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This week continues the Four Great Vows, although they continue with an interesting twist that you’ll see on Wednesday. That said, don’t underestimate this just because it’s one short line. It gets easy to pass over these shorter vows with a “Sure, okay,” on your way to the next sentence. Or to think that just because it’s short and easy to understand, that’s all there is to it. But try not to do that.

These vows help set your direction. They help set your direction now, and in the future, both short-term and inconceivably far-term. They orient us to the truth of how things function, and orient us towards learning how things truly function. And if we are discovering that all beings share the same life, the same mind, the same body, work together as one, and freely give and receive whatever is needed, then, how could our lives not be blessed? How could fear and anxiety not begin to fall away?

These are just one line each, but repeat them to yourself (outloud when possible) whenever you have a moment.

Raising the Four Great Vows (continued)

The infinite teachings of the Dharma, I will learn.

How do we dissolve the things that cause suffering? By trying to return them inwardly.

Raising the Four Great Vows (continued)

Continuously arising delusions and defilements, I will dissolve.

These vows are fairly well-known (although Daehaeng Kun Sunim delivers a unique twist on them at the end – you’ll see next week), but I’m listing them here one by one just so we can get a sense of each one. So we can take some time and let each one sink down within us. For we tend to read and recite these as a group, moving over them at speed. But what I would like here, is to just read each one. Just recite it out loud several times and let it sink down within you. If you want to recite it at random moments in your day, that’d be fine too!

Raising the Four Great Vows

Unenlightened beings beyond number, I will save.

The Ten Vows made by all Tathagatas (Vow 10)

I vow to save all beings.

The Ten Vows made by all Tathagatas (Vow 9)

I vow to manifest throughout the entire world.

The Ten Vows made by all Tathagatas (Vow 8)

Amita Buddha existing within my mind,
I vow to hurry and meet.

Never forget that now,
right here,
where we are sitting at this moment,
this single, shining candle of one mind
has within it the entire universe,
and all realms seen and unseen.

— Daehaeng Kun Sunim

“Where is paradise found? Within my mind.” That seems like such a little phrase, just a few words, but think of how much energy and how many years people spend unconsciously thinking that the happiness they want exists somewhere else.

If it truly exists in our minds, then all of that time…. Well, work on discovering it within your own mind! Among other things, that is what you can take with you between lives. There’s very little that actually goes with us, just our habits and our orientation. If you deeply know that paradise is within your own mind, and have practiced living there, then I suspect that wherever you might be reborn, that would be something as natural to you as adjusting your pillow during the night.

The Ten Vows made by all Tathagatas (Vow 7)

Paradise is found within my mind,
I vow to attain it.

The Ten Vows made by all Tathagatas (Vow 6)

I will know the real and attain enlightenment.
I vow to always sustain and cultivate this determination.

What is Tathagata? Although it sometimes is used to indicate beings who are fully awakened, it also is the state where all minds are one. Where ultimately everything is seen as part of the ceaselessly manifesting whole.

(And try to recite these out loud a few times. Feel free to keep reciting just this one line throughout the day!)

The Ten Vows made by all Tathagatas (Vow 5)

The truth of non-duality,
taught by all Buddhas.
I vow to ceaselessly learn and practice.