1. Be Determined and Inspired to Fulfill Vows
Establish Aspirations, Invigorating Souls,
Fulfill Vows

2. Introduction
Bodhisattvas and Saints all start out like us: Same “Buddha” Nature What will lead us down different paths and final destination? 1. Great Aspirations 2. Invigorating souls 3. Fulfill Vows

3. I. Establish Aspirations
As cultivators, we must have the ambition to aspire to be the best and achieve true salvation:
Aspire for the salvation of souls (including our own) and the world’s
Aspire to help achieving the vows of Buddhas, Saints, Sages and especially our Holy Teachers
For most people goals are usually goes as far as power, fame and fortune
These goals are limited. They offer no real salvation for ourselves or others
After learning of the Tao, we should know better and value more than physical wealth, but aspire to spiritual wealth
Therefore, we should aspire for…
Save everyone, otherwise Heaven will be a lonely place

4. Great Vows Guang-Ying Bodhisattva 觀世音菩薩: Shakyamuni Buddha 釋迦摩尼佛:
To save all that ask for mercy and help to escape suffering!
Shakyamuni Buddha 釋迦摩尼佛:
Sentient beings are infinite; I vow to save them all.
Suffering are infinite; I vow to end them all.
Dharmas are infinite; I vow to enter them all.
The Buddha Path is infinite; I vow to attain it.

5. Great Vows (cont’d) Patriach Zhang’s (師尊) three great vows:
Safe living souls, return them to the original nature (渡化眾生，達本還原)
Alter common social behaviors; achieve Great Harmony in the world (移風易俗， 實現世界大同)
Continue traditions into the future, revitalize the time honored virtues of the Chinese Tradition (繼往開來，復興中國固 有文化)

6. Great Vows (cont’d) Zhong Hua Sheng Mu: Matriarch Sun
To help her disciples to overcome trials and tribulations while cultivating and spreading Tao, she asked Heaven to allow her to carry all of that burden by making bows a day and self- imprisonment

7. II. Invigorate our Soul (“Brahmavihāras” or Four Immeasurables)
Strengthen “Bodhi”: Follow the path of Bodhisattva and work to save others from suffering
Energize your soul (true nature) through the expression of Brahmavihāras
Brahmavihāras (四無量心): Mercy (Loving Kindness), Compassion, Joy and Giving
Bodhi is the merciful heart of the Bodhisattvas and always work to save others from suffering
So, one of the main way to strengthen or clear up or Bodhi heart, it to express our “brahmaviharas”, or the 4 boundless Heart

8. Mercy (慈) Ji-Gong Living Buddha mercifully said:
“Mercy is to devote all without condition”
For ourselves: Do not give rise to aversion and hatred, greed and desire; Keep mercy in your heart and can be embodied with joy and happiness
For others: offer happiness, joy and fulfillment; give them spiritual refuge by saving other from suffering (introducing Tao to others and spread Tao)
Benevolence without possession
Will not differentiate by race, ethnicity, wealth, status, or anything the defines us in the physical world

9. Compassion (悲): Ji-Gong Living Buddha mercifully said:
“Compassion is to sacrifice without self”
Compassion is to alleviate suffering
For Ourselves: Be content without desire
For Others: Feel the pain of others; sympathize; save others from suffering
Feeling the pain of others as if it was our own, so we help to alleviate their suffering….
Desire  Resentment  Hate  Suffering
This doesn’t mean we just don’t do anything, but, no matter that life throws at us; in wealth and in poverty, we are able to face difficulties still with smiles
When others are in need, we offer all we can, because we can feel their pain

10. Joy (喜) Ji-Gong Living Buddha mercifully said:
“Obligation without condition”
Being joyful for the kindness of ourselves and of others without any condition or strings attached
No matter when, or when, freely give away the joyfulness of our true heart; no distinction between self and others

11. Giving (捨) Ji-Gong Living Buddha mercifully said:
“Provide without custody”
The virtue of Generosity: wealth, dharma (wisdom), resolution/determination/confidence
Bodhisattvas and Buddhas give up what others cannot give up; Experience what others cannot bear; Endure what others cannot tolerate
Cultivators encompasses Tao in our hearts, minds, and body; should be ready to offer to other to end their suffering
Provide for others and without consideration for ourselves; everything is for sentient beings

12. Never Resting Bodhisattva 不休息菩薩

13. To invigorate the Virtues of our Soul:
Requires the Mandate from Heaven as our guide
Cultivation and spread the wisdom of Tao as our method
Ultimately lead us to discover our True Nature = Tao
So, even though we all have a soul and our true nature is already present in us, but, without the mandate from Heaven as our guide or using cultivation and spreading Tao to others, how can we bring out the virtues of our soul?
This is our platform and our arena to express our

14. III. Fulfillment of Vows
Vows needs to be fulfilled
Do not waver, do not doubt, be sincere, and have faith, we will succeed
Fulfilling Vows is to honor our Holy Teachers and to honor Tao
Continuing the virtues of our Holy Teachers and predecessors, the transmission of Tao
fulfillment of our aspirations and goals made before Heaven should be the objective for cultivation
Like the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, we have the same True Nature within all of us, therefore, we should be able to achieve the same vows

15. How to fulfill Vows? Revere the Mandate of Heaven Value Dharma
Save others from suffering
Treasure benevolent words
Command the virtuous
Follow Discipline
3 Distinctions:
Holy vs. Worldly Matters, Gender, Monetary
4 Righteousness:
Action, Heart, Speech, Behavior
Dharma = method of learning and expressing our True Nature

16. Show respect honoring Holy Teachers
Show sincerity revering Tao
Temple regulations must be strict: cannot be nonchalant
Believes in Tao must be genuine
Aspirations must be high
Diet must be refined
Examples must be exemplary
Be tolerant and forgiving of others
Conduct and behavior must be decent and fair

17. Correct mistakes: how to become Buddha
Must follow the “Eight Cardinal Virtues” and Observe “Five Human Relationships”
Eight Cardinal Virtues: filial piety, brotherhood (sibling harmoney, loyalty, trust, courtesy, justice (righteousness), integrity, honor (sense of shame)
Five Human Relationships: Sovereign and subordinates, parent and children, husband and wife, brothers and sisters, and between friends
Correct mistakes: how to become Buddha
Repay the debt of gratitude for the Grace of Heaven

18. Vows must be fulfilled
Respect predecessors and love juniors
Tolerance, patience, humility and respect
Follow Tao as the guide and truthfully repent

19. Conclusion:
Goals!!!!
Follow our True Nature and express the virtues of our True Nature
Fulfil Vows!!!
These will lead to the path of Enlightenment!
First step of cultivation, must establish goals or make vows.
This is our platform to express the virtues.
With our compassionate hearts, souls of others can be saved from suffering. With the fulfillment of our vows, will lead to the path of Enlightenment.