The Ten Great Vows

Only when we apply the Three Conditions, the Six Harmonies, the Threefold Learning, and the Six
Paramitas in our daily lives are we truly learning Buddhism, emulating bodhisattvas, and beginning to resemble a bodhisattva. Bodhisattvas cannot attain Buddhahood only by practicing the Six Paramitas. They also practice Buddha-name chanting.
   
In the practice of Buddha-name chanting, we can achieve either Constant Mindfulness of Amitabha
Buddha or One Mind Undisturbed in Mindfulness, but we cannot achieve One Mind Undisturbed in
Enlightenment. In other words, we have to move beyond the foundation of the Six Paramitas and
progress to the next level of practice: the Ten Great Vows of Samantabhadra taught in the Avatamsaka Sutra.
   
This Dharma door leads to attainment of One Mind Undisturbed in Enlightenment and attainment of Buddhahood. It is practiced by Dharma Body Mahasattvas. These are great Bodhisattvas who have realized the Dharma Body; in other words, they have freed themselves from delusion. Therefore, it is the last step of our cultivation and cannot be reached by skipping the previous steps. Venerable Master Chin Kung has said that if we do not succeed in our practice of the Six Paramitas, we are not even close to practicing the Ten Great Vows.
   
The distinctive feature of the practice of Samantabhadra is that this bodhisattva has a mind as
broad as the universe. As a result, each of his ten vows is ultimate and perfect in itself.

The Ten Great Vows of Samantabhadra are:
   
1. To respect all Buddhas
2. To praise Tathagata (one of the ten names for Buddha)
3. To make offerings extensively
4. To repent karmic obstacles
5. To rejoice at other's meritorious deeds
6. To request the turning of the Dharma wheel
7. To request the Buddha to remain in this world
8. To constantly follow the Buddha's teachings
9. To accommodate all sentient beings
10. To dedicate all merits universally

In conclusion, our learning of the Pure Land teachings is based on the five Pure Land sutras and one treatise. Our Pure Land practice is based on the Five Guidelines: the Three Conditions, the Six Harmonies, the Threefold Learning, the Six Paramitas, and the Ten Great Vows of Samantabhadra.
   
These guidelines are very simple, very clear, and not at all complicated. If we follow these guidelines in our learning and practice for the rest of our lives, we will definitely succeed. As an ancient sage once said, “If ten thousand practice, ten thousand will attain rebirth.” We have the principles and the practice methods.
 
How do we interact with people and engage in tasks in daily life? If we follow these five guidelines
we will not go wrong.
 
In addition, if we single-mindedly practice Buddha-name chanting and seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land, all of us will succeed.

related post:  Care of Dharma Materials

Source Of Information:
《Going Home To The Pure Land》, by Venerable Wuling, translated by J.C.Cleary, published by Pure Land College Press in 2010, distributed by: Persatuan Penganut Agama Buddha Amitabha Malaysia, 90 & 92, Jalan Pahang, Gombak, 53000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.)
*** The information provided above does not contain personal opinion of this blog.