A Bodhisattva is a friend of the world who, motivated by compassion, resolves to attain enlightenment to benefit all living beings. To maintain and strengthen this resolve, the Bodhisattva promises to avoid certain actions that would cause his or her compassion to decline. These promises or vows are guidelines for a more compassionate way of life, and practising them in daily life will help us to follow the Bodhisattva’s path to full enlightenment. A full explanation of these vows can be found in The Bodhisattva Vow.