ZEN THE FOUR VOWS
Sentient Beings Are Numberless, I Vow to Liberate Them
Desires are Inexhaustible, I Vow to Put an End to Them
The Dharmas Are Boundless, I Vow to Master Them
The Method of Zen
"I have done my best." That is about all the philosophy of living that one needs....Lin-yutang.
The Buddha's Way is Unsurpassable, I Vow to Become It
In the various Bodhisattva vows (sometimes called the Bodhisattva Precepts) of Mahayana Buddhism, the bodhisattvas take vows stating that they will strive for as long as samsara endures to liberate all sentient beings from samsara and deliver them into Nirvana.
The Bodhisattva does not seek bodhi (Awakening) solely for him/herself, but chiefly for the sake of freeing all other beings and aiding them into the bliss of Nirvana. This can be done by venerating all Buddhas and by cultivating supreme moral and spiritual perfection, to be placed in the service of others.
Bodhisattvas vow to amass inconceivable amounts of merit (punya), which they will dedicate to all other sentient beings, so as to help them attain Nirvana and Awakening. Such great vows are made out of compassion and the bodhisattva devotes his/her powers to helping others attain Nirvana.
A fine example of a Bodhisattva vow is found at the very end of the Avatamsaka Sutra by Samantabhadra.
Buddhist lay persons may take the bodhisattva vows in order to initiate their spiritual journey.
Hands of Light: A Guide to Healing Through the Human Energy Field
Paralumun New Age Village