Date: 01/31/2026 02/01/2026
Location: Star River Meditation Center
Teacher: Yunquan Huang
Dharma Talk
The Great Vow of the Five Hundred Bodhisattvas
In ages past, the Bodhisattva Kuangye manifested as a spirit, the Bodhisattva Sanzhi manifested as a deer, the Bodhisattva Huiju manifested as a monkey, the Bodhisattva Li’ai manifested as an antelope, and the Bodhisattva Jinlou manifested as a king of geese. In all, there were five hundred Bodhisattvas, each manifesting in the forms of various birds and beasts, and from their bodies shone the radiant light of wisdom. Each Bodhisattva raised a bright lamp, holding it high so that its light illuminated the heavens and the earth, for the five hundred Bodhisattvas were on their way to make offerings to the Buddhas of all directions.
When the Bodhisattva Yixin(lit. “Doubtful Mind”) saw the five hundred Bodhisattvas transforming into various forms, he asked Bodhisattva Kuangye,
“Why do you transform yourselves into such forms in order to make offerings to the Buddhas of the ten directions?”
Bodhisattva Kuangye replied,
“Because in the distant past, ninety-nine kalpas ago, there was a Buddha named Vipasyin. At that time, I and these five hundred Bodhisattvas were all brothers born of the same parents. We upheld the Five Precepts, practiced goodness, aided others, and together made offerings to Buddhas such as Śikhin, Viśvabhū, and Krakucchanda. At that time, Bodhisattva Sanzhi made a great vow before Buddhas such as Śikhin, saying:
‘May I in future lives manifest in the form of spirits and ghosts, in order to teach and transform the countless beings who commit evil due to poverty. Even if there are fierce and terrifying spirits, I will expound to them the Dharma of the Three Vehicles, help them attain liberation, and then accomplish the Bodhi Path.’”
He continued,
“At that time, more than twelve thousand ghost kings also made great vows for this world, saying:
‘We vow to subdue all sentient beings, cause them to revere the Dharma and seek the Path, be reborn in wholesome destinies, and transcend the ocean of suffering of cyclic existence. If there are evil spirits who destroy the true Dharma, we will certainly go forth to subdue them. Therefore, we take on these ghostly forms in order to tame stubborn beings, lead them to take refuge in the true Dharma, cultivate the Buddha Path, and generate the vow to attain Buddhahood.’”
Bodhisattva Kuangye then looked at Bodhisattva Yixin and continued,
“Now that I manifest as a spirit, it is for the sake of all sentient beings in the human world. I possess vajra mantras that prevent all evil spirits from harming beings. Whether Brahmins, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, or Śūdras of the four castes, I can cause them to abandon evil intentions. I can also cause all birds, insects, and beasts to give rise to wholesome minds, refrain from wrongdoing, and distance themselves from all evil acts, terror, and fear.
“I have made a great vow to guide sentient beings. By reciting this vajra Dharma-mantra, I cause all beings to refrain from evil conduct. Therefore, I now manifest as a spirit in order to fulfill the vows that I have made.”
