The Flower Adornment Sutra’s Practices and Vows of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva Chapter

Flower Adornment Sutra’s Practices and Vows of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva Chapter
Available in English & Chinese w/ pinyin

The Flower Adornment Sutra’s Practices and Vows of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva Chapter
華嚴經普賢菩薩行願品

In The Flower Adornment Sutra’s “Practices and Vows of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva Chapter,” Samantabhadra teaches that there are ten great practices and vows for us to cultivate.

This text outlines his vows for modern practitioners for better understanding and practice, with an emphasis on the last and most poignant vow: to dedicate all virtues and merits earned through good deeds to eternally benefit all sentient beings.

Providing a modern interpretation, Venerable Master Hsing Yun explains how we can understand and practice each one:

1. Pay homage to all Buddhas
    — Have respect for all sentient beings.
2. Praise the Tathagatas
    — Practice giving through language and speech.
3. Extensively cultivate making offerings
    — Create good affinities with others.
4. Repent and reform karmic obstacles
    — Practice introspection in daily living.
5. Rejoice in virtue
    — Purify our intentions.

6. Request the turning of the Dharma wheel
    — Request the teaching of the truth.
7. Request that the Buddhas remain in the world
    — Be respectful and courteous to the sagely and virtuous.
8. Always study with the Buddhas
    — Follow the wise.
9. Constantly accord with sentient beings
    — Have regard for the viewpoints and needs of sentient beings.
10. Universally dedicate all virtue
    — Integrate all Dharma realms.