Under What Circumstances May One Make a Vow to Remain in the Saha World

Only worlds like the Saha World have the three evil destinies. If one aspires to remain in the Saha World, one must at the very least ensure the ability to eradicate the karmic causes of the three evil destinies, extinguish their retributions, and avoid falling into the three evil destinies in future lives. To avoid the three evil destinies, one must sever the three fetters. The three fetters are realized by the mental faculty (manas), enlightened by the mental faculty, and severed by the mental faculty. Only then can the bonds of afflictions be eradicated; otherwise, the suffering of the three evil destinies in future lives is unavoidable. It is not the case that severing the three fetters by the conscious mind alone can exempt one from the karma of the three evil destinies. The afflictions and the three fetters of the conscious mind exist dependent upon the mental faculty. If the mental faculty remains unsevered, even if the conscious mind severs them, it is useless, for the conscious mind is governed by the mental faculty. 

Only after eradicating the five grades of afflictions in the desire realm and becoming a candidate for the first fruition (stream-enterer) can one attain the first fruition and sever the three fetters. First, one must observe whether one possesses the five grades of afflictions, assess their severity, and determine whether they can be eradicated. Only then can one judge whether there is hope of severing the three fetters. After that, based on one's actual circumstances, one can make aspirations to attain peace and happiness in future lives. If handled poorly, aspiring to remain in the Saha World yet enduring prolonged suffering in the three evil destinies would make oneself an object awaiting deliverance by others. How then could one deliver others? Wouldn't such a future life be very distressing?

If one cannot guarantee the severing of the three fetters, or even guarantee that the fetters of the conscious mind can be eradicated, then the three evil destinies cannot be avoided. Even if the conscious mind has severed the three fetters, if the mental faculty still possesses them, the karma of the three evil destinies cannot be avoided. Moreover, if the fetters of the mental faculty are deep and the afflictions severe, the three fetters of the conscious mind will manifest at any time and place, uncontrollably, inevitably leading to the three evil destinies in future lives. In such a case, such an aspiration is equivalent to aspiring to remain in the three evil destinies to suffer. Therefore, one must be very careful when making aspirations. What aspiration to make depends on one's level of cultivation and actual circumstances. One must not act impulsively, disregarding everything. Wisdom is a precious thing; one must use one's mind diligently, awaken wisdom, and only then take action.