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Bodhisattva Vow Lyrics

Artist: Beastie Boys
Album: Ill Communication

As I Develop The Awakening Mind I Praise The Buddha As They Shine
I Bow Before You As I Travel My Path To Join Your Ranks,
I Make My Full Time Task
For The Sake Of All Beings I Seek
The Enlighted Mind That I Know I'll Reap
Respect To Shantideva And All The Others
Who Brought Down The Darma For Sisters And Brothers
I Give Thanks For This World As A Place To Learn
And For This Human Body That I'm Glad To Have Earned
And My Deepest Thanks To All Sentient Beings
For Without Them There Would Be No Place To Learn What I'm Seeing
There's Nothing Here That's Not Been Said Before
But I Put It Down Now So I'll Be Sure
To Solidify My Own Views And I'll Be Glad If It Helps
Anyone Else Out Too
If Others Disrespect Me Or Give Me Flack
I'll Stop And Think Before I React =
Knowing That They're Going Through Insecure Stages
I'll Take The Opportunity To Exercise Patience
I'll See It As A Chance To Help The Other Person
Nip It In The Bud Before It Can Worsen
A Change For Me To Be Strong And Sure
As I Think On The Buddhas Who Have Come Before
As I Praise And Respect The Good They've Done
Knowing Only Love Can Conquer In Every Situation
We Need Other People In Order To Create
The Circumstances For The Learning That We're Here To Generate
Situations That Bring Up Our Deepest Fears
So We Can Work To Release Them Until They're Cleared
Therefore, It Only Makes Sense
To Thank Our Enemies Despite Their Intent
The Bodhisattva Path Is One Of Power And Strength
A Strength From Within To Go The Length
Seeing Others Are As Important As Myself
I Strive For A Happiness Of Mental Wealth
With The Interconnectedness That We Share As One
Every Action That We Take Affects Everyone
So In Deciding For What A Situation Calls
There Is A Path For The Good For All
I Try To Make My Every Action For That Highest Good
With The Altruistic Wish To Achive Buddhahood
So I Pledge Here Before Everyone Who's Listening
To Try To Make My Every Action For The Good Of All Beings
For The Rest Of My Lifetimes And Even Beyond
I Vow To Do My Best To Do No Harm
And In Times Of Doubt I Can Think On The Dharma
And The Enlightened Ones Who've Graduated Samsara

Comments/Interpretations

by Dennis on 8/1/2008 8:54pm
Interesting song. Today, I found a male Thai brass Buddha attendant statue at a thrift store. I knew absolutely ZERO about Buddha before this. My studies somehow brought me to your song. I think the attendant I found is male. Anyway, I went back to look for the female... but no such luck. Anyway, does this mean anything?

by Sonny on 5/14/2009 1:34pm
It means you found a Buddha statue Dennis. Good for you, take it home and let it remind you to be mindful. This is The Way, summed up best: Mindfulness.

by Zha-sen on 5/31/2009 11:42pm
Too bad the Beasties used so much fuzz on the vocals. Although it added texture to the track it rendered the meaningful lyrics nearly inaudable. For accessable insights to the Buddhist Fa visit www.falundafa.org and learn to live the way of Truth-Compassion-Forbearance.

by Benjamin on 9/5/2009 3:35pm
Certainly a long way from 'Fight for your right (to party).' You go Adam.

by FrankieD on 10/21/2009 4:26pm
..."to travel is better than to arrive yo"...

by noahdmsanchez@earthlink.net on 10/20/2010 3:49pm
&noahdms& beastie boys , you're lyrics a.n.d. video makes non-violence all sentient beings,goes vegan 2SAVEthePLANET,my best girlfriend a.n.d. I are persuing bodhicitta to help all sentient beings be bodhisattva via our love a.n.d. kindness for each other . Yeaah AA NA SLAA OA for chilling our foolishness time. (FREE Leonard Peltier fpid# 89637-132 innocent man)bye bye &noahdms buddhist zapotec @ SEMINOLE &

by Alan Smithee on 5/4/2012 12:31pm
Namaste, MCA.

by David on 5/4/2012 2:35pm
Namaste MCA, you were an inspiration!

by Quite_Sad on 5/4/2012 2:55pm
To Adam Yauch,

May your soul rest in peace.

Thank you for the song like this one above.

-Quite_Sad

by BeastieFan on 5/4/2012 7:10pm
Maybe this song has even more significance now that MCA has left this lifetime, just earlier today... 5/4/12 May he continue to honor his bodhisattva vow in the next lifetime and until all sentient beings reach samsara...

by monica, atlanta, ga on 5/4/2012 9:53pm
i used to bliss out to this track on REPEAT!! love the message, love the ambiance, i really miss this brother. rest in peace, MCA!!

by Steve Goral on 5/5/2012 12:49am
The world just lost a true pioneer and innovator, may you rest on peace Adam.

by Thas_wass_up on 5/5/2012 1:05am
RIP my good man. Thank you for sharing your gifts with us.

by Just Me on 5/5/2012 1:26am
Adam - you helped me grow in so many ways, helped me find spirituality when my world was dark. You inspired me and will have always been a huge influence on my life. Thanks for the serious and light hearted music. RIP.

by Someday on 5/5/2012 11:46am
Venerable Sir,
Congratulations on your achievement. Your blessings will echo in this world for all time. Until we meet again...

Your humble student,

Me

by DJBilderberg on 5/5/2012 5:06pm
RIP Mr. Yauch. I've always loved the Beastie Boys (even the Cookie Puss and Hard Punk stuff before 'This Rock Hard' w/ Rick Rubin). I have all that old stuff on vinyl still today. Anyway, VOW has always been my favorite song, and I didn't truly know why (beside the awesome ambient background), until i got to read all the lyrics after hearing of your death. I'm not buddhist, but wish I could live life anywhere close to being as loving and mature as a Buddha. Love this track, even though all the lyrics are a mystery until you get to read them as you listen to the song. :)

by Jonathan on 5/8/2012 4:25pm
@Benjamin - Fight for your right was satirical, Adam was quoted several times how disappointed he was most people didn't understand that.

by @darbtx on 5/9/2012 2:01pm
MCA was an inspiring model for how an individual can evolve in a single lifetime. Dope.

by MarieN on 5/11/2012 8:12am
Adam...how wonderful your soul must be now! Away from the cancer and the limitations of the material body. Thank you for your love and wisdom during this lifetime.
Much love and respect.

by Yeshe Dorje on 6/12/2012 6:06pm
I wish an auspicious rebirth for you MCA- Om Ah Hung!

by Bob on 7/15/2012 5:40pm
May all who hear this song
or read its lyrics
always abide with equanimity
free from hatred and fear
and from every form of suffering.

May all beings quickly attain the pure and everlasting bliss
of that most perfect enlightenment

by Rob on 1/18/2013 8:22pm
All those years listening to the song when it came out, and i had no idea what the lyrics were saying. Great message over top great music.