My Pranidhana

I have built a celestial ladder for everyone to ascend to the summit of the Dharma. This ladder is the most direct and secret path to attain all great wisdom, drawing near to the sun and moon, so close that it is almost within reach. As long as your physical and mental strength permit, you may ascend it yourselves and observe the workings of the Dharma from a commanding height, thereby attaining great wisdom. In the context of worldly affairs, I have provided this secret passage. How much royalty and usage fee should I charge to be fair and reasonable? In truth, no matter how much I charge, it would be too little. Even if all the jewels in the world were given to me, it would still not suffice to cover the cost. Since charging any amount now seems inappropriate, and moreover, I am not skilled at spending money nor do I need so much, I will cast a long line to catch a big fish, seeking the greatest possible benefit.

I now make this vow with mantra-power: All who receive even a drop of my Dharma grace shall, for three great asamkhyeya kalpas, follow in my footsteps, emulate my path, and carry out my deeds without regard for any personal gain. They shall engage in all bodhisattva practices to liberate all beings who can be liberated. After three asamkhyeya kalpas, they must still labor tirelessly, regardless of hardship or cost, to liberate all beings who can be liberated, without the slightest reluctance or resistance.

The vow has been made; no one can escape. It is too late to flee now. Even those who fled in the past cannot escape the power of this vow. All beings, whether willing or not, are bound by the power of my vow, consciously or unconsciously fulfilling its mandate. No matter how many kalpas pass, they cannot escape. You may slack for a day, a year, a lifetime, or an entire era, but you cannot remain forever idle under the power of my vow. The vow-power does not permit it—until you attain buddhahood, until all suffering beings are liberated.

Manjusri Bodhisattva does not attain buddhahood; as a bodhisattva, he has guided seven Buddha Bhagavāns and will even guide countless more Buddha Bhagavāns while remaining in the bodhisattva form. However, once Manjusri Bodhisattva attains buddhahood, his buddha-land will encompass all buddha-lands; all buddha-lands will exist within Manjusri Buddha’s buddha-land. For now, I do not wish to reap rewards nor receive even a speck of recompense. I seek the greatest possible reward in the future. Those who receive my grace must, for kalpa upon kalpa without end, emulate my deeds and repay my grace, just as I unconditionally emulate the Buddha’s deeds and repay the Buddha’s grace, without complaint. Even if complaints arise, after voicing them, they must still labor on regardless of cost, forever—whether before attaining buddhahood or after.

The power of my vow is a hundredfold, a thousandfold, ten thousandfold greater than the power of demons’ curses. Those bound by my vow are freed from demons’ curses and will never again be harassed by demons. The power of my vow subdues the curses of demons; demonic power transforms into buddha-power, jointly empowering practitioners to set forth on the path, bravely advance without regression!