Metaphysics Q&A 084 – Making Great Vows about reciting sutras
Q084: Master Lu, may I please ask you, before I encountered the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door, I made a vow to Bodhisattva in front of the altar that I will recite a certain sutra 100 times for my parents and myself to eliminate our negative karmas. This sutra is not included in the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door. I only recited that sutra several times, and then my friend introduced me to Master Lu’s blog and the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door, which I found to be very suitable for me. Since then I have been following your Dharma Door and started reciting Little Houses (Hsiao Fang Tzu) and performing Daily Recitation (Kung Ko). I have experienced many positive results. My question is: I have made a vow, should I continue to recite this sutra which is not included in the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door? Can I recite Little Houses while I recite sutras from another Dharma Door? Otherwise, what should I do? I sincerely ask Master Lu, the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door Secretariat, and all the Dharma friends to provide me with some advice.
A084:
First of all, you need to determine whether you have made the vow to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, or you have made the vow to foreign spirits or Karmic Creditors.
If you have made a vow to recite a certain number of sutras and mantras, and this vow was made to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, then the Daily Recitation and Little Houses that you are now reciting will be noticed by Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. For example, you originally planned to go to Beijing, and now you have decided to go to Shanghai instead. You do not need to go to Beijing first, and then go from Beijing to Shanghai. Buddhas and Bodhisattvas have great mercy and great compassion. They are watching over us and are aware of how we cultivate. The most important thing is that we sincerely cultivate our mind and practise Buddhism.
You do not need to specifically state that you have decided to follow another Dharma Door to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, because they are aware of every Right Dharma Door. Furthermore, beings in all of the heavens, and all other spiritual realms will be aware as well. If you have followed a Right Dharma Door in the past, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas will acknowledge it. Now that you have decided to follow another Right Dharma Door, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas would also understand and would not prevent you from your cultivation.
You can also inform Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of your decision by saying the following prayer, ”May the Great Merciful and Great Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva protect and bless me, <your full name>. I have started reciting Little Houses to repay my karmic debts. For the time being I am postponing my recitation of <name of the other sutras and mantras> until a later time. When the conditions allow, I will continue my cultivation.”
This is not considered to be breaking your vow. You are breaking your vow when you have made one stating that you will never eat live seafood, or that you will cultivate your mind and practise Buddhism, but you can no longer keep your vow. Generally, it is considered to be breaking your vow when you give up on practising some sort of good deed.
If you have made your vow to spirits or Karmic Creditors and have promised to recite a certain number of sutras and mantras, then it is best for you to keep your vow.
Q084: Master Lu, may I please ask you, before I encountered the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door, I made a vow to Bodhisattva in front of the altar that I will recite a certain sutra 100 times for my parents and myself to eliminate our negative karmas. This sutra is not included in the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door. I only recited that sutra several times, and then my friend introduced me to Master Lu’s blog and the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door, which I found to be very suitable for me. Since then I have been following your Dharma Door and started reciting Little Houses (Hsiao Fang Tzu) and performing Daily Recitation (Kung Ko). I have experienced many positive results. My question is: I have made a vow, should I continue to recite this sutra which is not included in the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door? Can I recite Little Houses while I recite sutras from another Dharma Door? Otherwise, what should I do? I sincerely ask Master Lu, the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door Secretariat, and all the Dharma friends to provide me with some advice.
A084:
First of all, you need to determine whether you have made the vow to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, or you have made the vow to foreign spirits or Karmic Creditors.
If you have made a vow to recite a certain number of sutras and mantras, and this vow was made to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, then the Daily Recitation and Little Houses that you are now reciting will be noticed by Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. For example, you originally planned to go to Beijing, and now you have decided to go to Shanghai instead. You do not need to go to Beijing first, and then go from Beijing to Shanghai. Buddhas and Bodhisattvas have great mercy and great compassion. They are watching over us and are aware of how we cultivate. The most important thing is that we sincerely cultivate our mind and practise Buddhism.
You do not need to specifically state that you have decided to follow another Dharma Door to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, because they are aware of every Right Dharma Door. Furthermore, beings in all of the heavens, and all other spiritual realms will be aware as well. If you have followed a Right Dharma Door in the past, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas will acknowledge it. Now that you have decided to follow another Right Dharma Door, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas would also understand and would not prevent you from your cultivation.
You can also inform Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of your decision by saying the following prayer, ”May the Great Merciful and Great Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva protect and bless me, <your full name>. I have started reciting Little Houses to repay my karmic debts. For the time being I am postponing my recitation of <name of the other sutras and mantras> until a later time. When the conditions allow, I will continue my cultivation.”
This is not considered to be breaking your vow. You are breaking your vow when you have made one stating that you will never eat live seafood, or that you will cultivate your mind and practise Buddhism, but you can no longer keep your vow. Generally, it is considered to be breaking your vow when you give up on practising some sort of good deed.
If you have made your vow to spirits or Karmic Creditors and have promised to recite a certain number of sutras and mantras, then it is best for you to keep your vow.
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