10 Vows of Bodhisattva Universal Worthy (Bodhisattva Samantabhadra)

Bodhisattva Universal Worthy, known in Sanskrit as Samantabhadra, Chinese as Puxian and Japanese as Fugen, is a bodhisattva associated with practice, vows, and meditation in Mahayana Buddhism. He is the protagonist in the closing sutra of the Lotus Sutra, The Sutra of Meditation on Bodhisattva Universal Worthy, who taught the methods of meditation upon the Dharma of Emptiness as a way to repent and eliminate all negative karma.

In Chapter 28 of the Lotus Sutra, Bodhisattva Universal Worthy vowed to ensure widespread propagation of the Lotus Sutra in the Saha world.

 “O Bhagavat! Now I shall use my divine powers to guard and shield the Lotus Sutra. After the parinirvana of Tathagata, I will ensure that the Lotus Sutra is being widely propagated throughout Jambudvipa for eternity.” (Lotus Sutra 28: 1.15)

Bodhisattva Universal Worthy is often depicted as sitting on a six-tusked white elephant. He, together with Bodhisattva Manjushri, forms the Shakyamuni Trinity in Buddhism. This bodhisattva is also venerated by Tendai and Shingon Buddhism in Japan. In Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism, Samantabhadra is also the name of the Adi-Buddha (Primordial Buddha)– in indivisible Yab-Yum with his consort, Samantabhadrī.

In Avatamsaka Sutra (Flower Garland Sutra), Bodhisattva Universal Worthy made ten great vows in his path to attaining Buddhahood:

First, pay homage and make obeisance to Buddhas. (一者禮敬諸佛)

Second, praise Tathāgatas. (二者稱讚如來)

Third, make abundant of offerings. (三者廣修供養)

Fourth, repent unwholesome karma. (四者懺悔業障)

Fifth, rejoice in others’ merits and virtues. (五者隨喜功德)

Sixth, request the Buddhas to continue teaching. (六者請轉法輪)

Seventh, beseech Buddhas to remain in the world. (七者請佛住世)

Eighth, always follow the Buddha’s teachings. (八者常隨佛學)

Ninth, accommodate the needs of living beings so as to benefit them. (九者恒順眾生)

Tenth, universally transfer all merits to others. (十者普皆迴向)