The Four Great Vows of Master Xuanzang

The Vows That Bind the Heart to the Buddha

The Four Great Vows serve as the foundational pillars of the Bodhisattva path. They are expressed in these four profound lines:

• Beings are infinite; I vow to save them all.
• Afflictions are endless; I vow to cut them all off.
• Dharma doors are measureless; I vow to learn them all.
• The Buddha’s path is supreme; I vow to attain it.

Throughout history, countless disciples and lay practitioners have knelt before the Buddha, offering deep repentance and making these solemn vows. To commit to this path is to align one's heart and vows with the Buddha. Whenever we reflect upon these words, we must examine our own shortcomings. We must acknowledge that our practice is often insufficient, and we must pray for the Buddha’s strength to support us.

A Sincere Reflection on Our Imperfections

Master Xuanzang leads us in this act of repenting and changing our ways before the Buddha. We must be honest about our failures:

• We know that beings suffer, yet we remain lax and fail to engage in diligent practice.
• We know that afflictions entangle us like silk threads, yet we fail to cut them off, choosing instead to indulge and excuse ourselves rather than truly changing our ways.
• We know that the Dharma door of chanting Namo Amituofo is vital, yet we remain unaware and continue to repeat our mistakes, forgetting that our very lives are in danger.
• We know that the Buddha’s path remains unattained, yet we fail to be sincere, allowing ourselves to sink deeper into the cycle of rebirth and wasting our precious time.

We have been unfilial, leaving the Buddha to wait patiently for His children to return home. We must recognise these faults and resolve to change.

Severing the Threads of Worldly Attachment

To truly walk the path of a monastic, one must leave behind the attachments of the home life. This means we must no longer be swayed by worldly emotions, family ties, or the lingering attachments to our past lives. We must cut through these emotional threads so that our minds are no longer in turmoil. Only by cultivating true compassion and Wisdom can we ensure that our Dharma affinity matures, allowing us to complete the Buddha’s path.

Awakening to the Radiance of the True Self

Now is the time to "see through" and "let go" of the past. We must grasp the present moment, for it is our opportunity for rebirth. This is not a light statement, but the absolute Truth. All past events are illusory; they are like dreams from which we must awaken. Do not fall back into the dream, for suffering in the six realms of existence is not the ultimate reality.

We must offer this body to serve all beings. In truth, all beings and ourselves are one, yet we have become separated by our own discriminations, attachments, and delusions. Because we are lost within the karma of the six realms of existence, we must be diligent in every passing second. Each moment is a golden opportunity to become a Buddha. By using this temporary body to rediscover our true self, we can reveal our original nature—bright, pure, and flawless, like a precious jewel illuminating the earth.

Through this, we shall save all spirits, helping them leave suffering behind and find happiness in the Western Pure Land. Ultimately, we will fulfil the Four Great Vows and repay the vast, boundless grace of the Buddha. Namo Amituofo.

This message was recorded and written by the disciple Venerable HaiZe.