The Ten Infinite Vows of a Bodhisattva

The Buddhas descend into the world to universally deliver sentient beings, manifesting the Eight Great Events of Attaining the Way. The contents must be firmly remembered: descending from the Tushita Heaven, entering the womb, dwelling in the womb, birth, renouncing household life, attaining enlightenment, turning the Dharma wheel, and entering Nirvana. Therefore, a Buddha is necessarily one who has renounced household life, belonging to the Sangha order, not a layperson. In the Avatamsaka Sutra, the Buddha teaches Bodhisattvas to generate the Ten Inexhaustible Vows. One of these vows is that a Bodhisattva must possess vast supernatural powers; this is an essential requirement. Without supernatural powers, not only can one not achieve one's own realization, but one also cannot deliver sentient beings. However, it is best to cultivate supernatural powers after attaining the Bodhisattva grounds (bhūmis); cultivating them after initial awakening is still very difficult, and it is not encouraged before that.

If a Bodhisattva's mind is too narrow, they cannot generate such vast vows; even if generated, they cannot fulfill them. The scope of a Bodhisattva's activities is as vast as the capacity of their mind. For each of us sentient beings in future lives, there is only one thing to do: liberate oneself and liberate others. Life after life is solely this matter, it is all Buddha-work, with no worldly pursuits whatsoever within the three realms. Therefore, we must now train our minds to cling as little as possible to worldly appearances, not to pursue worldly personal gain, and not to contend with others for the sake of worldly survival benefits. This includes wealth, sex, fame, food, and sleep, as well as forms, sounds, scents, tastes, and tactile sensations. It includes family, relatives, and dependents—everything, everything. In the mind, relinquish as much as possible. Thus, when the mind becomes empty and pure, it becomes vast. When it becomes as vast as the Tathāgatagarbha (Buddha-nature), then the ultimate state is reached.

Only when the realm of sentient beings is exhausted will my vow be exhausted. Can the realm of sentient beings be exhausted? When will it be exhausted? I recall someone in the Buddhist scriptures asking the Buddha whether the realm of sentient beings can be exhausted, whether sentient beings can be completely delivered. The Buddha seemed not to answer. It wasn't that the Buddha did not know or could not answer, but rather that the number of sentient beings is truly boundless, immeasurable, and incalculable. The task for each Bodhisattva is extremely heavy; even after becoming a Buddha, one must forever be busy with the work of delivering sentient beings. The multitude of sentient beings throughout the ten directions is measureless and boundless. Worlds without Buddhas, without Bodhisattvas, without the Dharma are also exceedingly numerous. The sentient beings in those worlds suffer greatly, waiting for us Bodhisattvas to generate the resolve to deliver them.

When we attain the ability to deliver sentient beings in the future, everything must be considered for the sake of sentient beings, not for personal selfish gain or mutual contention. If Bodhisattvas fight fiercely, even to the point of bloodshed, over issues concerning their own followers, disciples, or problems of reputation and status, what will become of those sentient beings? Where then is the great Bodhicitta vow made in the past? We must strive to generate vast vows now, so that in future lives we will not forget or lose the Bodhicitta mind. Everything is for the sake of accomplishing our own path and realization, and for accomplishing sentient beings, not for worldly benefits.

If the virtuous roots and merits of sentient beings are not mature, they cannot encounter the Buddhadharma. We should all strive to plant as many virtuous roots as possible for sentient beings, enabling their virtuous roots to ripen sooner. If the virtuous roots of sentient beings are not mature and they lack merit, even if a Buddha is right before them, it is useless. If the realm of sentient beings were exhausted, with no more sentient beings, what use would there be for Buddha lands? The Buddhas establish countless Buddha lands precisely for the purpose of delivering sentient beings. If there were no sentient beings, would a Buddha still retain a physical form and remain in the world? Then they would no longer retain a form; the Buddha lands would also be useless. Therefore, considering the future scenario, what is there for us to contend over now? All dharmas are empty; it is sufficient to use them temporarily. There is no need for greed or attachment.