The Bodhisattva Vow
A Bodhisattva is anyone who has had a deep realization of Bodhichitta. Bodhichitta is defined as "a spontaneous wish to attain enlightenment motivated by great compassion for all living beings, accompanied by a falling away of the attachment to the illusion of an inherently existing self". The first stage in becoming a bodhisattva is to aspire towards the wish to serve others. There are many variations and depths to the formal Bodhisattva vows some of which are; the eight pledges of aspiring Bodhichitta, the eighteen root vows, the forty-six secondary Bodhisattva vows, the four-fold root vows, etc. Below are just a few of these beginning with the simplicity and beauty of the initial vow one takes.
Initial Vow
May I attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings.
"Few of us are satisfied with retreating from the world and just working on ourselves. We want our training to manifest and be of benefit. The bodhisattva-warrior, therefore, makes a vow to wake up not just for himself but for the welfare of all beings."
Pema Chodron "The Places that Scare You: A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times" p. 122
Fourfold Bodhisattva Vow
1. Suffering beings are without end, I vow to liberate them all.
2. Anxiety, hatred and other delusions of the mind are inexhaustible, I vow to break through them all.
3. The methods to achieve liberation from suffering are endless, I vow to learn them all.
4. Enlightenment is the highest achievement, I vow to achieve it.
Four Trainings for the Development of a Bodhichitta Aim Not to Decline in This Life
Translated by Alexander Berzin
(1) Each day and night, recalling the advantages of thebodhichitta motivation. Just as we readily overcome our tiredness and tap our energies when we need to attend to our children, we easily surmount all difficulties and use all our potentials when our primary motivation in life is bodhichitta.
(2) Reaffirming and strengthening this motivation by rededicating our hearts to enlightenment and others three times each day and three times each night.
(3) Striving to strengthen enlightenment-building networks of positive force and deep awareness (collections of merit and insight). In other words, helping others as effectively as we can, and doing so with as much deep awareness of reality as possible.
(4) Never giving up trying to help anyone, or at least wishing to be able to do so, no matter how difficult he or she may be.
Training for Not Losing the Bodhichitta Aim in Future Lives
(1) Stopping ever deceiving our spiritual teachers, parents, or the Triple Gem. Instead, always being honest with them, especially about our motivation and efforts to help others.
(2) Stopping ever faulting or being contemptuous of bodhisattvas. Instead, since only Buddhas can be certain who actually are bodhisattvas, regarding everyone in a pure way as our teachers. Even if people act in crude and distasteful manners, they teach us not to behave in these ways.
(3) Stopping ever causing others to regret anything positive they have done. If someone makes numerous mistakes when typing a letter for us and we yell with outrage, the person may never offer to help again. Instead, encouraging others to be constructive and, if receptive, to work on overcoming their shortcomings and realizing their potentials to be of more benefit to everyone.
(4) Stopping ever being hypocritical or pretentious in our dealings with others, in other words hiding our faults and pretending to have qualities we lack. Instead, taking responsibility to help others, always being honest and frank about our limitations and abilities. It is very cruel to promise more than we can deliver, raising others' false hopes.
Initial Vow
May I attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings.
"Few of us are satisfied with retreating from the world and just working on ourselves. We want our training to manifest and be of benefit. The bodhisattva-warrior, therefore, makes a vow to wake up not just for himself but for the welfare of all beings."
Pema Chodron "The Places that Scare You: A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times" p. 122
Fourfold Bodhisattva Vow
1. Suffering beings are without end, I vow to liberate them all.
2. Anxiety, hatred and other delusions of the mind are inexhaustible, I vow to break through them all.
3. The methods to achieve liberation from suffering are endless, I vow to learn them all.
4. Enlightenment is the highest achievement, I vow to achieve it.
Four Trainings for the Development of a Bodhichitta Aim Not to Decline in This Life
Translated by Alexander Berzin
(1) Each day and night, recalling the advantages of thebodhichitta motivation. Just as we readily overcome our tiredness and tap our energies when we need to attend to our children, we easily surmount all difficulties and use all our potentials when our primary motivation in life is bodhichitta.
(2) Reaffirming and strengthening this motivation by rededicating our hearts to enlightenment and others three times each day and three times each night.
(3) Striving to strengthen enlightenment-building networks of positive force and deep awareness (collections of merit and insight). In other words, helping others as effectively as we can, and doing so with as much deep awareness of reality as possible.
(4) Never giving up trying to help anyone, or at least wishing to be able to do so, no matter how difficult he or she may be.
Training for Not Losing the Bodhichitta Aim in Future Lives
(1) Stopping ever deceiving our spiritual teachers, parents, or the Triple Gem. Instead, always being honest with them, especially about our motivation and efforts to help others.
(2) Stopping ever faulting or being contemptuous of bodhisattvas. Instead, since only Buddhas can be certain who actually are bodhisattvas, regarding everyone in a pure way as our teachers. Even if people act in crude and distasteful manners, they teach us not to behave in these ways.
(3) Stopping ever causing others to regret anything positive they have done. If someone makes numerous mistakes when typing a letter for us and we yell with outrage, the person may never offer to help again. Instead, encouraging others to be constructive and, if receptive, to work on overcoming their shortcomings and realizing their potentials to be of more benefit to everyone.
(4) Stopping ever being hypocritical or pretentious in our dealings with others, in other words hiding our faults and pretending to have qualities we lack. Instead, taking responsibility to help others, always being honest and frank about our limitations and abilities. It is very cruel to promise more than we can deliver, raising others' false hopes.
