The Four Great Vows
Tứ hoằng thệ nguyện by Vosac on Mon Mar 01, 2010 1:35 pm, translated by ngocxuan.
According to the Mahayana Buddhist tradition, practitioners entering Bodhisattva practice recite the Four Great Vows during nightly prayer sessions. These vows express the aspirant’s commitment to certain ideals:
“Sentient beings are numberless; I vow to save them.”
“Desires are inexhaustible; I vow to put an end to them.”
“The Dharmas are boundless; I vow to master them.”
“The Buddha Way is unsurpassable; I vow to attain it.”
While these vows reflect noble intentions and the practitioner’s deep compassion for all beings, they may seem idealistic and unattainable in reality, perhaps even delusions of grandeur.
The salvation of mankind is not a human affair; it is the domain of Heaven. Improving humanity requires collective effort from all, not just a select few individuals.
The Four Great Vows in Buddhism may mislead disciples into believing that simply sitting and chanting sutras will bring them countless blessings to distribute to all beings. This notion is erroneous because reciting sutras benefits the individual alone, as the Buddhas have no need to listen to them. The true blessing derived from sutra recitation comes from understanding the teachings and applying them to choose the right path in life and avoid negative karma.
Even if reciting sutras were to bring countless blessings, they would be utterly insignificant given the powerless and minuscule stature of humanity in the vastness of the universe. Therefore, a person with no blessings vowing to save all sentient beings is akin to a pauper trying to give money to every individual in the world, both tangible and intangible. It’s like an incompetent person attempting the impossible. Such individuals talk the talk but cannot walk the walk. These vows may sound impressive, but they are nothing but falsehoods and nonsense. Anyone who believes in them is only fooling themselves.
Truth seekers must carefully consider the implications of making empty and meaningless vows to avoid blindly repeating them. It’s essential to understand our abilities and limitations when praying or expressing wishes, preventing others from perceiving us as naive, foolish, or even egotistical, arrogant, and boastful.
This article solely delves into the interpretation of the first vow, leaving the exploration of the remaining vows to the reader.
revised 3/1/2024
Related Post
GOOD AND EVIL
The timeless concepts of good and evil are universally addressed by religions and moral institutions, which provide definitive frameworks to...
Children’s visions of Buddha
Children's visions of Buddha Báo cáo các em Khai nhãn thấy Phật Submitted by huynhd90 on April 18, 2013, 21:48...
Heaven’s Plan (By Mysticism Scholar Duc Quy)
Heaven's Plan (By Mysticism Scholar Duc Quy) (Thiên cơ cư sĩ Đức Quý by Lĩnhnam on Oct 15, 2011 11:23...
Haunted to Healed
Haunted to Healed Ấn chứng điểm đạo của TuTam by Tutam on 03 Oct 2016, 15:10, translated by Horangi My...
Chapter I: I – Notions of Secret Buddhism (Part 1/6)
This sect is called Secret Buddhism or Secret Doctrine for the following reasons: I. The Founder of Secret Buddhism. The...
WHY DIVINERS END UP POOR?
WHY DIVINERS END UP POOR? by Hữu-Không on 28 April 2013 - Translated by Huu Khong and edited by Rain9811...
Chapter VI: VII – The Quintessence of Secret Buddhism: The five essentials Dharanis
VII. The Quintessence of Secret Buddhism: The five essentials Dharanis The Dharani: Um Lam (or just Lam). If one thinks...
ST TRAN’S EXORCISM AND COMMENTARY
Saint Trần exorcises evil spirits. Introduction: In 1920, the French Society for Psychic Research sent two representatives, Mr. Camille Flammarion...