TheBodhisattva vow is avow (Sanskrit:bodhisattva-praṇidhāna, lit. bodhisattva aspiration or resolution; Chinese: 菩薩願, pusa yuan; J. bosatsugan) taken by someMahāyāna Buddhists to achieve fullbuddhahood for the sake of allsentient beings. One who has taken the vow is nominally known as abodhisattva (a being working towards buddhahood). This can be done by venerating all Buddhas and by cultivating supreme moral and spiritual perfection, to be placed in the service of others. In particular, bodhisattvas promise to practice thesix perfections of giving, moral discipline, patience, effort, concentration and wisdom in order to fulfill theirbodhicitta aim of attaining buddhahood for the sake of all beings.[1]
The vow is commonly taken in aritual setting, overseen by a senior monastic, teacher orguru.[2] Whereas theprātimokṣa vows cease at death, the bodhisattva vow extends into future lives. The bodhisattva vows should not be confused with theBodhisattva Precepts (Skt.bodhisattva-śīla), which are specific ethical guidelines for bodhisattvas.
The sources of theearly Buddhist schools, like theTheravadaBuddhavaṃsa andNidanakatha (Prologue to the Jatakas), as well as theMahasamghikaMahāvastu, contain stories of how in a previous life,Sakyamuni (then known as Sumedha) encountered the previous Buddha,Dīpankara, and made the vow to one day become a Buddha. Dīpankara confirmed that he would become a Buddha in the future. Allearly Buddhist schools held that making a vow in front of a living Buddha (and receiving a prediction), just like Sakyamuni had done, was the only way to become a bodhisattva.[3] This view remains the orthodox understanding of bodhisattva vows in theTheravada tradition.[3]
According to theMahāvastu, Shakyamuni Buddha's first vow to become a Buddha was made under another past Buddha also called Shakyamuni. The vow is reported as follows:
When (the Bodhisattvas) have laid up an abundant store of merit, and have body and mind well developed they approach the beautiful Buddhas and turn their thoughts to enlightenment, (each vowing).
"By the merit I have formerly laid up in store, may I have insight into all things. May not my vow come to naught, but may what I vow come to pass.
"May my store of the root of merit be great enough for all living beings. Whatever evil deed has been done by me, may I alone reap its bitter fruit.
"So may I run my course through the world as He whose mind is rid of attachments does. May I set rolling the wheel of dharma that has not its equal, and is honoured and revered of devas and men."[4]
TheMahāvastu depicts Shakyamuni taking other vows under other past Buddhas. When he meets the past Buddha Samitāvin, the text also contains another vow which is similar to the "fourfold vow" found in Mahayana sources:
May I in some future time become a Tathāgata, an Arhan, a perfect Buddha, proficient in knowledge and conduct, a Sugata, an unsurpassed knower of the world, a driver of tameable men, and a teacher of devas and men, as this exalted Samitāvin now is. May I become endowed with the thirty-two marks of a Great Man, and my body adorned with his eighty minor characteristics. May I have the eighteen distinctive attributes of Buddhahood, and be strong with the ten powers of a Tathāgata, and confident with the four grounds of self-confidence, as this exalted perfect Buddha Samitāvin now is. Having crossed over, may I lead others across; comforted, may I comfort others; emancipated, may I emancipate others. May I become so for the benefit and welfare of mankind, out of compassion for the world, for the good of the multitude, for the welfare and benefit of devas and men.[4]
The TheravadaNidanakatha has the following verses attributed to Sumedha (the past life of the Buddha) when he made his vow to become a Buddha under the past BuddhaDipankara:
As I lay upon the ground this was the thought of my heart, if I wished it I might this day destroy within me all human passions.
But why should I in disguise arrive at the knowledge of the Truth? I will attain omniscience and become a Buddha, and (save) men and devas.
Why should I cross the ocean resolute but alone? I will attain omniscience, and enable men and devas to cross.
By this resolution of mine, I a man of resolution, will attain omniscience, and save men and devas, cutting off the stream of transmigration, annihilating the three forms of existence, embarking in the ship of the Truth, I will carry across with me men and devas.[5]
In the MahayanaLalitavistarasutra, the bodhisattvaSiddhartha (before becoming Sakyamuni Buddha) is said to have taken the following vow:
I will attain the immortal, undecaying, pain-freeBodhi, and free the world from all pain.[6]
The SanskritAṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā sutra states that a bodhisattva should train themselves with the following thought:[7]
ātmānaṃ ca tathatāyāṃ sthāpayiṣyāmi sarvalokānugrahāya, sarvasattvān api tathatāyāṃ sthāpayiṣyāmi, aprameyaṃ sattvadhātuṃ parinirvāpayiṣyāmīti
My own self I will place in Suchness, and, so that all the world might be helped, I will place all beings into Suchness, and I will lead to Nirvana the whole immeasurable world of beings.
The sutra further states that "with that intention should a Bodhisattva undertake all the exercises which bring about all the wholesome roots. But he should not boast about them."[7] Another passage also states:[7]
Because in my presence, face to face with me, they have uttered the vow: "We, coursing in the practices of a Bodhisattva, shall set going on their way to full enlightenment many hundreds of living beings, yea, many niyutas of kotis of living beings. We shall hold up perfect enlightenment to them, instigate, encourage and excite them to win it, help it to come forth, help them to get established in it, help them to become irreversible."
In later IndianMahāyāna Buddhism (and in modern Mahayana as well), one can become a bodhisattva by taking the vow and giving rise tobodhicitta in a ceremonial setting.[3] Indian Mahāyāna Buddhists often accomplished this through a ritual called the "seven part worship" (saptāṇgapūjā orsaptavidhā anuttarapūjā), which consists of:vandana (obeisance), worship,refuge, confession, rejoicing, prayers and requesting the buddhas to remain in the world.[8]
Fourfold bodhisattva vows (that is, a set of vows with four main components), are found in numerousMahāyāna sutras. According toJan Nattier, there is a set of four bodhisattva vows that appears in various sutras including theUgraparipṛcchā Sūtra, theLotus Sūtra (in theDharmaraksa andKumarajiva translations), theAṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā (in the Chinese translation byLokaksema and Chih Ch'ien), theAvadānaśataka and theCompassionate Lotus sutra.[9] Nattier translates this fourfold vow as follows:[9]
The unrescued I will rescue
The unliberated I will liberate
The uncomforted I will comfort
Those who have not yet reachedparanirvana, I will cause to attain paranirvana
Nattier also notes that a similar set of four vows (with small differences in wording) appears in theDipankaraJataka, theMahavastu, theAṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā (in the Chinese translation by Kumarajiva), thePañcaviṃśatisāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā and in some Lotus Sutra translations.[9] Nattier translates this other fourfold vow as follows:[9]
vayaṃ tīrṇāḥ sattvāṃs tārayema, muktā mocayema, āśvastā āśvāsayema, parinirvṛtāḥ parinirvāpayema
Having crossed over [ourselves], may we cause [all] beings to cross over. Liberated, may we liberate [them]. Comforted, may we comfort [them]. Having attained parinirvana, may we cause [them] to attain parinirvana.
Nattier further notes that "it is quite possible to identify clear antecedents of these vows in pre-Mahayana literature" and thus it is likely that these fourfold vows evolved from earlier passages (found in theDigha Nikaya and theMajjhima Nikaya as well as the ChineseAgamas) that describe the activity of the Buddha.[9] One such passage states:[9]
Awakened, the Blessed One teaches the Dhamma for the sake of awakening.
Disciplined, the Blessed One teaches the Dhamma for the sake of disciplining.
Calmed, the Blessed One teaches the Dhamma for the sake of calming.
Having crossed over, the Blessed One teaches the Dhamma for the sake of crossing over.
TheAvataṃsaka Sūtra, a large composite text, contains various passages discussing the practices and vows that bodhisattvas undertake. One example can be found in book 18 of the text, which contains the following ten vows:
Enlightening beings have ten pure vows: (1) they vow to develop living beings to maturity, without wearying; (2) they vow to fully practice all virtues and purify all worlds; (3) they vow to serve the Enlightened, always engendering honor and respect; (4) they vow to keep and protect the true teaching, not begrudging their lives; (5) they vow to observe with wisdom and enter the lands of the Buddhas; (6) they vow to be of the same essence as all enlightening beings; (7) they vow to enter the door of realization of thusness and comprehend all things; (8) they vow that those who see them will develop faith and all be benefited; (9) they vow to stay in the world forever by spiritual power; (10) they vow to fulfill the practice of Universal Good, and master the knowledge of all particulars and all ways of liberation. These are the ten pure vows of enlightening beings.[10]
In theAvataṃsaka Sūtra,Samantabhadra makes ten vows which are an important source forEast Asian Buddhism. Samantabhadra's vows also appear in theSamantabhadra-caryā-praṇidhānam, which is often appended to the end of theAvataṃsaka but originally circulated as an independent text.[11]
Reciting these ten vows is also promoted byShantideva in hisŚikṣāsamuccaya.[12]
The ten vows of Samantabhadra are:[13][14]
TheŚrīmālādevī Siṃhanāda Sūtra contains a set of three vows. According to the Buddha in this sutra, "just as all forms are contained in space, so likewise the bodhisattva vows, which are as numerous as the sands of the Ganges River, are all contained in these three great vows".[15] The three vows are:[15]
InEast Asian Buddhism, the most common bodhisattva vows are a series of "four extensive vows" outlined by theTiantai PatriarchZhiyi.[16] According to Robert F. Rhodes, Zhiyi presents two versions of the four vows. The first one is taken from the Chinese version of theLotus Sūtra and states:[17]
The second set of vows is original to Zhiyi's corpus and states:[17]
Zhiyi explains that these vows correspond to theFour Noble Truths and that these vows arise with the four truths as their basis.[17]
The following table presents the fourfold bodhisattva vow in various languages:
| Chinese (hanzi) | Chinese (pinyin) | Sino-Japanese | Hangul | Korean | Vietnamese | English |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 四弘誓願 | Sì hóng shì yuàn | Shi gu sei gan | 사홍서원 | sa hong seo won | Tứ hoằng thệ nguyện | The Four Encompassing Vows |
| 眾生無邊誓願度 | Zhòng shēng wúbiān shì yuàn dù | Shu jō mu hen sei gan do | 중생무변서원도 | Jung saeng mu byeon seo won do | Chúng sanh vô biên thệ nguyện độ | Masses [of] creatures, without-bounds, [I/we] vow to save [them all]. |
| 煩惱無盡誓願斷 | Fánnǎo wújìn shì yuàn duàn | Bon nō mu jin sei gan dan | 번뇌무진서원단 | Beon noe mu jin seo won dan | Phiền não vô tận thệ nguyện đoạn | Anxiety [and] hate, [delusive-desires] inexhaustible, [I/we] vow to break [them all]. |
| 法門無量誓願學 | Fǎ mén wúliàng shì yuàn xué | Hō mon mu ryō sei gan gaku | 법문무량서원학 | Beob mun mu jin seo won hag | Pháp môn vô lượng thệ nguyện học | Dharma gates beyond-measure [I/we] vow to learn [them all]. |
| 佛道無上誓願成 | Fó dào wúshàng shì yuàn chéng | Butsu dō mu jō sei gan jō | 불도무상서원성 | Bul do mu sang seo won seong | Phật đạo vô thượng thệ nguyện thành | Buddha Way, unsurpassable, [I/we] vow to accomplish [it] |
Shingon Buddhism edits and expands the four vows into five vows (go sei) which are seen as the vows ofMahavairocana which include all bodhisattva vows.[18] These five vows are the following:[18][19]
Vows occupy a pivotal rolePure Land Buddhist theory and practice. Central to this tradition is the story ofAmitābha Buddha, whosepast vow (本願, pūrvapraṇidhāna) laid the foundation for the establishment of his Pure Land ofSukhavati, a purebuddhafield. These vows provides the theoretical foundation for the Pure Land Buddhistsoteriology and serves as a practical guide for adherents aspiring to be born into the Pure Land, where one can easily and rapidly attain Buddhahood.[20][21]
According to theLarger Sukhāvatīvyūha Sūtra, Amitabha Buddha, in a past life as the bodhisattva Dharmākara, gave rise to forty-eight great vows, vowing to create a Pure Land—a realm free from suffering, replete with ideal conditions for achieving Buddhahood. Among these vows, the most significant is the eighteenth vow, which promises that any being who sincerely calls upon Amitabha's name with faith and resolve will be reborn in the Pure Land. Amitabha’s past bodhisattva vows demonstrate his boundless compassion and universal aspiration to liberate all beings. Due to Amitabha's vast practice, these vows are now considered to have a great power. This is the Buddha'sother power or "vow power" (願力, Chinese: yuànlì, Japanese: ganriki, Skt. praṇidhāna-vaśa) which in Pure Land Buddhism is considered to be the main condition for birth in the Pure Land.[20][21]
Pure Land writers likeTanluan andDaochuo expound on this idea, seeing thepower of Amitabha’s vows as the active force that enables practitioners to transcend karmic obstacles and attain birth in the Pure Land. Recitation of Amitabha’s name (nianfo) and trust in his vow power are thus framed as the primary means of liberation, transforming Pure Land Buddhism into a profoundly accessible practice.
The importance of vows extends beyond Amitabha’s example. Pure land practitioners themselves are encouraged to make vows to be born in Amitabha's Pure Land. Chinese Pure Land Patriarchs such asOuyi Zhixu andJixing Chewu emphasized that vows are integral to one’s spiritual orientation. Ouyi Zhixu considered making vows as one of the "three essentials" of Pure Land practice, alongside faith and practice. Zhixu thought that vows provide a clear and unwavering direction for the practitioner’s mind.[22] By vowing to be reborn in the Pure Land, practitioners take refuge in Amitabha’s compassionate resolve, cultivating a sense of connection and focus in their spiritual journey. The practitioner's vow to be born in the Pure Land thus serves as an anchor, allowing the practitioner’s mind to remain steadfast and directed toward liberation amidst the distractions and hardships of samsara.[22]
TheDasabhumika-vibhāsā (Shízhù pípōshā lùn, 十住毘婆沙論,Taisho no. 1521), attributed toNagarjuna, contains its own set of bodhisattva vows:[23]
TheTibetan Buddhist Tradition widely makes use of verses from chapter three ofShantideva'sBodhisattvacaryāvatāra, which is entitledEmbracing Bodhicitta. Various forms of these verses are used to generatebodhicitta and take the bodhisattva vow. The set of verses which are considered to be the actual taking of the bodhisattva vow are verses 23 and 24 of the third chapter.[24][25][26] These verses state:
Just as all the Buddhas of the past
Have brought forth the awakened mind,
And in the precepts of the Bodhisattvas
Step-by-step abode and trained,
Likewise, for the benefit of beings,
I will bring to birth the awakened mind,
And in those precepts, step-by-step,
I will abide and train myself.[27]
In theBodhisattvacaryāvatāra, the actual taking of the vow is preceded by various other preparatory practices and prayers, particularly what is called the Seven Branch Practice (Tib.yan lag bdun pa), often done through the recitation of a prayer. The seven branches are:[28]
The14th Dalai Lama teaches the following way of taking the vow, which begins by reading "through the second and third chapters of theBodhisattvacaryāvatāra up until the second line of verse 23." The Dalai Lama then writes:[29]
In order to take this vow, we should imagine that in front of us are the Buddha andhis eight close disciples;the six ornaments, and the two supreme teachers, including Shantideva; and all the realized masters of the Buddhist tradition, in particular the holders of theSakya,Gelug,Kagyu, andNyingma schools of Tibet—in fact, all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Consider also that we are surrounded by all the beings in the universe. With this visualization, we shall now read the Seven Branch Prayer ...
Consider that we are surrounded by all the beings in the universe and generate compassion for them. Think of the Buddha and feel great devotion to him. Now, with compassion and devotion, pray, "May I attain Buddhahood!" and recite:
"Teachers, Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, listen! Just as you, who in the past have gone to bliss, Conceived the awakened attitude of mind, Likewise, for the benefit of beings, I will generate this self-same attitude."
When we recite these lines for the third time, at the words, "I will generate this self-same attitude," think that you have generated this bodhichitta in the depth of your hearts, in the very marrow of your bones, and that you will never go back on this promise. Traditionally we now recite the last nine verses of the chapter as a conclusion to taking the vow.
In Tibetan Buddhism there are two lineages of the bodhisattva vow, which are linked to two sets ofBodhisattva precepts or moral rules. The first is associated with theCittamatra movement of Indian Buddhism, and is said to have originated with the bodhisattvaMaitreya, and to have been propagated by the Indian masterAsanga. The second is associated with theMadhyamaka tradition, is said to have originated with the bodhisattvaManjusri and to have been propagated byNagarjuna, and later byShantideva. The main difference between these two lineages of the bodhisattva vow is that in theCittamatra lineage the vow cannot be received by one who has not previously received thepratimokṣa vows.[30] Both traditions share a set of 18 major precepts (or "downfalls"). There are also sets of minor precepts.
A ritual text on the bodhisattva vow attributed toNāgārjuna calledBodhicittotpadaviddhi (Ritual for giving rise to bodhicitta, Tib.Byang chub mchog tu sems bskyed pa'i cho ga) has the following bodhisattva vow:
Just as the past tathāgata arhat samyaksambuddhas, when engaging in the behavior of a bodhisattva, generated the aspiration to unsurpassed complete enlightenment so that all beings be liberated, all beings be freed, all beings be relieved, all beings attain complete nirvana, all beings be placed in omniscient wisdom, in the same way, I whose name is so-and-so, from this time forward, generate the aspiration to unsurpassed complete enlightenment so that all beings be liberated, all beings be freed, all beings be relieved, all beings attain complete nirvana, all beings be placed in omniscient wisdom.[31]
.svg)