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**Unakjyfk** · 07-29-2012, 11:09 AM

Don't Zen Buddhists take a form of the Bodhisattva vows? The Four Great Vows, I think they are called?

Hi white wolf,

I think this is them :

THE FOUR GREAT BODHISATTVA VOWS

The Four Great Bodhisattva Vows are recited daily in Buddhist Temples and monasteries at the close of the service (Sanzenkai).

We recite the Four Great Bodhisattva Vows to encourage us in our study and pursuit of the Enlightement of the Buddha.

These great vows express the infinite Compassion of the Buddhas, and, in chanting them we express our desire to become as the Great Bodhisattvas and Buddhas.

The Bodhisattva is an enlightened being who, deferring his/her own full Buddhahood, dedicates his/herself to helping others attain Liberation.

In one's self-mastery, Wisdom and Compassion, a Bodhisattva represents the Highest stage of Buddhahood, but one is not yet a supremely Enlighteneed, fully Perfected Buddha.

Bodhisattvas, like Buddhas, are not merely personifications of abstract principles, but are prototypes of those states of highest knowledge, wisomd and harmony which have been realized in humanity and will ever have to be realized again and again.

Our Mahayana Buddhism requires that the enlightened ones and those advanced along the path show the way to others. Our tradition emphasizes that each person who practices Buddhism should see his or herself as holding a candle in ones hand. This candle will help one to light (see) the way, and others will benefit from the light. For this reason, Mahayana Buddhists do not wait until perfect enlightenment before one acts, we begin to act when we begin our practice.

THE FOUR GREAT BODHISATTVA VOWS

Shu jo muhen sei gan do
Bo no mujin sei gan dan
Ho mon myryo sei gan gaku
Butsu do mujo sei gan jo

However innumerable all beings are, I vow to liberate them all.

However inexhaustible my delusions are, I vow to extinguish them all.

However immeasurable the Dharma Teachings are, I vow to master them all

However endless the Buddha's Way is, I vow to follow it completely.

http://aspengold.org/44.html

Oh...I've just seen that you've now added some to #17, White Wolf

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07-29-2012, 11:09 AM	#19
Unakjyfk Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 565 Senior Member	Don't Zen Buddhists take a form of the Bodhisattva vows? The Four Great Vows, I think they are called? Hi white wolf, I think this is them : THE FOUR GREAT BODHISATTVA VOWS The Four Great Bodhisattva Vows are recited daily in Buddhist Temples and monasteries at the close of the service (Sanzenkai). We recite the Four Great Bodhisattva Vows to encourage us in our study and pursuit of the Enlightement of the Buddha. These great vows express the infinite Compassion of the Buddhas, and, in chanting them we express our desire to become as the Great Bodhisattvas and Buddhas. The Bodhisattva is an enlightened being who, deferring his/her own full Buddhahood, dedicates his/herself to helping others attain Liberation. In one's self-mastery, Wisdom and Compassion, a Bodhisattva represents the Highest stage of Buddhahood, but one is not yet a supremely Enlighteneed, fully Perfected Buddha. Bodhisattvas, like Buddhas, are not merely personifications of abstract principles, but are prototypes of those states of highest knowledge, wisomd and harmony which have been realized in humanity and will ever have to be realized again and again. Our Mahayana Buddhism requires that the enlightened ones and those advanced along the path show the way to others. Our tradition emphasizes that each person who practices Buddhism should see his or herself as holding a candle in ones hand. This candle will help one to light (see) the way, and others will benefit from the light. For this reason, Mahayana Buddhists do not wait until perfect enlightenment before one acts, we begin to act when we begin our practice. THE FOUR GREAT BODHISATTVA VOWS Shu jo muhen sei gan do Bo no mujin sei gan dan Ho mon myryo sei gan gaku Butsu do mujo sei gan jo However innumerable all beings are, I vow to liberate them all. However inexhaustible my delusions are, I vow to extinguish them all. However immeasurable the Dharma Teachings are, I vow to master them all However endless the Buddha's Way is, I vow to follow it completely. http://aspengold.org/44.html Oh...I've just seen that you've now added some to #17, White Wolf .
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