The Great Vow to Save All Suffering Beings

The Eternal Vow of Compassion

The vow to save all suffering beings was the foundational aspiration and action of Dharmakara Bhikshu when he first set out upon the path to enlightenment. Because the number of beings enduring suffering in the cycle of rebirth is truly infinite, Dharmakara Bhikshu made the solemn vow to save them all without exception. This profound aspiration is perfectly in sync with the vow found within the Four Great Vows of the Buddha’s teachings: to save all beings, however countless they may be.

For those who seek to realise their true nature and attain Buddhahood, the process of practice and purification requires the establishment of a firm vow. Within this vow, the intention to save all beings is not merely an optional addition; it is a fundamental condition for achieving Buddhahood. Without such a vow, it is exceedingly difficult to traverse the Buddha’s path to its ultimate conclusion. Every single being possesses the original, true self, yet because of the rise of confusion, they have become lost within the cycle of rebirth. Those who recognise this suffering begin their practice by making a vow to leave suffering behind.

The Path of the Bodhisattva

If one seeks only to save oneself and leave one's own suffering behind, one is following the path of the Small Vehicle. In contrast, the Mahayana Buddhism path is defined by the Bodhisattva who generates Bodhi—the heart of enlightenment. When a practitioner walks the path of the Bodhisattva, they do so with the following intentions:

• To attain Buddhahood by entering the One Vehicle Buddhism.
• To save all suffering beings, which is the Great Vow of those who attain Buddhahood.
• To realise that it is precisely because of this Great Vow that they are able to become a Buddha.

This is a natural manifestation of one's heart and actions. Only when this heart is truly sincere can such a vow manifest in reality. If the vow to save beings is forced or performed with reluctance, it does not originate from a sincere, original vow. In such a case, the heart is not authentic, the practice is not true, and one remains far from the attainment of Buddhahood.

The Manifestation of Buddha's Blessings

You must understand that those who attain Buddhahood have successfully broken through delusion and attained enlightenment. Only when confusion is entirely eradicated and the true self is revealed can one truly find one's original nature. The fulfilment of the Forty-eight Great Vows and the establishment of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss were achieved through the Buddha's blessings from Lokesvararaja Buddha, combined with the efforts of Namo Amituofo. Through the support of these two powers, the actual Faith, Vows, and Practice of saving all suffering beings were realised.

Similarly, the work of Practitioner Su in saving beings, subduing demons, and inviting spirits to be sent to the Western Land of Dharma Nature is also conducted under the Buddha's blessings. This represents the actual Faith, Vows, and Practice of Practitioner Su in saving all suffering beings.

A Call to the Fourfold Assembly

The fourfold assembly of disciples at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre must ask themselves: are you willing to follow the Buddha in saving all suffering beings? You should aspire, vow after vow, to follow the Buddha in this mission. This is the practical application of saving oneself while simultaneously saving others, and of liberating oneself while liberating all beings.

Namo Amituofo