In Wrathful Vajra Eyes (Volume 50 of Shengyen Lu's Works), there is a dialog of question/answer about vows, which has a deep meaning. I respectfully repeat it below for the reader to appreciate it in depth.
save sentient beings from the ocean of suffering in birth and death, Ascending to the pure land of Buddha and Bodhisattvas, where there is radiant light and eternal bliss.
Gelug sect Vajra Guru Tudeng Dali asked:
Living Buddha Liansheng replied:
"Since Master Lu has obtained the complete enlightenment, you should know that "Both dharma and non-dharma are illusion", why do you make an oath to live in the human world life after life? Why don't you stay in the eternally tranquil light pure land, and rescue sentient beings when the chance comes naturally? "
"When one cultivates to the highest state where all dharmas are non-dharmas, and non-dharmas are all dharmas, he enters alleged the vast boundless Buddha. I have been able to hold all dharmas in one dharma, write all articles in one article, and even explain all truths with one truth; the realm I possess is naturally endless. I vow to live in the human world life after life; this is to rescue sentient beings when the chance comes naturally". You must know that in my dharma eyes, no difference between the eternally tranquil light pure land and the human world. The human world is the eternally tranquil light pure land and vice versa. Once one obtains the complete enlightenment, he can understand the truth I expound today. This is the human world of the supreme bodhi dharma realization; it is the supreme nirvana pure land of eternally tranquil light as well.”
Living Buddha Liansheng has great compassion deep into his bone; his great compassion is surging constantly; he has repeatedly disclosed his vow to save all sentient beings in his writings.
Living Buddha Liansheng has great compassion deep into his bone
his great compassion is surging constantly; he has repeatedly disclosed his vow to save all sentient beings in his writings.
EXAMPLES IN THE FOLLOWINGS
(Volume 60 of Shengyen Lu's Works)
The Inner World of the Lake
“Red Crowned Holy Vajra Master” has upheld five great vows since he became a buddhist: Vow to rescue countless sentient beings Vow to gather boundless merit and wisdom Vow to learn boundless dharmas Vow to serve countless Tathagatas Vow to attain boundless Bodhi
(Volume 72 of Shengyen Lu's Works)
The Great Path of Monkhood
I, a buddhist monk roaming in heaven and on earth freely, right in front of the thousand lamps and ten thousand lamps, make a vow that May I be transformed into a boundless space treasury to uphold the true dharma in a number of cultivation sites as great as the number of particles of dust in the 3000 great chiliocosm (boundless universes).
I am a buddhist monk roaming in heaven and on earth freely. May my eyes as bright as thousands of lamps; May I follow the thousand-eyes Avalokitesvara to observe the sufferings of all sentient beings and to relieve all their obstacles so that their karmic hindrance can be eliminated and their wishes can be fulfilled as soon as possible.
I am a buddhist monk roaming in heaven and on earth freely. May I, life after life, obtain wisdom early, turn the Great Dharma Wheel with compassion, exert my full strength on rescuing all sentient beings, and never get tired.
I am a buddhist monk roaming in heaven and on earth freely. May I have the six psychic powers, have innumerable incarnate bodies to fill up the void and use the supreme divine power to rescuing all sentient beings. Void has its bounds; my vow is boundless.
May my mind be pure. May I be free from becoming or annihilation. May I be self-sufficient. May I be immovable. May I bear all dharmas.
(Volume 105 of Shengyen Lu's Works)
Falling Snow at the Rainbow Villa
I will not attain Buddhahood until the hell is empty. I’ll smash my body and shatter my bones to rescue sentient beings.
(Volume 161 of Shengyen Lu's Works)
The Tranquil Thought
Just because I have personally seen the Buddha-nature, experienced the Buddha land, witnessed Amitabha, and personally verified the cause and effect of my previous lives, I have made a vow: During the three asamkhya kalpas, I’ll cultivate and attain the Buddhahood at the expense of my body, my heart, my brain and my life. Not only that, but also have vowed to smash my body and shatter my bones to rescue sentient beings in the human world life after life.
(Volume 193 of Shengyen Lu's Works)
The Sobbing of Niuchou River
I vow that I will give the best to holy disciples, we will experience “enlightenment” together, and we will break the followings together:
One thought ignorance, beginningless ignorance, all emotional afflictions.