Introduction

Those who have received Bodhisattva vows and Tantric vows should know that the commitments of these vows are the basic foundation upon which the realizations of Mahayana and Vajrayana will grow. If we neglect these commitments our practice of Mahayana and Vajrayana will be powerless. Je Tsongkhapa said,

The two attainments both depend on
My sacred vows and my commitments
Bless me to understand this clearly
And keep them at the cost of my life.

The Perfection of Wisdom Sutras and Lamrim teachings explain extensively the practice of the six perfections as the commitment of the Bodhisattva vows. The six perfections are the practices of giving, moral discipline, patience, effort, concentration and wisdom motivated by the compassionate mind of bodhichitta. Through sincerely engaging in the practice of the six perfections we can fulfil all the commitments of our Bodhisattva vows, including the commitments to abandon the eighteen root and fortysix secondary downfalls.

In the practice of giving love, if we sincerely cherish all living beings there is no basis for incurring any downfalls of the Bodhisattva and Tantric vows because these downfalls are necessarily motivated by self-cherishing.

Although there are many commitments of Tantric vows, such as abandoning many downfalls, especially the fourteen root downfalls, through sincerely practising the nineteen commitments of the five Buddha families we can fulfil all the commitments of Tantric vows. Through fulfilling our commitments of the Pratimoksha, Bodhisattva and Tantric vows we can make quick progress on the path to enlightenment.

We should know that in truth our commitments of the Pratimoksha, Bodhisattva and Tantric vows are the only method to solve our own and others’ problems and the only method to make ourself and others happy. This is what we really need. We should never think that our commitments are like heavy luggage but always think that they are a wish-fulfilling jewel that has been given to us by Buddha, and we should keep them purely at the cost of our life.

Geshe Kelsang Gyatso 2007