Tibetan Buddhist views on the significance and practice of the Bodhisattva Vow.
Embracing the Buddhist path requires letting go of this life’s attachments to focus on improving future lives. Interestingly, by doing so, one often finds that their current life is enhanced significantly, a fact that helps motivate continued practice.
To attain tranquility in the present, one must prioritize the betterment of future lives.
Cultivating renunciation is closely linked with the pursuit of a life rich in meaning and spiritual depth. Those who practice it search for a deeper significance and strive for enduring joy by seeking liberation.
Renunciation transcends mere intellectual grasp; it’s a practical approach to living. Followers endeavor to be aware and deliberate in their choices, steering clear of actions that contribute to the continuous cycle of samsara.
Tibetan Buddhist Lamrim: Developing Renunciation for Samsara
Once a practitioner feels strong renunciation, they are ready to embark on the Great Scope meditations of Lamrim, take the Bodhisattva Vow, and practice the Six Perfections.
The Bodhisattva Vow is a central and profound practice in Tibetan Buddhism, emphasizing the altruistic commitment to attain enlightenment (Buddhahood) for the benefit of all sentient beings. This vow is taken by aspiring Bodhisattvas who dedicate their lives to the welfare and liberation of others.
Bodhicitta
Proper Motivation: The Bodhisattva Vow is closely linked to the cultivation of Bodhicitta, the altruistic mind that aspires to attain Buddhahood for the sake of all beings. Bodhicitta is the driving force behind the vow.
Altruism: The Bodhisattva Vow is characterized by an altruistic aspiration to alleviate the suffering of all sentient beings and guide them to enlightenment. It involves cultivating boundless compassion, love, and the willingness to put others’ welfare before one’s own.
Compassion
Benefit to Self and Others: The Bodhisattva Vow is seen as mutually beneficial. While it primarily focuses on benefiting others, the path of a Bodhisattva also leads to one’s own spiritual growth and, ultimately, Buddhahood.
Compassion and Loving-kindness: The vow emphasizes the development of boundless compassion (karuna) and loving-kindness (metta) toward all beings, including friends, enemies, and strangers. Practitioners seek to see all beings as equal in their wish for happiness and freedom from suffering.
No Sentient Being Left Behind: Bodhisattvas vow not to enter final nirvana (liberation from samsara) until all sentient beings have been liberated. This commitment extends even to the most challenging beings, as no one is excluded from their compassionate intention.
The Actions of a Bodhisattva
Giving: Bodhisattvas practice giving material resources, knowledge, and spiritual insights, as well as the offering of non-attachment. It’s not just about material giving but also includes the generosity of spirit, such as patience, kindness, and non-judgmental behavior.
Ethical Conduct: Bodhisattvas commit to a high standard of ethical conduct. They observe the moral precepts and refrain from actions that harm others, cultivating virtues such as generosity, patience, and honesty.
Patience: Bodhisattvas cultivate tolerance and endurance. It involves the ability to withstand hardships and difficulties without becoming perturbed or reacting negatively. It also encompasses forbearance in the face of harm or insult.
Perseverance: Bodhisattvas display unwavering perseverance on the path, tirelessly working to develop their own spiritual qualities and guide others on the journey to enlightenment.
Meditation and Contemplation: Bodhisattvas engage in meditation and contemplative practices to deepen their understanding and cultivate the qualities necessary for their mission. Meditation on Bodhicitta and the welfare of all beings is central.
Wisdom: Wisdom is a crucial component of the Bodhisattva path. Bodhisattvas seek to develop profound insight into the nature of reality, including the realization of emptiness (shunyata) and the interdependence of all phenomena.
Lamrim Great Scope Meditations
The Great Scope meditations in Lamrim, a Tibetan Buddhist framework, represent the most advanced stage of the three scopes of spiritual development. They guide practitioners towards a profound transformation of their mind and heart, focusing on the welfare of others and aiming towards the ultimate goal of Buddhahood for the sake of all sentient beings.
- Developing Equanimity
- Recognizing that all Living Beings are our Mothers
- Remembering the Kindness of all Living Beings
- Equalizing Self with Others
- The Disadvantages of Self-Cherishing
- The Advantages of Cherishing Others
- Exchanging Self with Others
- Great Compassion
- Taking
- Wishing Love
- Giving
- Bodhichitta
- Tranquil Abiding
- Superior Seeing
In summary, the Tibetan Buddhist teachings on the Bodhisattva Vow emphasize the altruistic commitment to work tirelessly for the welfare and liberation of all sentient beings. It is a profound practice rooted in compassion, love, ethical conduct, wisdom, and a dedication to the Bodhisattva path. The Bodhisattva Vow is regarded as a powerful means to attain enlightenment and lead others on the path to liberation.