Bodhisattva Vow

The right intention

There are nine levels of bodhisattvas, up to enlightenment. This vow to work for the benefit of others is not to be taken lightly. Taking this vow means one’s life will never be the same again.

Bodhisattva Vow

Just as the earth and the other three elements, together with space,
eternally nourish and sustain all beings,so may I become that source
of nourishment and sustenance which maintains all beings situated
throughout space, as long as all have not attained peace.

When the Sugatas of former times committed themselves to the
Bodhicitta, they gradually established themselves in the practice of
a Bodhisattva.

So I too commit myself to the Bodhicitta for the welfare of beings,
and will gradually establish myself in the practice of a Bodhisattva.

Today my birth has become fruitful; my birth as a human is justified.
Today I am born in the Buddha family; I am now a child of the Buddha.

Now I am determined to perform those acts appropriate to my family;
I will not violate the purity of this faultless noble family.

Just as a blind man wandering about comes upon a jewel in a heap of refuse,
so apparently by chance, the Bodhicitta is born in me.

That supreme amrita destroying death.
The inexhaustible hidden treasure relieving the universal poverty.

The supreme cure for calming the universal ill.
The tree which shelters beings weary of wandering the paths of samsara.

The vehicle for all travellers passing over distress.
The moon of mind which cools the heat of desire.

The great sun dispelling the obscurity of ignorance.
The butter made from churning the milk of the Dharma.

The great happiness for those travellers wandering the path of samara,
searching for objects of enjoyment.

In the presence of all the Buddhas, I have invited all the Tathagatas
and all beings as my guests. Devas and Asuras rejoice.

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“Taking the Bodhisattva vow is an expression of settling down and making
ourselves at home in this world. We are not concerned that somebody
is going to attack us or destroy us. We are constantly exposing ourselves
for the benefit of sentient beings. In fact, we are even giving up our ambition
to attain enlightenment in favour of relieving the suffering and difficulties of people.

“Nevertheless, helplessly, we attain enlightenment anyway.
Bodhisattvas and great tathagatas in the past have taken this step,
and we too can do so. It is simply up to us whether we are going to
accept this richness, or reject it and settle for a poverty-stricken mentality.”

– Chogyam Trungpa.