[zlopikanikanz]

My motivation for originating this post was simple. I found that many Mahayana (specifically Chinese) Buddhism concepts and ideals that I (and many other Mahayana Buddhists) have take for granted are considered to be 'incorrect' or 'irrelevant' by some other Buddhists. So I want to see if I can develop these concepts from the basic teachings of Buddhism and find a rationale for them, without relying on specific quotes from Buddhist Texts as an authority, and present them to the opposition so that I can see if my line of thoughts has any merit.

So I thank everyone who have responded. Some responses to specific points raised.

Sounds too much like Evangelism to me, why not go round in a group ringing peoples door bells too? I was merely addressing the "unrealistic" aspect of the vow and showing how it might be possible. Not suggesting that Buddhists should go around converting people.

Many non-Buddhists help others on a daily basis above and beyond ''the call of duty" of their occupations and don't need to take feel-good vows or have ''beliefs'' in order to do so. I don't think (or not aware) that this vow is required, at least not in the Mahayana Chinese Buddhism. And I am not sure where the concept of the "feel-good" vow came from. Not many Buddhists, that I aware of, have actually taken this vow. The ones that did understand the gravity of the vow. My understanding is that this vow came about once a Bodhisattva truly understood the suffering that is samsara, he was overwhelmed by his compassion for all sentient beings and made the vow.

To take this vow means that once you are a step from enlightenment and does not have to come back to samsara, you voluntarily forgo enlightenment so that you can come back to samsara to help others. This vow is not taken lightly. For most Mahayana Buddhists, this does not mean just this life time, but for all subsequent life times. Of course if you do not believe in "rebirth/reincarnation," the gravity of this vow is probably not as serious.

Here the Buddha suggests the best course of action is to strive for one's own development without neglecting the betterment of others. The two can be done simultaneously. Applying this advice to Mahayana practice, the Bodhisattva path need not be one of "saving" others with efforts that could otherwise be channeled into one's own practice, but rather of helping them along the way, as a good kalyanamitta would do. Yes, it is taught that Bodhisattva does things that benefits others and self at the same time, and this is what I was trying to communicate as a rationale for this vow.

To understand the true nature of everything one needs pure motivation and the regular practice of meditation.
Reading books and talking intellectual blib-blab won't get one very far, one needs to relax and let go... Buddhism taught that different people have different dispositions, and might follow different paths toward enlightenment. While I agree that meditation (jhana) is important, it is only one of 6 paramitas and for some of us, there are more to Buddhism than jhana.

I am not trying to convert or convince anyone of my view. I am just striving for the "right view" for myself and the best way that I know how to do that is to present it and let others attack my view. I apology if you think my presentation is "intellectual blib-blab", I just want to know why it might be "intellectual blib-blab."