The Four Great Bodhisattva Vows

SENTIENT BEINGS WITHOUT NUMBER WE VOW TO ENLIGHTEN

For a Bodhisattva, the eradication of one's own suffering is joined with the desire to aid in the eradication of all others' suffering as well. The real Bodhisattva identifies the immeasurable distress of all sentient beings as his own. With this Immeasurable Compassion (Maha-karuna), one can take the second vow:

VEXATIONS WITHOUT NUMBER WE VOW TO ERADICATE

The desire to win Supreme Bodhi, convert and liberate sentient beings, aid in the eradication of their distress, etc., should not be an impulse based on idle sentimentality or romantic notions of spiritual life. This noble aspiration can only come to completion provided that there is a strong foundation of wisdom. With wisdom only, and not otherwise, can one spread the Dharma and assist living beings. This wisdom arises from a keen desire to learn and practice the Buddha-dharma. Therefore, the Buddha said, "All Buddhas in the three periods arise from learning and practice." One who is not willing to learn will remain eternally foolish, and what foolish man or woman ever completed the Bodhi Tao, spread Dharma and assisted sentient beings? See: THE BUDDHA: Five Qualities of a Dharma Teacher.

As there is immeasurable distress in the lives of sentient beings, there are innumerable methods of Dharma practice. Therefore, the third vow of great compassion is as follows:

LIMITLESS APPROACHES TO THE DHARMA WE VOW TO MASTER

When one perceives the suffering of sentient beings, one vows to Enlighten sentient beings without number when perceiving the distress in one's life and that of others, one vows to eradicate vexations without end. Perceiving the myriad Dharma doors to Enlightenment, one vows to master them all. Perceiving the truth of Nirvana, one vows to attain the Supreme Bodhi.

THE SUPREME ENLIGHTENMENT WE VOW TO ACHIEVE

Enlightenment is Bodhi; Supreme Enlightenment is the Anuttara Samyak Sambodhi or the Buddha Fruit. Determining the Bodhicitta means using the faith of our worldly minds to vow to complete this path. However, if one is to complete this vow, one should have the support of the other three Great Vows. To arrive at Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi, one should have the desire to spread the Buddha-dharma and effect the liberation of all sentient beings.

Source http://www.angelfire.com/electronic/awakening101/four-vows.html