percept, percet (12c.) and directly from Latin praeceptum "maxim, rule of conduct, order," noun use of neuter past participle of praecipere "give rules to, order, advise," literally "take beforehand," from prae "before" (see pre-) + capere (past participle captus) "to take," from PIE root *kap- "to grasp." For change of vowel, see biennial. Related: Preceptive; preceptory.

Before action there is word.
Before word, there is thought.
Who owns thought?
Mind, which mind you should own?

Vegetable Root Discourse

Source of Original Text1 | Source of Original Text2 | English Version1(Out of Print) | English Version2(Out of Print)