The Boundless Vow to Save All Beings

Words of Namo Amituofo, recorded by the disciple of Namo Amituofo, Venerable Fa Hui, on the twenty-ninth of November, 2024.

The Boundless Vow of Compassion

The vow to save all beings is the very heart of the Buddha, and it is the essential vow of every practitioner of the Great Vehicle. When one possesses a heart of true compassion, the sight of the suffering of others naturally gives rise to the profound wish to save them. If you put this vow into actual practice, the first beings to be saved are yourself and the beings within your bodies. You must remember that you, too, are one of these beings in need of salvation.

If one is a practitioner of the Small Vehicle, one may focus on purification and seeking the Dharma. Their achievements in practice are directed toward self-liberation and leaving suffering behind, while the salvation of others is left to chance. However, the vow to save all beings means that one truly wishes for every single being, without exception, to attain deliverance.

The Foundation of Faith and Practice

When Namo Amituofo was in the causal stage as Dharmakara Bhikshu, this vow served as the guiding light for all His actions. The Forty-eight Great Vows He established were each designed specifically to save countless suffering beings. How, then, can you effectively save beings? The most important step is to have absolute faith in the Buddha.

Those who have faith in the Buddha will:

• Accept and uphold the teachings found in the sutras.
• Follow the guidance and instructions provided by the Buddha in their daily lives.
• Receive the benefits of the Dharma.
• Eventually reach the state of an awakened being.

Once you have personally experienced these benefits, you will be able to teach others to recognise Namo Amituofo and the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. You will be able to help them cultivate the Three Provisions, which are essential for rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The Infinite Reach of the Holy Name

When you ensure that chanting the Holy Name "Namo Amituofo" becomes a continuous, flowing stream that never stops, you and the beings within your bodies are the first to be saved. This is because, as you practise, the Holy Name is present in your speech and in your heart. The very earth beneath your feet, the flowers, the trees, the stones, and even the clouds in the sky—all beings that hear the Holy Name of Namo Amituofo—are planted with the seeds of the path. Through spiritual deliverance or simply by hearing the Holy Name, they are given the precious opportunity to obtain deliverance.

Walking the Path of the Ancestral Masters

The scriptures and Dharma teachings shared by those who give lectures are based on the Pure Land materials passed down by the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and ancestral masters. At Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, we follow the teachings and guidance of Namo Amituofo, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, and Practitioner Su. We follow in the footsteps of the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and our true spiritual friends.

The conduct and the words of those who teach the Dharma serve as a model for all beings to learn from. Practices such as spiritual deliverance and the deliverance of the Dharma Body are performed with a heart of equality, seeing all beings as one. The vow to save all beings is a commitment that never ceases, and the work of saving beings continues for all time.

Namo Amituofo.