Vows

Week of August 22, 2004 – Vows


The three preliminaries for Practice are: Repentance, Appreciation, and Vows.

Vows are directly related to our motivation for practice.

Very generally speaking, there are three types of motivation for practice:

a) For Individual Enlightenment – usually one practices the Four Noble Truths:
1. Suffering,
2. the Cause of Suffering,
3. the Cessation of Suffering and
4. the Path Leading to the Cessation of Suffering (the Eightfold Path).

b) For helping others to Enlightenment – usually one practices the Six Pramitas:
1. Dana-paramita (charity)
2. Shila-paramita (discipline)
3. Kshanti-paramita (forbearance)
4. Virya-paramita (zeal)
5. Dhyana-paramita (concentration)
6. Prajna-paramita (wisdom)

c) For the attainment of Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi (Supreme and Perfect Enlightenment) -
usually one practices Samantabhadra’s Ten Great Vows

Samantabhadra Bodhisattva’s Ten Great Vows:

The first, to worship and respect all Buddhas.
The second, to praise the Tathagatas.
The third, to cultivate the giving of offerings.
The fourth, to repent all karmic obstructions.
The fifth, to rejoice in the merits of others.
The sixth, to request the turning of the Dharma wheel.
The seventh, to request that the Buddhas dwell in the world.
The eighth, to always follow the Buddhas in study.
The ninth, to always harmonize with living beings.
The tenth, to transfer all merits to all others.
All Buddhas of the past, present and future in all quarters.
All Bodhisattva Mahasattvas. Maha Prajna Paramita.


Depending on one’s motivation for practice, one takes different vows.

The Four Great vows:
I vow to deliver innumerable sentient beings.
I vow to cut off endless vexations.
I vow to master limitless approaches to Dharma.
I vow to attain Supreme Buddhahood.

May the beings in the four forms of birth and the nine states of dwelling all come into the unlimited Hua-Yen Worlds.
May the beings in the eight difficult conditions wanting to hear the Dharma and the beings in the three unhappy realms all enter the unbounded Buddha-body.

The Four Immeasurables:

May all beings have happiness and the causes of happiness; this is boundless loving-kindness (Matta).
May all beings be free of sorrow and the causes of sorrow; this is boundless compassion (Karuna).
May all beings never be separated from that altruistic joy which is from taking part in all virtuous acts; this is boundless sympathetic joy (Mudita).
May all beings transcend the duality of right and wrong, attachment and hatred; and rest in infinite equanimity.

For an enthusiastic practitioner, a daily practice should include:

1) The recitation of the Three Refuges.
2) The recitation of the Repentance.
3) The recitation of one’s vows.
4) The main practice – meditation, writing or recitation of the sutra, recitation of the mantras or Buddha’s names… etc.
5) The Transfer of the Merit.

In the lengthy and challenging course of practice, one will encounter many difficulties and tests. Our Vow is the driving force that gives us the strength and courage to overcome all obstacles. Our Vows ignite the Love of Life within us and provide us with warmth and comfort when we are feeling doubt and despair on our journey towards enlightenment!

If one’s motivation for practice is out of selfishness, one will not have great vows and will not progress much on the Bodhi Path. We may have selfish motivation in the beginning of the practice, but along the way our attitude and motivation will improve and advance since our minds will broaden. Great vows enhance boundless minds and boundless minds augment great vows. See how the two are interrelated and supplement each other. That is the Hua Yen way of perceiving, that is how we should observe and practice!