Bodhisattva Vow

Relax in the Dharma

Today I want to keep it simple, and for my benefit as well as yours, post the Bodhisattva Vow.

Let it guide all of us in our daily activities.

• Sentient beings are numberless; I vow to liberate them.
• Delusions are inexhaustible; I vow to transcend them.
• Dharma teachings are boundless; I vow to master them.
• The Buddha’s enlightened way is unsurpassable; I vow to embody it.

For the ultimate benefit of all beings without exceptions, throughout this and all my lifetimes, I dedicate myself to the practice and realization of enlightenment until all together reach that goal.

We all have a tendency to make our lives more complicated than they need to be. We may read complicated works, or meditate on arcane concepts, but often the greatest dharma is found in attention to a very simple idea.

Write this vow on a note card. Read it once in the morning on awakening. Tape it to your computer screen, and read it once per hour with attention to your breathing. Read it once more with gratitude before going to bed. See if it makes a difference in your day.

Free Therapy!

Namaste

Barry