Calligraphic Representation of the Ten Great Vows of Bodhisattva Samantabhadra (Puxian Pusa)

Wify has a change of heart in regard to her foray into Chainese calligraphy, or more specifically, her readiness to post her works in the Net. For her maiden effort, she has written the Ten Great Vows of Bodhisattva Samantabhadra (Puxian Pusa in Chinese).

Described in Wikipedia as "the Lord of the Truth in Buddhism", Bodhisattva Samantabhadra "represents the practice and meditation of all Buddhas", and "made the ten great vows which are the basis of a bodhisattva". "Literally “He whose bounty is omnipresent”, he represents the Buddhist ideals of Law and Compassion".

I have suitably adorned her calligraphic work with images taken from here. Instead of attempting to translate the ten great vows, couched in crisp 4-word stanzas, into English, I decided to search the Net for the equivalent English text and found one here.

Here then, are the Ten Great Vows of Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, in wify’s Chinese calligraphy adorned by my layout design, followed by the English translation, the correspondence being from left to right (Chinese) and top to bottom (English).


First, Pay homage and respect to all Buddha’s.

Second, Praise all the Buddha’s.

Third, Make abundant offerings.

Fourth, Repent misdeeds and evil karma’s (actions).

Fifth, Rejoice in others’ merits and virtues.

Sixth, Request the Buddha’s to teach.

Seventh, Request the Buddha’s to remain in the world.

Eighth, Follow the teachings of the Buddha’s at all times.

Ninth, Accommodate and benefit all living beings.

Tenth, Transfer all merits and virtues universally.

As admonished by Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, “Good men, even if all the Buddha’s of all the ten directions were to speak continuously, for as many eons as there are fine motes of dust in an incalculable number of Buddha lands (worlds), the merits and virtues of the Buddha could never be fully described.

Those wishing to achieve these merits and virtues should cultivate ten vast and great practices and vows.”