Twelve great vows
twelve great vows
十二大願 (Jpn juni-daigan )
Also, twelve vows. The vows Medicine Master Buddha made while engaged in bodhisattva practice to be fulfilled upon his attaining enlightenment, according to the Medicine Master Sutra.
They are;
(1) to emit light that will illuminate innumerable worlds and make all persons equal to him, without any distinction between them;
(2) that his light will penetrate and illuminate the darkness inherent in the minds of people, causing them to accomplish whatever they want at will;
(3) to cause people to gain whatever they need;
(4) to preach the great vehicle teaching and cause people to dwell in the way of enlightenment;
(5) to enable people to keep precepts and prevent them from falling into the evil paths of existence;
(6) for those whose sense organs are lacking or defective, to mend them or provide new ones;
(7) to heal all ills and provide peace and joy to those who are suffering from illness;
(8) to enable those women who wish to change into men to fulfill their wish so that they may attain enlightenment;
(9) to free people from erroneous views and lead them to correct views and enlightenment;
(10) if there are those who are imprisoned and tortured by the authorities, to release them from suffering;
(11) if there are those who are tormented by hunger and thirst, to satisfy them with fine food and drink so that they can taste his profound teaching; and
(12) to give fine robes to those who have no clothing so that they may protect themselves from the cold and heat. Among these twelve vows, the Medicine Master Sutra accords the highest regard to the seventh, the vow to heal all ills.
