Sutra of the Wheel of the Dedication of Merit

If a disciple of the Buddha, one should always make all manner of vows. Be filial to your parents, your teachers, the monks, and the Triple Gem The Three Jewels of Buddhism: the Buddha (the teacher), the Dharma (the teachings), and the Sangha (the monastic community).. Always vow to find good teachers and fellow students—spiritual friends—to teach me the Great Vehicle original: "大乘" (Dacheng); also known as Mahayana. sutras and precepts: the Ten Stages of Inclination, the Ten Stages of Nurturing, the Ten Stages of Diamond-like Solidity, and the Ten Grounds These represent forty progressive stages of spiritual development on the path to becoming a Buddha.. Enable me to open my mind to understanding, to practice according to the Law, and to uphold the Buddha's precepts firmly, so that in every moment, no [transgressive] thought arises. If any Bodhisattva Bodhisattva: A person who has generated the spontaneous wish to attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings. does not make these vows, they commit a minor transgression Light defilement: A category of secondary offenses in the Bodhisattva code that hinder spiritual progress but are less severe than the major "root" sins..

If a disciple of the Buddha, having made the Ten Great Vows, upholds the Buddha's prohibitions, these vows state: "I would rather throw this body into a blazing pit or onto a mountain of blades than ever violate the sutras and precepts of the Buddhas of the three periods of time Past, present, and future. or engage in unchaste acts with any woman."

Furthermore, make this vow: "I would rather have a net of glowing iron and sin wrap tightly around my body than ever, with a body that has broken the precepts, receive any clothing from a faithful donor Danapati: A layperson who provides food, clothing, and medicine to the monastic community to gain merit.."

Furthermore, make this vow: "I would rather swallow glowing iron balls and great streams of fierce fire with this mouth than ever, with a body that has broken the precepts, receive the hundred-flavored food and drink of a faithful donor."

Furthermore, make this vow: "I would rather lie with this body upon a ground of burning iron and nets of fierce fire than ever, with a body that has broken the precepts, receive...

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...the hundred kinds of beds and seats from a faithful donor."

Furthermore, make this vow: "I would rather endure three hundred spears piercing this body for hundreds of thousands of eons Kalpa: An immense period of time in Buddhist cosmology, often used to describe the duration of a universe or a cycle of rebirth. than ever, with a body that has broken the precepts, receive the hundred-flavored medicines of a faithful donor."

Furthermore, make this vow: "I would rather throw this body into a cauldron of molten iron for hundreds of thousands of eons than ever, with a body that has broken the precepts, receive a faithful donor's thousand types of rooms, houses, gardens, or residences."

Furthermore, make this vow: "I would rather have this body smashed by an iron mallet from head to foot until it is like fine dust than ever, with a body that has broken the precepts, receive the respectful bows and worship of a faithful donor."

Furthermore, make this vow: "I would rather have my two eyes gouged out with a glowing iron blade ox? This likely refers to a specific instrument of punishment in the underworld, or may be a scribal variant for 'hook'. than ever, with a heart that has broken the precepts, look upon beautiful forms."

Furthermore, make this vow: "I would rather have hundreds of thousands of iron awls pierce and drill into my ears for one or two eons than ever, with a heart that has broken the precepts, listen to beautiful sounds."

Furthermore, make this vow: "I would rather have hundreds of thousands of knives cut off my nose than ever, with a heart that has broken the precepts, feel greed for [fragrances]."