In this manner, upholding the precepts constitutes the foundation of all of the good dharmas. Moreover, the upholding of precepts constitutes the initial entryway into to the eightfold correct path. This initial entryway onto the path certainly extends all the way to nirvana. According to the sequence in the eightfold correct path, right speech and right livelihood are in the middle whereas right views and right action are at the beginning. When we speak of numerical priorities, those which are greater are listed first.
Right views is the greatest.
Therefore it is placed at the beginning. However, because all dharmas involve a particular sequence, precepts come first. This is analogous to the construction of a building wherein, although the beams and rafters are huge, one nonetheless takes the ground as what is primary. In the case of a person who is the most superior among the superior in the upholding of precepts, it is done out of pity for beings and for the sake of the Buddha Way. It is in order to understand all dharmas and it is because of a quest for the reality mark.