Vow To Pay the Highest Homage and Respect to All Buddhas
“The Ten Great Vows of Bodhisattva Samantabhadra”, Avatamsaka Sutra
The First Vow: To Pay the Highest Homage and Respect to All Buddhas
Kumara Sudhana said to the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra:
“What course shall we follow, O Holy One, to fulfill all these virtues, from ‘paying homage to Buddhas’ to ‘dedicating one’s own merits’ to all beings”?
The Bodhisattva Samantabhadra replied to Kumara Sudhana: “O Noble-minded Man, as to what is said regarding the “homage and respect of the Buddhas”, it means that by the power of the Virtues and the Vows of the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, I (“I” means any person) have profound faith and deep understanding, as though I were face to face simultaneously with all the Buddhas of all the Buddha-worlds (such Buddhas) equal to the (flying) smallest dust-motes in number, throughout the worlds of Dharma and the empty space of the ten directions and the three periods of time. I worship and adore them constantly with my pure deeds viz. the bodily, vocal, and mental deeds.”
Before every Buddha in the Buddha land, I present myself by (miraculous) transformation in unutterable and innumerable bodies like unto the smallest specks of dust in number. With every one of my manifestations I pay homage to all the Buddhas of every Buddha-domain and such Buddhas are equal to the smallest dust-motes in number.
My homage will end when the limitation of infinite space is ended, as the space is boundless, so also is my homage to the Buddhas without end. So is it, when the spheres of beings are ended, the karmas of beings are ended, the sorrows of beings (klesa) are ended, these too are endless: even so is my homage to all the Buddhas endless. Thought following upon thought without interruption, and in bodily, vocal, and mental deeds without weariness.
Commentary
Who are Buddhas? We read the Flower Adornment (Avatamsaka) Sutra, “Sentient or insentient, all attain wisdom”.
So, all beings that have self-awareness and all things such as plants and minerals are Buddhas-to-Be. With respect for all beings and things, not just the present Buddhas, we will foster the heart of Universal Worthy Bodhisattva. His heart is different from that of most Bodhisattvas.
Buddhist practitioners are respectful to the Buddha, but this respect may not be completely sincere. Why not? If we are listening to a lecture, but suddenly think of an important appointment or have a call on our telephone or pager, what will we do? We will leave the hall immediately go to attend to business or the telephone call! So, our respect and belief are not genuine. If we were truly sincere and respectful, we would regard attendance at the lecture as our prime concern.But in fact, if we are listening to a talk on the sutra and someone tells us that there is a business opportunity that will make us a million US dollars, we will immediately leave the lecture hall. Our respect and belief are not genuine enough.
The profound respect of Universal Worthy Bodhisattva is perfectly genuine, regardless of whether it is for Buddhas, sentient beings or insentient objects. Why? He understands that they all have a Buddha nature. Therefore, offending a sentient being is offending a Buddha. Thus, we too should respect all beings.
Then how do we act towards tables and chairs? They are also to be respected as beings, for everything is the result of the joint force of all causes. What is the right way to show respect for all things? Prostrate to it three times a day? No, that is the way of a Buddhist idiot. To show respect to material objects, we just keep them orderly and clean. For example, books go neatly into a bookcase. When doing something, we are earnest and responsible, trying to do it the best we can. We treat people, matters and objects with equal respect. This is the virtuous way of Universal Worthy Bodhisattva. This is the expanded and perfected way of the Six Paramitas, and therefore the most perfect and effective way for Buddhist cultivation.
Resources:
The Practices and Vows of the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, Chapter 40, Avatamsaka Sutra
Commentary on The Ten Great Vows of Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, excerpted from the book, Buddhism: The Awakening of Compassion and Wisdom
