Sentient beings are numberless,
I vow to free them.

Delusions are inexhaustible,
I vow to end them.

The Dharma Gates are boundless,
I vow to open them.

The Enlightened Way is unsurpassable,
I vow to embody it.

The Four Vows
Zen Buddhist

As many of you know, I’ve written extensively at Wisdom and Life about Buddhism.  I find it very easy to be in that place.

Interesting that the first stanza states that:
Sentient beings are numberless,
I vow to free them.

That’s what Wisdom and Life is about or replacing the prayer’s words with mine:
Removing the spiritual blinders of those who want to see.

As far as I’m concerned, that’s one of the ultimate reasons for incarnating:
Those of us who know we are spiritual beings having a human experience MUST offer assistance to those who want to move closer to the divine.  That’s what I believe the first stanza of the prayer is telling us.

As far as the second stanza goes:
Delusions are inexhaustible,
I vow to end them.
Who is to say what is delusion and what is truth.  That reminds me of an old Moody Blues song Nights in White Satin:
But we decide which is right
And which is an illusion

Seriously!
Who gets to decide which is illusion or delusion?
Who gets to decide which is truth or right?

According to Wikipedia a delusion is:
Is a belief held with strong conviction despite superior evidence to the contrary.

Hmmmm.  Doesn’t that encompass the world religions?  Now do you understand why I said who gets to decide what is real and what isn’t?  Everything is real for the person experiencing it.

There are no delusions.
There is only the divine.

The Dharma Gates are boundless,
I vow to open them.
I think this stanza is saying that as long as we believe we can move mountains.
Faith, like the Dharma Gates are only as boundless as we allow.  If our faith is open and boundless then we can walk through anything, then we can move anything.  It is the responsibility of those who have boundless faith to show the way, to fling wide the gates that are closed, to remove the spiritual blinders who are wearing them.

Are you with me?
Will you do your best to fling open the gates?
Will you do your best to show the way?
Will you remove the blinders of others?

The Enlightened Way is unsurpassable,
I vow to embody it.
The Enlightened way is the ONLY way.  I see that now and I do my best to embody it on a daily basis.  Of course, having this shell encompassing my spirit, my soul, my TRUE nature I do slip.  But now understanding that we are more spiritual, more light based, I find it easier to return to the spiritual path, to the enlightened path.

And it IS my responsibility to show others the way as well.
Will you join me?

Be Happy!  Be Well!  Be Positive!
Blessings to you.
—
Chris