To Understand Buddhism - The Eighth Vow

The Eighth Vow: To Constantly be a Diligent Follower of the Buddha s Teachings

Although the Buddha no longer resides in this world, we still have his sutras to follow and study. Following the sutras is the highest standard in our learning and practicing Bud" dhism.

We need to accord with the wishes of all sentient beings in the universe. This is ex" tremely difficult to do and is why the Chinese say that filial piety and according with others go together. Learning Buddhism is to honor filial piety and to accord with the being's wishes. While according, we need to look for the right opportunities to try to encourage people to stop committing wrongdoings. This will help them to break through delusion and attain enlightenment. However, to do this perfectly, we need to recognize the right way and time and for this we need wisdom, expediency and flexibility.


The Tenth Vow: To Dedicate all Merits

This means dedicating all of our good deeds and merits to all the sentient beings in the universe. It means broadening our hearts so that the entire universe becomes one entity. Only when we have reached this state can we be said to have attained the Great Perfec" tion.

In our learning and cultivation of the Pure Land we use the five sutras and one sastra:

1) The Buddha Speaks of the Infinite Life Sutra of Adornment, Purity, Equality and En"

lightenment of the Mahayana School,

2) The Amitabha Sutra,

3) The Visualization Sutra,

4)  The Chapter of Universal Worthy Bodhisattva s Conduct and Vows from the

Flower Adornment Sutra ,

5)  The Chapter on the Perfect Complete Realization of Great Strength Bodhisattva

through Buddha Name Recitation from the Surangama Sutra and

6) Vasubandhu Bodhisattva s Report on the Way to Reaching the Pure Land.

We practice the Five Guidelines:

1) The Three Conditions

2) The Six Harmonies

3) The Three Learnings

4) The Six Paramitas and

5) The Ten Great Vows of Universal Worthy Bodhisattva.

Very simple, very clear, not at all complicated. If we consistently follow these in our learning and cultivation we are sure to succeed. In doing so, as an ancient sage said,  if ten thousand practice, ten thousand will succeed. Now we have the principles and methods of learning and cultivation. How do we interact with people, matters and objects in our daily lives? If we follow the above five guidelines, single-mindedly chant the name of Bud" dha Amitabha and seek birth into the Pure Land, we will definitely succeed.