Bodhisattva Vows

[Skull]

This article gives traditional Mahayana motives & practices that are foundational to making many lifetime altruistic vows:

http://theosophynexus.com/profiles/b...ource=activity

[Skull]

The link above is not good anymore. Here is better information:

The central element in Mahayana is a vowed intention to become a bodhisattva, then a buddha. On that path one will help all other beings towards that goal of buddhahood.

This chapter 40 of the Avatamsaka Sutra gives ten vast vows practiced by Mahasattva Samantabhadra and recommended by him for aspirants:

http://www.sutrasmantras.info/sutra21.html

At that time Samantabhadra Bodhisattva-Mahāsattva, having praised Tathāgatas’ merit, said to the Bodhisattvas and the youth Sudhana: “Good men, if Buddhas [in worlds] in the ten directions expound Tathāgatas’ merit continuously for as many kalpas as there are dust particles in innumerable Buddha Lands, they still can never finish their narrations. If one wants to go through this Merit Door, one should train in the ten great vowed actions. What are these ten?

First, make obeisance to Buddhas.
Second, praise Tathāgatas.
Third, make expansive offerings.
Fourth, repent of karma, the cause of hindrances.
Fifth, express sympathetic joy over others’ merits.
Sixth, request Buddhas to turn the Dharma wheel.
Seventh, beseech Buddhas to abide in the world.
Eighth, always follow Buddhas to learn.
Ninth, forever support sentient beings.
Tenth, universally transfer all merits to others.”

[BigJohn]

Thank you for some very thoughtful information.

The Bodhisattva I have much favor with is Kwan Yin. Unfortunately, I don't think she is mentioned hardly at all on this forum.

Maitreya is considered the Buddha of the future. When he is portrayed as Hotei, is he considered a Bodhisattva?

[sky]

Originally Posted by Skull

The link above is not good anymore. Here is better information:

The central element in Mahayana is a vowed intention to become a bodhisattva, then a buddha. On that path one will help all other beings towards that goal of buddhahood.

This chapter 40 of the Avatamsaka Sutra gives ten vast vows practiced by Mahasattva Samantabhadra and recommended by him for aspirants:

http://www.sutrasmantras.info/sutra21.html

Not to forget that The Buddha never taught any of the above. If your interested you can read what is recognised by Buddhist Scholars to be the earliest Buddha's Teachings.
Buddha did not teach the Bodhisattva path, which emerges only in later documents that started to appear at least a century after His death......

[sky]

Originally Posted by BigJohn

Thank you for some very thoughtful information.

The Bodhisattva I have much favor with is Kwan Yin. Unfortunately, I don't think she is mentioned hardly at all on this forum.

Maitreya is considered the Buddha of the future. When he is portrayed as Hotei, is he considered a Bodhisattva?

Avalokiteśvara Guanyin is mentioned a lot on here, He/She is the ' Embodiment of Compassion ' .

I have Posted this previously,

https://youtu.be/VkeeiEyNPMo

[Skull]

Originally Posted by BigJohn

Thank you for some very thoughtful information.

The Bodhisattva I have much favor with is Kwan Yin. Unfortunately, I don't think she is mentioned hardly at all on this forum.

Maitreya is considered the Buddha of the future. When he is portrayed as Hotei, is he considered a Bodhisattva?

Hotei was a very friendly Buddhist and such people are often loosely called Maitreya incarnations.

I will post more about bodhisattva path. In Pali the word is bodhisatta which is what Buddha called himself before he became a Buddha under the Bodhi tree. Since there have been buddhas previous to Gotama it seems logical that there was a bodhisatta path before and after this most recent buddha.

[Skull]

Originally Posted by sky123

Not to forget that The Buddha never taught any of the above. If your interested you can read what is recognised by Buddhist Scholars to be the earliest Buddha's Teachings.
Buddha did not teach the Bodhisattva path, which emerges only in later documents that started to appear at least a century after His death......

The oral & visionary traditions were the primary sources of all Buddha's teachings (and other Indian paths, for that matter). When they were put into script means little or nothing.

[sky]

Originally Posted by Skull

The oral & visionary traditions were the primary sources of all Buddha's teachings (and other Indian paths, for that matter). When they were put into script means little or nothing.

Oh...

Buddhism is Based on Dharma.

[sky]

Originally Posted by Skull

Hotei was a very friendly Buddhist and such people are often loosely called Maitreya incarnations.

I will post more about bodhisattva path. In Pali the word is bodhisatta which is what Buddha called himself before he became a Buddha under the Bodhi tree. Since there have been buddhas previous to Gotama it seems logical that there was a bodhisatta path before and after this most recent buddha.

Can you point out the Sutra please where The Buddha called Himself a Boddisattva ?
Thanks.

[Skull]

Originally Posted by sky123

Oh...

Buddhism is Based on Dharma.

Correct - and Dhamma is experiential as well as oral or textual.