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Vows: the Blueprint for Happiness
Making a vow—a commitment to life Making a vow allows us to reposition our life; thus, to fulfill the vow is to fulfill the commitment to our life's goal. We may inevitably encounter setbacks in the process. However, as long as we return to our initial aspiration in making the vow with the intention of benefiting others, we will gain unparalleled confidence and strength. In doing so, we succeed in influencing others, changing the world for the better, and seeing the light of happ...
Q1: In order to make vows, do we need to follow any sequential steps?
Q&A on making vows What is the difference between Buddhists making vows and ordinary people making wishes? Do you have to fulfill your vows? Is there a certain ritual for making a vow? In order to help you form a clearer picture of the idea, we have collected here some frequently asked questions about making vows. Hopefully, this will allow you to make a profound and lasting great vow on the path of Buddhist practice for attaining Buddhahood, as well as strive to fulfill it. Q1: In or...
Q2: What are the differences between ordinary people making a wish and Buddhists making a vow?
Ordinary people make wishes both for themselves and others. Some make a wish to gain something, whereas others make wishes without asking for anything in return. The wishes that ordinary people make are mostly about wanting to get promoted, become rich, perform well academically, and to alleviate their misfortunes and troubles, or fulfill some personal wish. These too are vows, albeit self-centered and minor ones. In this regard, as Ven. Guo Shing from the Dharma Drum Mountain Sangha stated, ...
Q3: What are the Ways to Make a Vow?
Vows can be made anytime, anywhere, as long as a kind thought arises in our mind, and there is no need to follow certain rituals or steps. However the vow will not last long if it is just the result of an impulsive thought or casual talk. Rather, a vow made during our participation in Dharma assemblies or in front of the Buddha statue can help us generate an inner power that corresponds with the outward vow. Even if we encounter setbacks in the future, we will naturally have the confidence an...
Q4: Is it necessary to fulfill a vow after making it?
Yes. Making a vow must include the process of fulfilling it. Master Sheng Yen pointed out that the purpose of life is to make vows and fulfill them. Within this lifetime, we fulfill what we made in the past but had not yet fulfilled. To fulfill vows is to put the vows one has made into practice, so one must constantly strive to realize the promises that one has made. This process is known as fulfilling vows. Life is about constantly making vows and improving oneself in fulfilling the vows. Th...
Q5: Is making vows the same as taking oaths?
No, they are different. "Taking oaths" and "making vows" have similarities, but they also have differences. What makes them similar is that both of them represent a kind of commitment, as well as a kind of hope. Take, for instance, the "Four Great Vows" that Buddhists recite during the daily morning and evening services. The content of these vows aims to encourage practitioners to learn from the Buddhas' and Bodhisattvas' attitude of practice and directio...
Q6: How to avoid making empty vows?
From childhood to adulthood, we often make wishes: "I hope that in the future…", "I want to…", "If I could…, I am willing to…"; however, many of our wishes come to nothing in the end. Why it that? The most valuable and important key to making vows is to put it into practice. If you just make vows but don't practice carrying them out, then no matter how many vows you make, they will become empty vows in the end. How can you...