I feel that taking the vow is a knowing that the world about, is our inner world reflection. The vow does not stop us from realizing, it reminds us that we have more work to do to transform our hearts to purity. The world and all humanity will follow suit. We are all the buddha unrealized. There is nothing but the one.
@@DhammasukhaOrg LOL! Most likely, what you saw - if you really saw anything - was nothing more than a placebo. Besides, the altruistic vow of Bodhicitta push forward the practitioner, since it's a huge merit from his part.
If one attains NIbbana now then he would be a shining example to all who meet him. Helping everyone to attain happiness here and now and not waiting for a million lifetimes.
Yes, it makes much more sense that you first do your best to get there, and then next help others if they ask you questions. In the past it may have taken a million lifetimes, but now we have the internet, video, library books, youtube, Amazon, Project Gutenberg, etc. In just a few months you can read thousands of years of the very best writings and teachings. This new access to information helps people rapidly put aside any false delusions holding them back, and they can more readily advance in Enlightenment and Understanding. This is a wonderful time to be Alive ! :-)
yes and for a genuine noble aspiration to become a Buddha is so extraordinary that it is surely something to venerate - of course one venerates the arahats too - and without our Buddha we wouldn't have the path of practise - I see both as very Noble paths …...as long as it is the right path - there are wrong things being taught in the Therevada tradition by those who haven't yet attained one of the 4 stages of enlightenment and no doubt too on the 'Bodhisattva path'......and the teachers/way we are attracted to as students has to be because of our kamma ...
@@SeaJay_Oceans unfortunately that's the complete opposite of actual Buddhist teachings, which tell us that we are currently in the midst of Mappō, or the Latter Day of the Law, the last of the Three Ages of Buddhism, when the world is filled with strife and wickedness, the Dharma has completely degenerated, the true doctrine is obscured, even the semblance of correct practice is impossible and people are powerless to attain enlightenment.
@@TomorrowWeLive I'm not sure how you got that, since I can order 1,000 Buddha books and have them PRIME shipped the next day, I can visit my local temple and go on a meditation retreat in any place from nice luxury spas to spartan mountain cabins... Buddha is alive today as he ever was, just as Jesus is Alive Today, right now... Just pick up their books in a language you understand, and read - and their words come alive in your soul. Fairly easy - if the kids can do it , I am certain you can also grow in mindfulness and compassion... Jesus Bless You ! Love is the Way. Buddha Enlighten You ! Truth sets you Free.
The Bodhisattva vow is a vow to attain enlightenment to save all sentient beings. Only a Theravadin would try to tell you that’s a bad thing. The Buddha did this same exact thing. He abandoned the palace, in a time when there was no Buddha, and he accomplished perfect enlightenment to save sentient beings. Now this gentlemen tells you such a thing is not possible. I choose faith in the the Three Jewels and myself. It will be difficult but I will attain enlightenment and, in that very accomplishment, countless beings will be freed. Just like with the Buddha.
@@Nattapong69 Those who do not accomplish bodhicitta do not escape samsara. They are simply deluded by arrogance, assuming they have extinguished craving when all they have done is validate their innermost attachments. Doing Buddhist practice without a proper motivation is not a praiseworthy endeavor. A Theravadin who realizes Bodhicitta and aspires to save all beings is on the Mahayana path. The difference between Mahayana and the sects of heretics is exactly that: bodhicitta. Once bodhicitta is cultivated then the person has attained the Mahayana path. It’s not a matter of Sasana or specific lineages.
Some of the Tibetans got plans to go to the Pure Land as an intermediary realm to do some more training and then decide where and when to rebirth again to help sentient beings.
This is a wrong understanding of the bodhisattva vow. This vow is NOT a vow to remain a bodhisattva, but to attain buddhahood (!) for the sake of all sentient being without remaining in the total immersion of the bliss. So, one practices in order to attain liberation/awakening, and thus goes beyond suffering her/himself, so how could s/he keep suffering for xy kalpas? It's actually like vowing to become a doctor for the sake of working in the hospital. On a subtler level, the bodhisattva vow is a skillful way to turn the spiritual practice AWAY from egoic motivation, because one cannot attain those highest states without dropping the erroneous idea of Self. Unless one achieves the state of being where there is no "me" (and "my") who will get enlightened, that "me" will inevitably remain in Samsara.
I find it really interesting to hear an opinion different to my own - Indeed there is a lot of suffering and pain in the Bodhisattva path, but so too is there immeasurable amounts of suffering and pain in the world and to practicing taking on the pain of others and giving back kindness is what I see as the essence of the path. For me Buddhism has always been about having more perspective - I've heard that even in the space of individual liberation eventually the other Buddhas will come and give you a pat on the shoulder and encourage you to go back and help all other beings, it was said in terms of giving up that nirvana being the worst kind of suffering imaginable. I like how you point out the grandeur and power behind the meaning of the Bodhisattva vows but equally if we have courage and positive energy and nurture these qualities, that is a cause to have them again and again in the future, then you really can become a wealth of good qualities and courageously continue to not just seek your own liberation but also guide others, again and again - There is also pure lands which in times of real degeneration when the teachings really aren't available on this earth we can reside there - Ready to come back to once again work together to get everyone to enlightenment. This to me is grandest vision of what can be achieve and what I personally want to generate causes towards.... As long as space remains, as long as sentient beings remain, until then may I too remain to help dispel the suffering of migratory beings.
Rejoices, i agree with what you've said. That is the true meaning of taking Boddhisattva vow, and you quoted Samanthabhadra Boddhisattva's words from Avantaka sutra.
@@jinhenchu1728 A lot of the Mahayana texts contradicts the Early texts. How do you feel about that? Do you just ignore some texts? Because Theravadas stand by the Pali Canon. The Oldest selections of texts we have.
I 've been practicing Mahayana for a while now and as I understand it the bodhisattva vow means you become enlightened for the sake of all. You do experience Nirvana, you will no longer be subjected to uncontrolled death and rebirth. You will still be reborn in samsara to help others, but you will be enlightened and not subjected to suffering. Within the Mahayana there are methods to attain Enlightenment in a very short period of time ( a couple of years), like the Mahamudra method.
@@davidjohnson8218 @davidjohnson8218 I'm just a humble poet, but I have memories of former lifetimes. Though the good practitioner conceals and remains detached of such things, those in the present life unordained yet wish to, at whiles, share a little, cannot avoid shedding some light on their disposition so as to explain themselves. The twofold aspect of shunyata: *ONE :: The dualistic aspect of reality:* All things have an interdependent existence relative to one-another, like dark allows the existence of bright, and deep allows the existence of what is high; male and female, heavy and light, etc. Similarly: my individuality can only exist in a relative, comparative relationship to the unique qualities of other beings and phenomenon. In the same way, we can only conceptualise a tree by relativizingly comparing it to everything that is not (that/) a tree. *TWO :: The non-dualistic aspect of reality:* In the non-dualistic aspect of reality, also known as emptiness of shunyata, this relative and comparative existential paradigm does not exist. Because there is no day to relate to night, nor black to compare white, no you to form a relative bond with me, there there is no self, nor a no no-self. *CLARITY AND DHARMAKAYA:* The non-dualistic aspect of reality is quality shared by all facets and beings of existence. Because it is a quality shared by all facets and beings of existence, it has a connective quality between all beings and things, including nature her laws of harmony, that which we may call Dharma. When the Buddha spoke that his Dharma was but a fraction of a great forest filled with a countless principles, he in truth spoke of this connective function that non-duality facilitates. He had chosen a selection of principles/laws that will enable humanity to transcend suffering. To live in this state of non-dualistic interfaced connectivity with the principles of life is to live in the Dharmic forest, and this is what it means to enter Clarity. When one naturally adapts one's mind, body, and speech to this realtime communion, one attains a Dharmic form: *dharmakaya.* However, due to the fact that emptiness is form and form no other than emptiness, a little like water is both form and formless at the same time, non-duality interfaces one with the manifested facet of existence in an accurately attuned manner, leading to a gnostic eye. Because existence is not transcended but unified with, one remains engaged in the interdependent nature of reality. The yogis and yoginis skilfully use this interdependent principle, for as they associate together while keeping their mind/body/speech in realtime transcendental attunement with the principles of harmony --of Dharma-- they create co-existent, interdependent energy fields capable of a higher quality of existence. However, because the yogis and yoginis remain a part of an interdependent universe, as long beings remain not capable of self-actualisation their higher dharmic fields cannot attain perfection, and they cannot but remain involved in the evolution of lifeforms. When I was a yogi and/or a monk, these things were understood. These things were encouraged. Temples and monasteries were places where such things could manifest and be actualised. This is now no-longer the case. Such a mode of being transcends culture, tradition, priestly hierarchy, and skilful means. Alas, I have received much persecution from the contemporary Buddhist communities for this path.
It is not a realistic vow? The aspiration, the motivation and intention (kulung, in tibetan) has the immeasurable benefit to the practitioner. Therefore, even the thought of attaining the enlightenment for the benefit of all beings (in Mahayana) or as Tibetans praying for all the sentient being to attain nirvana before oneself. Is purely selfless, it’s a reminder of the kindness of the sentient beings. It is an ultimate epitome of compassion and boddhichitta. Regardless, the fulfillment of such a vow, the energy put by the such intention is incomparable to ‘May I be free of sufferings, May I be enlightened’.
@@DhammasukhaOrg By taking the bodhisattva vow you have already set yourself on the path off the wheel yourself by engendering the enlightened attitude. The bodhisattva vow itself is a vow that liberates the self and others. This is according to my understanding of the mahayana teachings.
@@DhammasukhaOrg Bodhisattvas already achived realization and they are out of Samsara. Quantity and time span has not relevance to them since they are liberated by seeing Shunyatha.
The beings to be saved refers to the 'delusions' in our mind ultimately, the mind contents having 'being' with greed, hatred and ignorance. It is chanted everyday in Northern Buddhism Liturgy.
I don't care what this guy said I will continue fearlessly through death and rebirth to free all beings from suffering. Until all beings are liberated I shall not find Supreme Enlightenment. The interesting thing with Mahayana once you get to the point of no return you are presented with a choice, you either come back to this life and help others attain Buddhahood or just cease to exist and never be reborn again.
The Bodhisattva vow was never meant to be a vow to help all beings- it was a vow to be a future Buddha. They aren't the same because if you take a vow to not attain Nibbana before all beings attain NIbbana you can never be a future Buddha!
it is surely impossible to help all beings - even the Buddha said this and it seems there are massive misconceptions about this - however it has to be a wholesome thing if one is motivated by the intention - in all ones acts - to help others - and there certainly needs - as far as I can see - to be a level of wisdom that one has to have before one can help anyone else - otherwise we are not helping - so one has to help oneself get a certain clarity of mind first ….the old saying 'the road to hell is paved with good intentions' seems to ring true in this case... ...also in wanting to help others who suffer a lot, I am aware that many are not open to help and in the past when I tried to offer help, it was rejected and what to do ...send metta! …… I also don't get that many on the Bodhisattva path say they will become enlightened and then come back to help all beings - how is this possible as not even the Buddha came back - I cant understand how many believe this and take the vows and at the same time their are excellent examples in the Mahayana and Tibetan traditions - the Dalai Lama, the Karmapa, Tenzin Palmo, Chan masters etc etc ….and they are seemingly very certain of what they say - quite confusing ..guess I just have to accept that the mind is confused on this and let go of wanting absolute clarity!
@@theinngu5560 Because those practitiones you mention are Vajrayana practitioners and they lean on the achivement of Buddha Nature, so they can emanate again as a great Masters (Nirmanakaya) in different ages and even different worlds. For example, in tibetan Vajrayana view Lord Buddha emanate as Guru Padmasambhava.
David Johnson you are very desinformed. The Bodhicitta vow has always being based in the altruistic intention of leading beings toward liberation. There are three diffrent types of Bodhisattva, no one of them is to "not attain nibbana".
@@buddhistphilosopher800 Your views are from the Mahayana sect which broke away from the original Buddhists scriptures around 250 bc. Go to the original suttas. The Buddha never asks his followers to become future Buddhas. (In fact I don't believe this last Buddha made a future prediction of anyone becoming a future Buddha that started under his Sangha) He already IS one and Came to lead THEM to enlightenment. The work is done. First LEAD YOURSELF to Nibbana with THIS Buddha's teachings - then if you wish you can teach others.
Enlightenment is not something that can be described by words because when put to words it is always dualistic. It lacks wholeness. When Buddha try to put to words, he devided it into Nirvana and Samsara. However, a person or an act is not entirely Nirvana or Samsara. When understood correctly, we see that time is an illusion, that Nirvana is not some journey you must take to arrive at nor Samsara is a place you go to when you did bad things. A Buddha is one who saw through and detached from the illusions. Reunited with God/Universe/Oneness, seeing there is no you or me, love everyone unconditionally, hence embarked on the journey to help others attain Buddhahood. In my point of view, Bodhisattva's vow is unnecessary because when one attain Buddhahood, Boddhicita becomes natural, it is motivated by love. The existence of of the vows become irrelevant. Likewise, One cannot help others become enlighten without having enlighten. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit. In short, Bodhisattva is just a term that described an enlighten being (Buddha) who is motivated by love to help others attain buddhahood.
I would like to add a little more. If you want to be a Bodhisattva, you can start by saying to yourself that you want to be one. But traditionally, It's better to take incense or joss stick, candle and flowers to a Buddha picture or statue, and then give yourself and Buddha your word there. But the flower stuff is not necessary required. The important thing, as a beginner, is what's on your mind, and what to do as a Bodhisattva. Keeping or remindind your intention inside your mind, and giving the word to yourself is good enough at the very beginning. Then, later in your life, yes , i highly suggest that it is important for you to go to a Buddhist temple to attend Kathin Ceremony and give "Kathin" to Buddhist monks. During the giving, you then make you wish by saying (don't have to be out loud) that you want to be a Buddha. For details, You may want to find out what Kathin is and what it is for on Google or ask a (can be Thai ) buddist monk or an experienced buddhist person you know. Generally speaking, Kathin is like a once-a-year giving ceremony you attend in order to give certain things, very especially yellow ropes, to buddhist monks. No limit of how many yellow ropes you wanna give, depending on your budget. Yellow ropes are important thing that any buddhist monk has to wear. This is a very powerful and meaningful giving because it only takes place once a year. Therefore, since it is a powerful good deed, it can help you accomplish what you wish for in the future. Being A Bodhisattava is not an easy thing to become at all. You must reincarnate countless times in "humand realm". Life up there is too comfortable. As a Boddhisattva You want to come down and help your followers, taking dufficult tests. You do that countIess times. I mean countless times , far far far beyond most people can comprehend. Each time you reincarnate, you have to practice a lot of countless things just to be qualified as a beginner in order to become mentally tougher and have stronger mindset and empower your willing, being more and more proficient of what you have been working on . The more you reincarnate, all kinds of tougher tests you must take. As a beginner, a Boddhisattva thinks inside his or her head gazillion of gazillion times for many long span of reicarnations that he or she wants to be a Buddha some day in the far future. After countless reincarnations, he or she has to continue to do a lot of countless things as a Boddhisattava. After gazillion countless reincarnations, a Boddhisattva then take a vow out loud that he or she wants ro be a Buddha in the future. And then, he or she has to continue doing things, and reincarnates countless more times along with declaring the same thing, and taking a lot of actions again again so on and so forth. ....... If you don't give up and continue to do extreme hard work, at one point in time in the far future, after countless rebirths, you will get to meet one Buddha in order to receive his prediction that you will become a Budda for sure in the far future as long as you don't give up. I can explain a little bit of how long it takes for a Boddhisattva to become a Buddha but it could discourage you. But let me explain it anyway. If I remember correctly, scientists said that age of the universe since the Bigbang is about 15 billions years old or something like that. That is very tiny amount of time comparing to the amount of time for a Boddhisattva takes to become a Buddha. If that is true, it means that there must have been countless Bigbangs in the past. To my understanding(I could be wrong on this), the Universe must have evolved in cycle consisting of 4 different stages over and over again, countless times. It starts from an explosion, expansion until it cannot expand any more. Then it remains still for the same amount of time as it was expanding. Then it collaps into itself to become one, and remains still like that for the same amount of time as it was expanding until the next Bigbang takes place. So, my point is to have you just try to imaging how many times you have to reincarnate to become a Buddha (or even anyone like me and many more like me who does not want to be a Buddha has to go through the never-ending reincarnation or cycle thing like that without knowing how to stop it.) I cannot imagine what each buddha had to go through to show us the right path to end rebirth and attain enlightment or true and eternal happiness. Sometimes a Boddhisattva makes a mistake or do something bad, when he died, he could go to hell to be punished or go to any realm bellow the human realm to pay the price. But that is part of learning process that each of all Boddhisattvas have to go through. One if the greatest or the most significant examples of a Bodhisattva during our time is no one but His Majesty the King Rama 9 of Thailand. He is the type of Bodhisattva that reincarnates for the longest time, 16 Asongkai (10140 ) of Maha Galp plus one hundred thousand of Maha Galpa. Only small Galpa is very long time already but we are talking about Maha (much greater or longer). You may want to learn how he lived his life as a great Bodhisattava. A buddhist monk said some decades ago that His Majesty only has to reincarnate 5 more times to be come a Buddha. You may want learn from him as an example of how hard he worked and lived for his people ,and other people who are not even Thai (or even other kind of beings if you can.) There are countless Bodhisattvas out there dead or alive. There are many many greats ones (who already received prediction) living "up there" waiting in line to become a buddha in the future. Some of the living ones don't even know that they are Bodhisattvas. One of many qualifications a Bodhisattva has to have is being a leader. His Majesty the king is the best of our time as a leader in my opinion. He is well respected by a lot of people around the world, and by a lot of the "unseen". So, if you want to be a Bodhisattva, I gave you something to think about that as a base, not to scare you off though. Thinking of becoming one takes that long . Doing it or being one or taking actions about it to be one is another whole ball game, which is a lot to learn and "do" . It's going to be long long long long...........road for you if you decide to be a Buddha some day.
I took the Bodhisattva vow about 15 years ago. I know it's going to take an unimaginable amount of time to get to that point. But in the end it will be worth it to help liberate other beings.
Nice talk! I would be interested on how to undo the bodhisattva vow when it was made in a former life. Is a talk on that around somewhere? I googled but haven't found anything yet.
Dear Outsoba, Bhante V suggest to remove the Vow to find a Buddha statue. In a respectful way say the following, "I renounce any Bodhisatta vow that I may have taken" Do it 3 times and mean it and that should do it.
@@DhammasukhaOrg That is not "removing the vow" but breaking it, because you abandon beings after committing to liberate them. If you ever took the vow, it is a hard negative karma.
@@buddhistphilosopher800 karma is based on intention... if your intention is to help all beings by becoming a saint in this lifetime... it is very good karma and making a vow that one should one day truly understand the buddhas teaching is very wholesome...
@@lllllBlader The worst karma is generated by this sectarian bhikkhu, who leads others to break their Bodhicitta vows or close themselves off from ever taking them.
@@buddhistphilosopher800 and this is stated where in the suttas? see mn 135, the buddha talks about what kinds of action creates good fruit, and what creates bad fruit. it really doesnt say anything about bodhicitta or anything like that. kamma is just intention. if your intention is wholesome there is nothing to worry about :)
A bodhisattva vow should not deter the achievement of nirvana, or enlightenment, because truly, enlightenment doesn't exist. The enlightenment goal is still part of dualistic thinking. As Buddha says, there is no enlightenment or a Buddha.
So which is it. Enlightenment or no enlightenment? The Buddha defined it as getting rid of the craving forces in mind. A mind is that is purified of the 5 hindrances.
@@davidjohnson8218 The final step is going beyond the "goal". Ever heard that phrase "If you see the Buddha on the road, run him over" ? Buddha himself said that enlightenment or the Buddha doesn't really exist (in the final analysis). But because of our dualistic nature, we have to set goals that sound dualistic. Out language is dualistic and duality is the hardest thing to get through. Intrinsic awareness is the base of self realization (Google Padmasambhava Self Realization through Intrinsic Awareness). Duality doesn't exist in the ground of being, nor does the word Enlightenment. Sorry for the long reply, I'm no teacher.
@@davidjohnson8218 PS I am a practicing Buddhist, and maybe just a little cranky in my old age. In fact I am starting to get into the dying process practices. Lama Lena has some very well done UA-cam videos on Death and Dying (just passing it on) Good communicating with you.
This spring I had what you would call a "spiritual awakening", kundalini awakening or just an extreme increasing of prana (I guess, because this awakening happened quite sudden and is still ongoing). I am 31 years of age. Anyway about 2 months ago I was hearing like children chanting in my head "Boddhisatva, boddhisatva" maybe 20-30 times. I had to look up the words meaning afterwards. What does this mean? Was this a reminder of "my mission" or was it like an invitation to be one/take the vow. What do you think? Thanks in advance.
Kundalini was actually not taught by the Buddha and his a Yogic experience. So that's the first thing. 2nd thing is if you were a Bodhisattva you would not attain enlightenment until your last lifetime and you attain Arahantship and full Buddhahood. You get it all in one lifetime AND you cannot have 2 Buddhas at the same time. They don't arise together. As far as the chant in your head - it may just be excitement and projecting a certain state for yourself. Bhante V explains that a true Bodhisattva will have a dream during their lifetime that they are a Bodhisattva and the Buddha image enters into their body based on how many lifetimes they have left. At the Stomach - 1/2 way there. At the Head almost there. Enlightenment defined by the Buddha is seeing and understanding Dependent Origination and understanding the four noble truths. It is the attaining of the Nibbana experience - it isn't Kundalini which is a conditioned state - not unconditioned. True enlightenment changes your personality and you give up the fetters including hatred and sensual desire restlessness and more.
@@davidjohnson8218 Not necessarily. The Bodhisattva who teaches his Awakening for the benefit of others is only of one type. There is also the Awakening Bodhisattva along with everyone else, and the Awakening Bodhisattva first to guide others.
The namarupa of time concept is a delusion. Without the realization of emptiness of time space concept, it is not easy for a Bodhisattva aspirant to go through time and space to accumualate Paramita and have superior teaching capability (which is also ultimately empty).
Its not in a Sutta as the Buddha did not talk about a Bodhisattva vow for the public- only what he did to become a Buddha. He didn't promote it as already has done it and given you the teachings. No need for you to become a Buddha. These general vows came later with the Mahayana sect.
I wonder, since you need the certainty of a fully enlightened being if wether you can go through the ordeal of the bodhisattva path, did the historical Buda ever mentioned if he received assurance from a enlighten being before starting hes bodhisattva journey.
Very good! So its simple. Just go to a Buddha Statue- In a temple or otherwise and say with sincerity "I renounce this Bodhisattva vow" Three times. You might feel a relief or not. But that is all. Just renounce meaning it. This is how Bhante teaches to renounce it.
Thank you for posting the talks and getting people to learn about Buddhism! I have to admit that my understanding of Buddhism is founded in Mahayana teachings, so perhaps it is just a question of paradigm that I can not really follow your explanations. The way I understand the concept of No-Self (anatma / anatta), there is no ego which constitutes as an eternally separate entity. But to attain nirvana/nibbana before other sentient beings do, would mean that my present self would from that point in time onward be eternally separated from other sentient beings ... thus constituting a permanent Self. Therefore I fail to understand how striving to attain nirvana/nibanna in this lifetime can be in accordance with the teaching of anatma/anatta. On the other hand: no Mayahana teaching denies that Buddha has reached nirvana/nibbana ... so even in the tradition that has shaped my view of Buddhism, there is a point I just don't get. Would be really grateful to learn about your views on this!
+sugoichabaka I posted the talk so let me try here. Your understanding of no-self is a bit different here. Where to start here....None of us have any sort of eternal self that wanders samsara and is born life to life. There is only an impersonal process of aggregates arising with craving driving them on and on. The Buddha attained Nibbana and saw this totally and taught the path to see the same to us. When he dies, because he is free of craving he will not be reborn. He will not live on to teach. He is done. He came and he taught and freed many beings. He was a bodhisatta and went through all of these lifetimes out of compassion SO WE DON'T HAVE TO. Out of compassion he gave us the path to getting off the wheel. He would never want us to NOT meditate and not follow his path in the hope of trying to save all beings. He came to help us save our selves. OK- You can never attain Nibbana before all others anyway - The Buddha couldn't. He helped about 60mill people is estimated. Once you are a Buddha you do not live on - you die and enter Nibbana. Meaning all of your aggregates are dissolved away like grains of sand on the beach being hit by a wave. Gone the best thing to do for your fellow beings is attain Nibbana now and help everyone you know to get there too. 1.Your mind be happy and free from mental suffering. 2. You will help all others to be happy around you. This is the real Bodhisatta vow. Take advantage of what the Buddha taught as wanted you to and then help others and teach them.
+sugoichabaka The teaching of anatta is not that there is no self but that the school of Brahmanism that said the self is Brahma is false and also that the body, sensual desires, etc. are not the self. In short the anatta doctrine is: (1) We are not all Brahma. (2) The body and things arising from the body are not the self. Buddha clearly believed in a soul and neither reincarnation nor Nirvana make sense without it. Furthermore, Buddha said he was going to Nirvana immediately upon death, so the Mahayana idea is absurd.
+David Brainerd The Buddha most definitely did NOT believe in a soul. What you are saying is the complete antithesis of the Buddhadhamma. I recommend reading the Pali Canon to get a better understanding of what the Buddha taught. Alternatively you can watch videos by Bhikku Bodhi, Ajahn Brahm, Ajahn Thanisarro, Ayya Khema, Bhante G, Bhante Punnaji to become more informed.
There is no permanent self, everything is causally produced, impermanent, and suffering. There is a stream of consciousness that proceeds, potentially endlessly, from life to life, through endless aeons. It persists so long as ignorance persists, but once that stream of consciousness comes into contact with the Buddhas teachings and follows the eightfold path, cessation of that particular stream of consciousness becomes possible. Understand, that even in this present life, you are constantly changing. The 'you' of now is different to the 'you' when you were 15 yrs old, which is different to the 'you' when you were 5 yrs old. It's incorrect to say that you are a completely different person, as there is a causal path linking the different 'you's together, but it is also incorrect to say that you are the same person. You are physically different, and you have vastly different views and perceptions of the world. In the same way, your next life is being conditioned by this current one, and when 'you' die and are subsequently reborn, you will be causally linked to this current life. It is incorrect to say that you are the same person, but it is also incorrect to say that you are completely removed and disconnected from this life. This stream of consciousness is what people erroneously refer to as the 'self' but it is impermanent, and ceases once the requisite causal conditions are removed.
What is the ultimate except working to eliminate the sufferings of all beings? Selflessness grounded in compassion is the ultimate refuge. Seeking nirvana for yourself only? This is selfishness
The Ship is sinking: The Buddha is who notice that have lifeboats and told everybody "Let's get out of here" The Arahant is who first go to the lifeboat and then help the others how to attain the lifeboat. The Bodhisattva is who is not on the lifeboat, the ship still sinking, but wanna help people to attain the lifeboat. The PratyekaBuddha is who found the lifeboat and told nobody. Now, WHO YOU WANNA BE IS THIS HISTORY?
A bodhisattva is one who learns to swim and constantly jumps into the ocean of samsara saving drowning beings and brings them to the lifeboat and perhaps teaches them to swim as well. A Buddha too obviously can swim and knows all beings can too but in his infinite compassion throws out buoys for beings that are daunted by the task so that they can float.
hang on a minute .... have i misread the sutras? i thought the aspirant say to achieve enlightenment quickly, preferably in one lifetime, so as to help all sentient beings achieve enlightenment, and that, NOT to go into Nirvana until all Sentient Beings become Enlightened? your comments seems to differ from this.
Sadhu 🙏🙏🙏 Wonderful explanation about what the real Bodhisattva vow is, to become a next Buddha, born from unsurpassed Karuna. When Arahant in this very life and once developped the higher mind concentration faculty there is the possibility to wait all the needed Mahakalpas in the right place (where the same Buddha was before his last rebirth), without getting lost in samsaras, that might bring back instead of forward. 🙏
Bhante V has been a Buddhist monk since 1986 touring thailand and spending years in monasteries in Burma. Many 3 mos retreats, 8 mos retreat and a 2 year retreat in Burma. Read and studied nearly all the suttas and commentaries.
@@DhammasukhaOrg What he is teaching is his invention, it is not in the Tripitaka. Also he parts from misconceptions for unknowing the Bodhisattva path and training in the Mahayana.
I have practice and still do with Theravada, Tibetan Mahayana and Vajrayana and Dzogchen teachers. I am interested in awakenig (Buddha means awaken) in my experience I don't pay much attention toa Theravada teacher talking about Bodhisatva path, I just go to someone who has studied and practiced and listen to them practce it myself and see how it works. The same goes for Tibetan teachers talking about arahats they're not practicing those teachings so I just listen respectfully but I ask about them to a Theravada teacher who actually practice them. In other words do not take too seriously any of Bhante's opinions on Mahayana follow the Buddha's wise advise and see for yourself. The suttas are a teachings to become an arahat compiled by arahats, they are not teachings for bodhisatvas. Bhante is relaying in some sectarian much later commentaries the kind you can find in all Buddhist schools. Do your work and don't get distracted by all this thousand years old noise. Whatever aspiration you take that is what you will become, mine is to fully awake as soon as possible and remain to help others to awaken to our true nature too. Just make yours and practice with any tradition without fear cause you have your compass set.
Not so. Mahayana teachings are the thousand year later teachings that are not from the Buddha at all. Check your history - Theravada is the original school - the suttas go back 2600 years to the Buddha's words himself. They are engraved in stone in Burma. They are memorized by monk ever since the first council. Mahayana came as a result of a argument about what the Buddha taught. Some monks disagreed with what he said and created a schism and went away from his teachings. They lost the actual meditation teachings and came up with alternate teachings like the lotus sutra and Diamond sutra etc. These were written, not by the Buddha, but by monks 1000 years later. The Bodhisattva idea was never promoted by the Buddha for others as he DID IT. Here was a Buddha and you should listen to him as he went through all this suffering so you could get the teachings. Listen to the teachings and progress toward Arahatship in this lifetime. It is very possible as Bhante's students prove. Just talk to them. Look up Delson Armstrong on youtube and see what he says about attainment. You can attain Nibbana NOW!
@@hammockman5589 No of course not. There was no writing at that time. It was written down later in sri lanka by monks who had memorized the texts and passed them down. You can go visit them today - there are many untranslated still on papyrus still there.
No thanks, I lost the previous reincarnation drowned in banal and worldly attachments, and in this reincarnation the person who was supposed to help guide me on my sacred path, almost destroyed me because of his obsession with a woman, at the point of suffering I could have and sustain my sacred path, and the next reincarnation I have to return to the same challenge of not losing myself in egos and illusions and then face the pride of who is supposed to guide me, no thanks, pass, I almost lost two reincarnations uselessly,
Ha ha ha that is funny. People going around and around in circles and never attain Nirvana. That my friends is a delusion. We never go in circles of suffering and we never attain any Nirvana. Nirvana is unattainable or should I say that there is nothing to attain actually. The only thing is different between samsara and nirvana is that you don't know that you already enlightened before you attain it. The first law of thermodynamics states that energy neither created no destroyed it actually transforms from one from into the other. Total conservations of energy. Thus we can conclude that we never been created no be destroyed. We basically constantly changing from one form to the other. This applies to consciousness. The consciousness will never cease to exist, it is universal. Yes the consciousness governed by karma but karma is just an energy which determines which state the consciousness is at. You see if there is no karma there is no consciousness, everything is interdependent. To be enlightened is to understand that samsara and nirvana are not separate they interdependent. One does not exist without the other.
I think you might missed some points here. What powers consciousness and the rest of the sense bases. Why is it even running? It is Tanha or craving. The desires to go forward and experience more pleasure and avoid pain.Its true "nobody" attains nibbana as there wasn't anyone there to start with. But because of craving we do think we exist. You say energy can't be destroyed. Well, what happens when you throw water on a fire. It goes out. It doesn't come back. In the same way when craving is extinguished the aggregates remain but they are no only elements. The craving force or what you thought of as you is gone. The purpose of the practice is to eliminate suffering from the mind which is caused by craving. When you go through the meditation it actually does happen that anger and sensual desire is eliminated from the mind - just come on retreat and we will show you. You become a much happier person. No more depression or Bad days. Everything is ok. There is only mindfulness and lovingkindness. It really does happen.
@@davidjohnson8218 I'm not sure about desire and craving as the causes of suffering but we go beyond all that. Bodhidharma said if you use your mind to study reality you won't undestand the mind nor the reality. If you don't use the mind to study reality you'll understand both. No mind no problem no mind no suffering no mind no delusion. If you have no mind who is there to liberate who is suffering who is craving. It is that simple. You don't need practice mindfulness there is nothing to attain.
@@TreeGreenOak Wow that's great to know. I guess everyone is happy with no suffering. This is all Mahayana view which wasn't the actual Buddha's view. In fact, it sounds more like someone using hallucinatory substances. :-) Its like say don't worry about getting rich- you already are! No worries.
@@davidjohnson8218 Dear David that is not the point I make I didn' say that we should ignore suffering. Suffering and libirations aren't separable. I don't know what the teach in Hinayana but suffering is part of our life even the Buddha was suffering. You actually can never stop suffering because while you have body and mind you will suffer. But suffering must be embraced and once that happens you will see that Nirvana isn't separable from suffering. Without suffering there is no lebiration. That is true Bodhisattva way. I know this because I suffered a lot and I know without it I wouldn't understand this. So the suffering for me is transformed. I don't see suffering as something we need to worry about its part of our existance but the view has changed. It is all how you see it. Sorry for so many words I'm not interested in phylosopy and long discussions. Thank you.
Let’s create a new order of Bodhisattvas; one that transcends gender; one that addresses cultural tolerance of suffering and poverty; one that embraces the wisdom of the Gaian Mind; one that treasures Shamanic traditions; one that integrates plant medicines; one that acknowledges many living Bodhisattvas and integrates them into a network; one that synergizes Vajrayana and Pachamama! ✡️🕉☯️😇
It’s simple If you look at the energy of a theravadin you will see that it’s dull, almost lifeless and gray If you look at the energy of a Mahāyāna practitioner then you will see there is a certain glow about them- that they are joyful Why? Because the latter is engaged with the world and themselves in a positive sense and the former is hiding from the world and engaged with themselves in a pessimistic way Sad but true Theravada is ultimately outdated
That is not true at all. A true Buddhist first helps himself and he grows and develops metta for himself. Then he starts to have love for all beings. You don't need a vow to help others. Do you not think that someone who has attained nibbana in this lifetime would do nothing but help other people to achieve happiness? A mahayana person could never lead anyone to nibbana since they refuse to follow the path in lieu of "helping others." The Buddha was a bodhisattva and his vow was to become enlightened and THEN help others - which he did.
David Johnson a Mahāyāna pracfitioner does just that And they see both helping oneself and helping others as of equaL importance A vow is a reminder Your channel shows you are info crypto currency Focus on that instead of trying to argue about dharma lol
Many years ago I met a monk at work. While he had the outfit he certainly didn't feel like a monk. Sadly he seemed like he was so focused he became an island on to himself.
I feel that taking the vow is a knowing that the world about, is our inner world reflection. The vow does not stop us from realizing, it reminds us that we have more work to do to transform our hearts to purity. The world and all humanity will follow suit. We are all the buddha unrealized. There is nothing but the one.
I took the vow at 15. It changed my life
We have seen people hit a wall in their meditation. Once they gave up the vow the next day they attained. Its very powerful.
@@DhammasukhaOrg LOL! Most likely, what you saw - if you really saw anything - was nothing more than a placebo. Besides, the altruistic vow of Bodhicitta push forward the practitioner, since it's a huge merit from his part.
@@DhammasukhaOrg How does one give up the vow? I think I took this vow in some meditation retreat a long time ago.
@@manurobot1654 To let go of the vow find a Buddha Statue and say "I renounce the Bodhisattva Vow" three times and do it sincerely. That's all.
Sending gratitude from a Daoist monastery near Seattle (USA)!
☯️🙏💙
Metta back to you from DSMC! Bhante went to a Vietnamese Temple and did some talks there.
This is a surprising misunderstanding and miscommunication by someone in robes. Blessings to you!
If one attains NIbbana now then he would be a shining example to all who meet him. Helping everyone to attain happiness here and now and not waiting for a million lifetimes.
Yes, it makes much more sense that you first do your best to get there, and then next help others if they ask you questions. In the past it may have taken a million lifetimes, but now we have the internet, video, library books, youtube, Amazon, Project Gutenberg, etc.
In just a few months you can read thousands of years of the very best writings and teachings.
This new access to information helps people rapidly put aside any false delusions holding them back, and they can more readily advance in Enlightenment and Understanding.
This is a wonderful time to be Alive !
:-)
yes and for a genuine noble aspiration to become a Buddha is so extraordinary that it is surely something to venerate - of course one venerates the arahats too - and without our Buddha we wouldn't have the path of practise - I see both as very Noble paths …...as long as it is the right path - there are wrong things being taught in the Therevada tradition by those who haven't yet attained one of the 4 stages of enlightenment and no doubt too on the 'Bodhisattva path'......and the teachers/way we are attracted to as students has to be because of our kamma ...
@@SeaJay_Oceans unfortunately that's the complete opposite of actual Buddhist teachings, which tell us that we are currently in the midst of Mappō, or the Latter Day of the Law, the last of the Three Ages of Buddhism,
when the world is filled with strife and wickedness, the Dharma has completely degenerated, the true doctrine is obscured, even the semblance of correct practice is impossible and people are powerless to attain enlightenment.
@@TomorrowWeLive I'm not sure how you got that, since I can order 1,000 Buddha books and have them PRIME shipped the next day, I can visit my local temple and go on a meditation retreat in any place from nice luxury spas to spartan mountain cabins... Buddha is alive today as he ever was, just as Jesus is Alive Today, right now...
Just pick up their books in a language you understand, and read - and their words come alive in your soul.
Fairly easy - if the kids can do it , I am certain you can also grow in mindfulness and compassion...
Jesus Bless You ! Love is the Way.
Buddha Enlighten You ! Truth sets you Free.
The Bodhisattva vow is a vow to attain enlightenment to save all sentient beings.
Only a Theravadin would try to tell you that’s a bad thing.
The Buddha did this same exact thing. He abandoned the palace, in a time when there was no Buddha, and he accomplished perfect enlightenment to save sentient beings. Now this gentlemen tells you such a thing is not possible.
I choose faith in the the Three Jewels and myself. It will be difficult but I will attain enlightenment and, in that very accomplishment, countless beings will be freed. Just like with the Buddha.
You're a Bodhisattva. Shouldn't you be happy people are renouncing the vow, and escaping from Samsara?
@@Nattapong69
Those who do not accomplish bodhicitta do not escape samsara. They are simply deluded by arrogance, assuming they have extinguished craving when all they have done is validate their innermost attachments.
Doing Buddhist practice without a proper motivation is not a praiseworthy endeavor. A Theravadin who realizes Bodhicitta and aspires to save all beings is on the Mahayana path. The difference between Mahayana and the sects of heretics is exactly that: bodhicitta. Once bodhicitta is cultivated then the person has attained the Mahayana path. It’s not a matter of Sasana or specific lineages.
@@TheSeeker585 You're just repeating things you've read in books lol.
@@TheSeeker585one of the root downfalls of the bodhisattva vow is belittling the Hinayana.
Well played 😂😂😂😂
Some of the Tibetans got plans to go to the Pure Land as an intermediary realm to do some more training and then decide where and when to rebirth again to help sentient beings.
That speaks to how much deeper their understanding of reality really is
@@apaulosmith5653 That's Tantrayana and they do it through Phowa. Their *understanding* is different from theravadines.
This is a wrong understanding of the bodhisattva vow. This vow is NOT a vow to remain a bodhisattva, but to attain buddhahood (!) for the sake of all sentient being without remaining in the total immersion of the bliss. So, one practices in order to attain liberation/awakening, and thus goes beyond suffering her/himself, so how could s/he keep suffering for xy kalpas? It's actually like vowing to become a doctor for the sake of working in the hospital.
On a subtler level, the bodhisattva vow is a skillful way to turn the spiritual practice AWAY from egoic motivation, because one cannot attain those highest states without dropping the erroneous idea of Self. Unless one achieves the state of being where there is no "me" (and "my") who will get enlightened, that "me" will inevitably remain in Samsara.
The Buddha has succeeded.
I find it really interesting to hear an opinion different to my own - Indeed there is a lot of suffering and pain in the Bodhisattva path, but so too is there immeasurable amounts of suffering and pain in the world and to practicing taking on the pain of others and giving back kindness is what I see as the essence of the path. For me Buddhism has always been about having more perspective - I've heard that even in the space of individual liberation eventually the other Buddhas will come and give you a pat on the shoulder and encourage you to go back and help all other beings, it was said in terms of giving up that nirvana being the worst kind of suffering imaginable. I like how you point out the grandeur and power behind the meaning of the Bodhisattva vows but equally if we have courage and positive energy and nurture these qualities, that is a cause to have them again and again in the future, then you really can become a wealth of good qualities and courageously continue to not just seek your own liberation but also guide others, again and again - There is also pure lands which in times of real degeneration when the teachings really aren't available on this earth we can reside there - Ready to come back to once again work together to get everyone to enlightenment. This to me is grandest vision of what can be achieve and what I personally want to generate causes towards.... As long as space remains, as long as sentient beings remain, until then may I too remain to help dispel the suffering of migratory beings.
Rejoices, i agree with what you've said. That is the true meaning of taking Boddhisattva vow, and you quoted Samanthabhadra Boddhisattva's words from Avantaka sutra.
@@jinhenchu1728 A lot of the Mahayana texts contradicts the Early texts. How do you feel about that? Do you just ignore some texts? Because Theravadas stand by the Pali Canon. The Oldest selections of texts we have.
I 've been practicing Mahayana for a while now and as I understand it the bodhisattva vow means you become enlightened for the sake of all. You do experience Nirvana, you will no longer be subjected to uncontrolled death and rebirth. You will still be reborn in samsara to help others, but you will be enlightened and not subjected to suffering. Within the Mahayana there are methods to attain Enlightenment in a very short period of time ( a couple of years), like the Mahamudra method.
Interesting. That's definitely an understanding I have not heard. What about the vow to not attain Nibbana until all others do. Is that still there?
@@davidjohnson8218 @davidjohnson8218 I'm just a humble poet, but I have memories of former lifetimes. Though the good practitioner conceals and remains detached of such things, those in the present life unordained yet wish to, at whiles, share a little, cannot avoid shedding some light on their disposition so as to explain themselves.
The twofold aspect of shunyata:
*ONE :: The dualistic aspect of reality:* All things have an interdependent existence relative to one-another, like dark allows the existence of bright, and deep allows the existence of what is high; male and female, heavy and light, etc.
Similarly: my individuality can only exist in a relative, comparative relationship to the unique qualities of other beings and phenomenon.
In the same way, we can only conceptualise a tree by relativizingly comparing it to everything that is not (that/) a tree.
*TWO :: The non-dualistic aspect of reality:* In the non-dualistic aspect of reality, also known as emptiness of shunyata, this relative and comparative existential paradigm does not exist. Because there is no day to relate to night, nor black to compare white, no you to form a relative bond with me, there there is no self, nor a no no-self.
*CLARITY AND DHARMAKAYA:* The non-dualistic aspect of reality is quality shared by all facets and beings of existence.
Because it is a quality shared by all facets and beings of existence, it has a connective quality between all beings and things, including nature her laws of harmony, that which we may call Dharma.
When the Buddha spoke that his Dharma was but a fraction of a great forest filled with a countless principles, he in truth spoke of this connective function that non-duality facilitates. He had chosen a selection of principles/laws that will enable humanity to transcend suffering.
To live in this state of non-dualistic interfaced connectivity with the principles of life is to live in the Dharmic forest, and this is what it means to enter Clarity.
When one naturally adapts one's mind, body, and speech to this realtime communion, one attains a Dharmic form: *dharmakaya.*
However, due to the fact that emptiness is form and form no other than emptiness, a little like water is both form and formless at the same time, non-duality interfaces one with the manifested facet of existence in an accurately attuned manner, leading to a gnostic eye. Because existence is not transcended but unified with, one remains engaged in the interdependent nature of reality.
The yogis and yoginis skilfully use this interdependent principle, for as they associate together while keeping their mind/body/speech in realtime transcendental attunement with the principles of harmony --of Dharma-- they create co-existent, interdependent energy fields capable of a higher quality of existence. However, because the yogis and yoginis remain a part of an interdependent universe, as long beings remain not capable of self-actualisation their higher dharmic fields cannot attain perfection, and they cannot but remain involved in the evolution of lifeforms.
When I was a yogi and/or a monk, these things were understood. These things were encouraged. Temples and monasteries were places where such things could manifest and be actualised. This is now no-longer the case. Such a mode of being transcends culture, tradition, priestly hierarchy, and skilful means. Alas, I have received much persecution from the contemporary Buddhist communities for this path.
It is not a realistic vow? The aspiration, the motivation and intention (kulung, in tibetan) has the immeasurable benefit to the practitioner. Therefore, even the thought of attaining the enlightenment for the benefit of all beings (in Mahayana) or as Tibetans praying for all the sentient being to attain nirvana before oneself. Is purely selfless, it’s a reminder of the kindness of the sentient beings. It is an ultimate epitome of compassion and boddhichitta. Regardless, the fulfillment of such a vow, the energy put by the such intention is incomparable to ‘May I be free of sufferings, May I be enlightened’.
If you put everyone ahead of you then this is not lovingkindness for yourself. You deserve to get off the wheel too.
@@DhammasukhaOrg Theres no contradiction in that issue
@@DhammasukhaOrg By taking the bodhisattva vow you have already set yourself on the path off the wheel yourself by engendering the enlightened attitude. The bodhisattva vow itself is a vow that liberates the self and others. This is according to my understanding of the mahayana teachings.
@@DhammasukhaOrg Bodhisattvas already achived realization and they are out of Samsara. Quantity and time span has not relevance to them since they are liberated by seeing Shunyatha.
The beings to be saved refers to the 'delusions' in our mind ultimately, the mind contents having 'being' with greed, hatred and ignorance. It is chanted everyday in Northern Buddhism Liturgy.
Can you share this Northern Buddhist Liturgy with us?
I don't care what this guy said I will continue fearlessly through death and rebirth to free all beings from suffering. Until all beings are liberated I shall not find Supreme Enlightenment. The interesting thing with Mahayana once you get to the point of no return you are presented with a choice, you either come back to this life and help others attain Buddhahood or just cease to exist and never be reborn again.
It seems there is a ton of Buhha competition. Overly competitive space. I'd rather get off now :-)!
The Bodhisattva vow was never meant to be a vow to help all beings- it was a vow to be a future Buddha. They aren't the same because if you take a vow to not attain Nibbana before all beings attain NIbbana you can never be a future Buddha!
it is surely impossible to help all beings - even the Buddha said this and it seems there are massive misconceptions about this - however it has to be a wholesome thing if one is motivated by the intention - in all ones acts - to help others - and there certainly needs - as far as I can see - to be a level of wisdom that one has to have before one can help anyone else - otherwise we are not helping - so one has to help oneself get a certain clarity of mind first ….the old saying 'the road to hell is paved with good intentions' seems to ring true in this case...
...also in wanting to help others who suffer a lot, I am aware that many are not open to help and in the past when I tried to offer help, it was rejected and what to do ...send metta! ……
I also don't get that many on the Bodhisattva path say they will become enlightened and then come back to help all beings - how is this possible as not even the Buddha came back - I cant understand how many believe this and take the vows and at the same time their are excellent examples in the Mahayana and Tibetan traditions - the Dalai Lama, the Karmapa, Tenzin Palmo, Chan masters etc etc ….and they are seemingly very certain of what they say - quite confusing ..guess I just have to accept that the mind is confused on this and let go of wanting absolute clarity!
@@theinngu5560 Buddha didn't come back because he was already the Buddha!
I hope he got some rest, at last...
@@theinngu5560 Because those practitiones you mention are Vajrayana practitioners and they lean on the achivement of Buddha Nature, so they can emanate again as a great Masters (Nirmanakaya) in different ages and even different worlds. For example, in tibetan Vajrayana view Lord Buddha emanate as Guru Padmasambhava.
David Johnson you are very desinformed. The Bodhicitta vow has always being based in the altruistic intention of leading beings toward liberation. There are three diffrent types of Bodhisattva, no one of them is to "not attain nibbana".
@@buddhistphilosopher800 Your views are from the Mahayana sect which broke away from the original Buddhists scriptures around 250 bc. Go to the original suttas. The Buddha never asks his followers to become future Buddhas. (In fact I don't believe this last Buddha made a future prediction of anyone becoming a future Buddha that started under his Sangha) He already IS one and Came to lead THEM to enlightenment. The work is done. First LEAD YOURSELF to Nibbana with THIS Buddha's teachings - then if you wish you can teach others.
Enlightenment is not something that can be described by words because when put to words it is always dualistic. It lacks wholeness. When Buddha try to put to words, he devided it into Nirvana and Samsara. However, a person or an act is not entirely Nirvana or Samsara. When understood correctly, we see that time is an illusion, that Nirvana is not some journey you must take to arrive at nor Samsara is a place you go to when you did bad things. A Buddha is one who saw through and detached from the illusions. Reunited with God/Universe/Oneness, seeing there is no you or me, love everyone unconditionally, hence embarked on the journey to help others attain Buddhahood. In my point of view, Bodhisattva's vow is unnecessary because when one attain Buddhahood, Boddhicita becomes natural, it is motivated by love. The existence of of the vows become irrelevant.
Likewise, One cannot help others become enlighten without having enlighten. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.
In short,
Bodhisattva is just a term that described an enlighten being (Buddha) who is motivated by love to help others attain buddhahood.
The lotus Sutra is basically the same as having a future Buddha give you the ok for your vows.
I would like to add a little more. If you want to be a Bodhisattva, you can start by saying to yourself that you want to be one. But traditionally, It's better to take incense or joss stick, candle and flowers to a Buddha picture or statue, and then give yourself and Buddha your word there. But the flower stuff is not necessary required. The important thing, as a beginner, is what's on your mind, and what to do as a Bodhisattva. Keeping or remindind your intention inside your mind, and giving the word to yourself is good enough at the very beginning.
Then, later in your life, yes , i highly suggest that it is important for you to go to a Buddhist temple to attend Kathin Ceremony and give "Kathin" to Buddhist monks. During the giving, you then make you wish by saying (don't have to be out loud) that you want to be a Buddha. For details, You may want to find out what Kathin is and what it is for on Google or ask a (can be Thai ) buddist monk or an experienced buddhist person you know.
Generally speaking, Kathin is like a once-a-year giving ceremony you attend in order to give certain things, very especially yellow ropes, to buddhist monks. No limit of how many yellow ropes you wanna give, depending on your budget. Yellow ropes are important thing that any buddhist monk has to wear. This is a very powerful and meaningful giving because it only takes place once a year. Therefore, since it is a powerful good deed, it can help you accomplish what you wish for in the future.
Being A Bodhisattava is not an easy thing to become at all. You must reincarnate countless times in "humand realm". Life up there is too comfortable. As a Boddhisattva You want to come down and help your followers, taking dufficult tests. You do that countIess times. I mean countless times , far far far beyond most people can comprehend. Each time you reincarnate, you have to practice a lot of countless things just to be qualified as a beginner in order to become mentally tougher and have stronger mindset and empower your willing, being more and more proficient of what you have been working on . The more you reincarnate, all kinds of tougher tests you must take.
As a beginner, a Boddhisattva thinks inside his or her head gazillion of gazillion times for many long span of reicarnations that he or she wants to be a Buddha some day in the far future. After countless reincarnations, he or she has to continue to do a lot of countless things as a Boddhisattava. After gazillion countless reincarnations, a Boddhisattva then take a vow out loud that he or she wants ro be a Buddha in the future. And then, he or she has to continue doing things, and reincarnates countless more times along with declaring the same thing, and taking a lot of actions again again so on and so forth. .......
If you don't give up and continue to do extreme hard work, at one point in time in the far future, after countless rebirths, you will get to meet one Buddha in order to receive his prediction that you will become a Budda for sure in the far future as long as you don't give up.
I can explain a little bit of how long it takes for a Boddhisattva to become a Buddha but it could discourage you. But let me explain it anyway. If I remember correctly, scientists said that age of the universe since the Bigbang is about 15 billions years old or something like that. That is very tiny amount of time comparing to the amount of time for a Boddhisattva takes to become a Buddha. If that is true, it means that there must have been countless Bigbangs in the past.
To my understanding(I could be wrong on this), the Universe must have evolved in cycle consisting of 4 different stages over and over again, countless times. It starts from an explosion, expansion until it cannot expand any more. Then it remains still for the same amount of time as it was expanding. Then it collaps into itself to become one, and remains still like that for the same amount of time as it was expanding until the next Bigbang takes place. So, my point is to have you just try to imaging how many times you have to reincarnate to become a Buddha (or even anyone like me and many more like me who does not want to be a Buddha has to go through the never-ending reincarnation or cycle thing like that without knowing how to stop it.) I cannot imagine what each buddha had to go through to show us the right path to end rebirth and attain enlightment or true and eternal happiness.
Sometimes a Boddhisattva makes a mistake or do something bad, when he died, he could go to hell to be punished or go to any realm bellow the human realm to pay the price. But that is part of learning process that each of all Boddhisattvas have to go through.
One if the greatest or the most significant examples of a Bodhisattva during our time is no one but His Majesty the King Rama 9 of Thailand. He is the type of Bodhisattva that reincarnates for the longest time, 16 Asongkai (10140 ) of Maha Galp plus one hundred thousand of Maha Galpa. Only small Galpa is very long time already but we are talking about Maha (much greater or longer).
You may want to learn how he lived his life as a great Bodhisattava. A buddhist monk said some decades ago that His Majesty only has to reincarnate 5 more times to be come a Buddha. You may want learn from him as an example of how hard he worked and lived for his people ,and other people who are not even Thai (or even other kind of beings if you can.)
There are countless Bodhisattvas out there dead or alive. There are many many greats ones (who already received prediction) living "up there" waiting in line to become a buddha in the future. Some of the living ones don't even know that they are Bodhisattvas. One of many qualifications a Bodhisattva has to have is being a leader. His Majesty the king is the best of our time as a leader in my opinion. He is well respected by a lot of people around the world, and by a lot of the "unseen".
So, if you want to be a Bodhisattva, I gave you something to think about that as a base, not to scare you off though. Thinking of becoming one takes that long . Doing it or being one or taking actions about it to be one is another whole ball game, which is a lot to learn and "do" . It's going to be long long long long...........road for you if you decide to be a Buddha some day.
I took the Bodhisattva vow about 15 years ago. I know it's going to take an unimaginable amount of time to get to that point. But in the end it will be worth it to help liberate other beings.
But the question is, what is your other option ?
Nice talk!
I would be interested on how to undo the bodhisattva vow when it was made in a former life.
Is a talk on that around somewhere? I googled but haven't found anything yet.
Dear Outsoba,
Bhante V suggest to remove the Vow to find a Buddha statue. In a respectful way say the following, "I renounce any Bodhisatta vow that I may have taken" Do it 3 times and mean it and that should do it.
@@DhammasukhaOrg That is not "removing the vow" but breaking it, because you abandon beings after committing to liberate them. If you ever took the vow, it is a hard negative karma.
@@buddhistphilosopher800 karma is based on intention... if your intention is to help all beings by becoming a saint in this lifetime... it is very good karma and making a vow that one should one day truly understand the buddhas teaching is very wholesome...
@@lllllBlader The worst karma is generated by this sectarian bhikkhu, who leads others to break their Bodhicitta vows or close themselves off from ever taking them.
@@buddhistphilosopher800 and this is stated where in the suttas? see mn 135, the buddha talks about what kinds of action creates good fruit, and what creates bad fruit. it really doesnt say anything about bodhicitta or anything like that. kamma is just intention. if your intention is wholesome there is nothing to worry about :)
A bodhisattva vow should not deter the achievement of nirvana, or enlightenment, because truly, enlightenment doesn't exist. The enlightenment goal is still part of dualistic thinking. As Buddha says, there is no enlightenment or a Buddha.
Further, Buddha taught techniques that sound contradictory, but their goal was a kind of self-cancellation.❤
So which is it. Enlightenment or no enlightenment? The Buddha defined it as getting rid of the craving forces in mind. A mind is that is purified of the 5 hindrances.
@@davidjohnson8218 The final step is going beyond the "goal". Ever heard that phrase "If you see the Buddha on the road, run him over" ? Buddha himself said that enlightenment or the Buddha doesn't really exist (in the final analysis). But because of our dualistic nature, we have to set goals that sound dualistic. Out language is dualistic and duality is the hardest thing to get through. Intrinsic awareness is the base of self realization (Google Padmasambhava Self Realization through Intrinsic Awareness). Duality doesn't exist in the ground of being, nor does the word Enlightenment. Sorry for the long reply, I'm no teacher.
@@davidjohnson8218 PS I am a practicing Buddhist, and maybe just a little cranky in my old age. In fact I am starting to get into the dying process practices. Lama Lena has some very well done UA-cam videos on Death and Dying (just passing it on)
Good communicating with you.
This spring I had what you would call a "spiritual awakening", kundalini awakening or just an extreme increasing of prana (I guess, because this awakening happened quite sudden and is still ongoing). I am 31 years of age. Anyway about 2 months ago I was hearing like children chanting in my head "Boddhisatva, boddhisatva" maybe 20-30 times. I had to look up the words meaning afterwards. What does this mean? Was this a reminder of "my mission" or was it like an invitation to be one/take the vow. What do you think? Thanks in advance.
Kundalini was actually not taught by the Buddha and his a Yogic experience. So that's the first thing. 2nd thing is if you were a Bodhisattva you would not attain enlightenment until your last lifetime and you attain Arahantship and full Buddhahood. You get it all in one lifetime AND you cannot have 2 Buddhas at the same time. They don't arise together. As far as the chant in your head - it may just be excitement and projecting a certain state for yourself. Bhante V explains that a true Bodhisattva will have a dream during their lifetime that they are a Bodhisattva and the Buddha image enters into their body based on how many lifetimes they have left. At the Stomach - 1/2 way there. At the Head almost there. Enlightenment defined by the Buddha is seeing and understanding Dependent Origination and understanding the four noble truths. It is the attaining of the Nibbana experience - it isn't Kundalini which is a conditioned state - not unconditioned. True enlightenment changes your personality and you give up the fetters including hatred and sensual desire restlessness and more.
@@davidjohnson8218 Not necessarily. The Bodhisattva who teaches his Awakening for the benefit of others is only of one type. There is also the Awakening Bodhisattva along with everyone else, and the Awakening Bodhisattva first to guide others.
The namarupa of time concept is a delusion. Without the realization of emptiness of time space concept, it is not easy for a Bodhisattva aspirant to go through time and space to accumualate Paramita and have superior teaching capability (which is also ultimately empty).
In which sutta we get more information about the buddha vows
Its not in a Sutta as the Buddha did not talk about a Bodhisattva vow for the public- only what he did to become a Buddha. He didn't promote it as already has done it and given you the teachings. No need for you to become a Buddha. These general vows came later with the Mahayana sect.
I wonder, since you need the certainty of a fully enlightened being if wether you can go through the ordeal of the bodhisattva path, did the historical Buda ever mentioned if he received assurance from a enlighten being before starting hes bodhisattva journey.
Yes - he had the assurance of the Sumedha Buddha. Its all documented in burmese commentaries that I have read.
@@davidjohnson8218 In what language are Burmese commentaries? If in English, are they on line and where are they on line? Thanks
@@djmuscovy7525 They are in Burmese... and only that. Certainly not on line.
insightful & compassionately instructed.
time.. time.. time..
Imagine the surprise of being reborn. Do you remember?
The bhikkhu does not understand the vow neither the view in the Bodhisattvayana. Poor hearers being totally missleading in this way.
I want to renounce my Bodhisattva vow. How do I do that? Thank you
Very good! So its simple. Just go to a Buddha Statue- In a temple or otherwise and say with sincerity "I renounce this Bodhisattva vow" Three times. You might feel a relief or not. But that is all. Just renounce meaning it. This is how Bhante teaches to renounce it.
@@davidjohnson8218 Thanks!
Thank you for posting the talks and getting people to learn about Buddhism!
I have to admit that my understanding of Buddhism is founded in Mahayana teachings, so perhaps it is just a question of paradigm that I can not really follow your explanations.
The way I understand the concept of No-Self (anatma / anatta), there is no ego which constitutes as an eternally separate entity. But to attain nirvana/nibbana before other sentient beings do, would mean that my present self would from that point in time onward be eternally separated from other sentient beings ... thus constituting a permanent Self.
Therefore I fail to understand how striving to attain nirvana/nibanna in this lifetime can be in accordance with the teaching of anatma/anatta.
On the other hand: no Mayahana teaching denies that Buddha has reached nirvana/nibbana ... so even in the tradition that has shaped my view of Buddhism, there is a point I just don't get. Would be really grateful to learn about your views on this!
+sugoichabaka I posted the talk so let me try here. Your understanding of no-self is a bit different here. Where to start here....None of us have any sort of eternal self that wanders samsara and is born life to life. There is only an impersonal process of aggregates arising with craving driving them on and on. The Buddha attained Nibbana and saw this totally and taught the path to see the same to us. When he dies, because he is free of craving he will not be reborn. He will not live on to teach. He is done. He came and he taught and freed many beings.
He was a bodhisatta and went through all of these lifetimes out of compassion SO WE DON'T HAVE TO. Out of compassion he gave us the path to getting off the wheel. He would never want us to NOT meditate and not follow his path in the hope of trying to save all beings. He came to help us save our selves.
OK- You can never attain Nibbana before all others anyway - The Buddha couldn't. He helped about 60mill people is estimated. Once you are a Buddha you do not live on - you die and enter Nibbana. Meaning all of your aggregates are dissolved away like grains of sand on the beach being hit by a wave. Gone
the best thing to do for your fellow beings is attain Nibbana now and help everyone you know to get there too. 1.Your mind be happy and free from mental suffering. 2. You will help all others to be happy around you. This is the real Bodhisatta vow. Take advantage of what the Buddha taught as wanted you to and then help others and teach them.
+sugoichabaka The teaching of anatta is not that there is no self but that the school of Brahmanism that said the self is Brahma is false and also that the body, sensual desires, etc. are not the self. In short the anatta doctrine is: (1) We are not all Brahma. (2) The body and things arising from the body are not the self. Buddha clearly believed in a soul and neither reincarnation nor Nirvana make sense without it. Furthermore, Buddha said he was going to Nirvana immediately upon death, so the Mahayana idea is absurd.
+David Johnson (BegintoSee) , yes your points are clear . nice explanation .
+David Brainerd The Buddha most definitely did NOT believe in a soul. What you are saying is the complete antithesis of the Buddhadhamma. I recommend reading the Pali Canon to get a better understanding of what the Buddha taught. Alternatively you can watch videos by Bhikku Bodhi, Ajahn Brahm, Ajahn Thanisarro, Ayya Khema, Bhante G, Bhante Punnaji to become more informed.
There is no permanent self, everything is causally produced, impermanent, and suffering. There is a stream of consciousness that proceeds, potentially endlessly, from life to life, through endless aeons. It persists so long as ignorance persists, but once that stream of consciousness comes into contact with the Buddhas teachings and follows the eightfold path, cessation of that particular stream of consciousness becomes possible.
Understand, that even in this present life, you are constantly changing. The 'you' of now is different to the 'you' when you were 15 yrs old, which is different to the 'you' when you were 5 yrs old. It's incorrect to say that you are a completely different person, as there is a causal path linking the different 'you's together, but it is also incorrect to say that you are the same person. You are physically different, and you have vastly different views and perceptions of the world. In the same way, your next life is being conditioned by this current one, and when 'you' die and are subsequently reborn, you will be causally linked to this current life. It is incorrect to say that you are the same person, but it is also incorrect to say that you are completely removed and disconnected from this life.
This stream of consciousness is what people erroneously refer to as the 'self' but it is impermanent, and ceases once the requisite causal conditions are removed.
What is the ultimate except working to eliminate the sufferings of all beings? Selflessness grounded in compassion is the ultimate refuge. Seeking nirvana for yourself only? This is selfishness
The Ship is sinking:
The Buddha is who notice that have lifeboats and told everybody "Let's get out of here"
The Arahant is who first go to the lifeboat and then help the others how to attain the lifeboat.
The Bodhisattva is who is not on the lifeboat, the ship still sinking, but wanna help people to attain the lifeboat.
The PratyekaBuddha is who found the lifeboat and told nobody.
Now, WHO YOU WANNA BE IS THIS HISTORY?
Joao Victor Vernieri it’s not history, it’s NOW
A bodhisattva is one who learns to swim and constantly jumps into the ocean of samsara saving drowning beings and brings them to the lifeboat and perhaps teaches them to swim as well. A Buddha too obviously can swim and knows all beings can too but in his infinite compassion throws out buoys for beings that are daunted by the task so that they can float.
Regarding who you'd want to be; any of those attainments are worthy goals and those who attain are nobles ones worthy of veneration.
hang on a minute .... have i misread the sutras? i thought the aspirant say to achieve enlightenment quickly, preferably in one lifetime, so as to help all sentient beings achieve enlightenment, and that, NOT to go into Nirvana until all Sentient Beings become Enlightened? your comments seems to differ from this.
Nibbana is a state and a realm/sphere. Once must achied the state to reach the realm. One must achieve the state to teach the achievement.
🙏🙏🙏
I actions of the bodhisattvas ARE the actions of a Buddha.
A bodhisattva is a Budha in training - certainly not yet a Buddha.
Sadhu 🙏🙏🙏
Wonderful explanation about what the real Bodhisattva vow is, to become a next Buddha, born from unsurpassed Karuna.
When Arahant in this very life and once developped the higher mind concentration faculty there is the possibility to wait all the needed Mahakalpas in the right place (where the same Buddha was before his last rebirth), without getting lost in samsaras, that might bring back instead of forward. 🙏
What are your qualifications to be teaching this?
Bhante V has been a Buddhist monk since 1986 touring thailand and spending years in monasteries in Burma. Many 3 mos retreats, 8 mos retreat and a 2 year retreat in Burma. Read and studied nearly all the suttas and commentaries.
@@DhammasukhaOrg What he is teaching is his invention, it is not in the Tripitaka. Also he parts from misconceptions for unknowing the Bodhisattva path and training in the Mahayana.
I have practice and still do with Theravada, Tibetan Mahayana and Vajrayana and Dzogchen teachers. I am interested in awakenig (Buddha means awaken) in my experience I don't pay much attention toa Theravada teacher talking about Bodhisatva path, I just go to someone who has studied and practiced and listen to them practce it myself and see how it works. The same goes for Tibetan teachers talking about arahats they're not practicing those teachings so I just listen respectfully but I ask about them to a Theravada teacher who actually practice them. In other words do not take too seriously any of Bhante's opinions on Mahayana follow the Buddha's wise advise and see for yourself. The suttas are a teachings to become an arahat compiled by arahats, they are not teachings for bodhisatvas. Bhante is relaying in some sectarian much later commentaries the kind you can find in all Buddhist schools. Do your work and don't get distracted by all this thousand years old noise. Whatever aspiration you take that is what you will become, mine is to fully awake as soon as possible and remain to help others to awaken to our true nature too. Just make yours and practice with any tradition without fear cause you have your compass set.
Not so. Mahayana teachings are the thousand year later teachings that are not from the Buddha at all. Check your history - Theravada is the original school - the suttas go back 2600 years to the Buddha's words himself. They are engraved in stone in Burma. They are memorized by monk ever since the first council. Mahayana came as a result of a argument about what the Buddha taught. Some monks disagreed with what he said and created a schism and went away from his teachings. They lost the actual meditation teachings and came up with alternate teachings like the lotus sutra and Diamond sutra etc. These were written, not by the Buddha, but by monks 1000 years later. The Bodhisattva idea was never promoted by the Buddha for others as he DID IT. Here was a Buddha and you should listen to him as he went through all this suffering so you could get the teachings. Listen to the teachings and progress toward Arahatship in this lifetime. It is very possible as Bhante's students prove. Just talk to them. Look up Delson Armstrong on youtube and see what he says about attainment. You can attain Nibbana NOW!
@@davidjohnson8218 The Buddha did not write any scriptures.
@@hammockman5589 No of course not. There was no writing at that time. It was written down later in sri lanka by monks who had memorized the texts and passed them down. You can go visit them today - there are many untranslated still on papyrus still there.
Why did you become a monk venerable
Beastie boys say it better than mellow dude. RIP MCA
Right up to your face and dissed ya
Waxin and milkin all of your squares
Time and money to girls covered in honey
No thanks, I lost the previous reincarnation drowned in banal and worldly attachments, and in this reincarnation the person who was supposed to help guide me on my sacred path, almost destroyed me because of his obsession with a woman, at the point of suffering I could have and sustain my sacred path, and the next reincarnation I have to return to the same challenge of not losing myself in egos and illusions and then face the pride of who is supposed to guide me, no thanks, pass, I almost lost two reincarnations uselessly,
Karma
Eye opening
The Buddha Did Obtain nirvana future buddhas are a Buddha of a different being you know nothing farang Bhante
How can a Theravada take the bodhisattva vows this is strictly a Mahayana practice
🤦♂️
Ha ha ha that is funny. People going around and around in circles and never attain Nirvana. That my friends is a delusion. We never go in circles of suffering and we never attain any Nirvana. Nirvana is unattainable or should I say that there is nothing to attain actually. The only thing is different between samsara and nirvana is that you don't know that you already enlightened before you attain it. The first law of thermodynamics states that energy neither created no destroyed it actually transforms from one from into the other. Total conservations of energy. Thus we can conclude that we never been created no be destroyed. We basically constantly changing from one form to the other. This applies to consciousness. The consciousness will never cease to exist, it is universal. Yes the consciousness governed by karma but karma is just an energy which determines which state the consciousness is at. You see if there is no karma there is no consciousness, everything is interdependent. To be enlightened is to understand that samsara and nirvana are not separate they interdependent. One does not exist without the other.
I think you might missed some points here. What powers consciousness and the rest of the sense bases. Why is it even running? It is Tanha or craving. The desires to go forward and experience more pleasure and avoid pain.Its true "nobody" attains nibbana as there wasn't anyone there to start with. But because of craving we do think we exist. You say energy can't be destroyed. Well, what happens when you throw water on a fire. It goes out. It doesn't come back. In the same way when craving is extinguished the aggregates remain but they are no only elements. The craving force or what you thought of as you is gone. The purpose of the practice is to eliminate suffering from the mind which is caused by craving. When you go through the meditation it actually does happen that anger and sensual desire is eliminated from the mind - just come on retreat and we will show you. You become a much happier person. No more depression or Bad days. Everything is ok. There is only mindfulness and lovingkindness. It really does happen.
@@davidjohnson8218 I'm not sure about desire and craving as the causes of suffering but we go beyond all that. Bodhidharma said if you use your mind to study reality you won't undestand the mind nor the reality. If you don't use the mind to study reality you'll understand both. No mind no problem no mind no suffering no mind no delusion. If you have no mind who is there to liberate who is suffering who is craving. It is that simple. You don't need practice mindfulness there is nothing to attain.
@@TreeGreenOak Wow that's great to know. I guess everyone is happy with no suffering. This is all Mahayana view which wasn't the actual Buddha's view. In fact, it sounds more like someone using hallucinatory substances. :-) Its like say don't worry about getting rich- you already are! No worries.
@@davidjohnson8218 Dear David that is not the point I make I didn' say that we should ignore suffering. Suffering and libirations aren't separable. I don't know what the teach in Hinayana but suffering is part of our life even the Buddha was suffering. You actually can never stop suffering because while you have body and mind you will suffer. But suffering must be embraced and once that happens you will see that Nirvana isn't separable from suffering. Without suffering there is no lebiration. That is true Bodhisattva way. I know this because I suffered a lot and I know without it I wouldn't understand this. So the suffering for me is transformed. I don't see suffering as something we need to worry about its part of our existance but the view has changed. It is all how you see it. Sorry for so many words I'm not interested in phylosopy and long discussions. Thank you.
Let’s create a new order of Bodhisattvas; one that transcends gender; one that addresses cultural tolerance of suffering and poverty; one that embraces the wisdom of the Gaian Mind; one that treasures Shamanic traditions; one that integrates plant medicines; one that acknowledges many living Bodhisattvas and integrates them into a network; one that synergizes Vajrayana and Pachamama! ✡️🕉☯️😇
that wouldn't be what the Buddha taught though - would encompass wrong view - see Pali canon for the types of wrong view ...
That's a totally distorted view.
It’s simple
If you look at the energy of a theravadin you will see that it’s dull, almost lifeless and gray
If you look at the energy of a Mahāyāna practitioner then you will see there is a certain glow about them- that they are joyful
Why? Because the latter is engaged with the world and themselves in a positive sense and the former is hiding from the world and engaged with themselves in a pessimistic way
Sad but true
Theravada is ultimately outdated
That is not true at all. A true Buddhist first helps himself and he grows and develops metta for himself. Then he starts to have love for all beings. You don't need a vow to help others. Do you not think that someone who has attained nibbana in this lifetime would do nothing but help other people to achieve happiness? A mahayana person could never lead anyone to nibbana since they refuse to follow the path in lieu of "helping others." The Buddha was a bodhisattva and his vow was to become enlightened and THEN help others - which he did.
David Johnson a Mahāyāna pracfitioner does just that
And they see both helping oneself and helping others as of equaL importance
A vow is a reminder
Your channel shows you are info crypto currency
Focus on that instead of trying to argue about dharma lol
Many years ago I met a monk at work. While he had the outfit he certainly didn't feel like a monk. Sadly he seemed like he was so focused he became an island on to himself.
Really - ones I have met are smiling and happy.
I have seen lots of Thervada monks that are happy and full of energy Ajahn brahm,Ajahn Sujato and Sri Dhammanda are good examples.