80. Paramita of Discipline III — The Eight Great Vows of Sublime Beings
Longchen Nyingtik Meditation 80
These vows are magnificent! We shall write them down on notebooks or hang a copy of them at a place easily viewed. For now, some of the vows may seem difficult to fulfill, but simply aspiring to accomplish just one is extremely meritorious already.
The Beginning
Take refuge and arouse bodhicitta.
The Main Part
Make vows as the following:
May I relieve the sufferings of all sentient beings; may such a day arrive!
May I bring great riches, whether spiritual or material, to all suffering sentient beings as long as they exist; may such a day arrive!
May I, emulating the Buddhas of the past, offer the flesh and bones of my own body to benefit sentient beings; may such a day arrive!
May I bring welfare to sentient beings trapped permanently in the hell realm; may such a day arrive!
May I fulfill sentient beings’ wishes with ample worldly and transmundane spiritual wealth; may such a day arrive!
May I, when having attained enlightenment, be able to eliminate all the physical and mental sufferings of sentient beings; may such a day arrive!
May I, in all my lives, abandon all activities that are harmful to beings; may I not dwell solely in the extreme of peace; may I never utter a displeasing word to sentient beings; may I never commit offences against sentient beings’ welfare; may I never take a vile body that attacks sentient beings; may I, if born intelligent or rich, never misuse my endowment to harm sentient beings; may I never take pleasure in inflicting injury to others.
May the effects of sentient beings’ evil deeds ripen on me; may the fruit of my good deeds ripen on sentient beings; may I achieve the power to realize it and may such a day arrive!
The Ending
Dedicate the merit of your practice to all sentient beings.
