The path of the Bodhisattva is not merely a spiritual aspiration — it is a lifelong training, rooted in discipline and lived through precepts. In Mahāyāna Buddhism, the Bodhisattva precepts represent a radical evolution in Buddhist ethics, placing compassion and the welfare of others at the very heart of moral action.
As Mahāyāna teachings developed, they began to reassess and extend earlier Buddhist moral codes. The most influential articulation of Bodhisattva ethics is found in the Bodhisattva-bhūmi, attributed to Asaṅga. This text sets out a systematic code of conduct for Bodhisattvas, dividing precepts into two broad categories: (1) deeds “analogous to monastic defeats” — serious violations that entail a temporary fall from the Bodhisattva path, and (2) “misdeeds” — failures to cultivate wholesome qualities or help others effectively .
Asaṅga identifies four key actions that can cause a Bodhisattva to suffer a serious moral setback:
- Praising oneself and belittling others out of a desire for gain or respect.
- Withholding material help or teachings from those in need, due to attachment or stinginess.
- Acting out of intense anger — harming others physically or emotionally, and refusing to accept apologies or reconciliation.
- Rejecting the true Bodhisattva teachings and instead promoting distorted or false doctrines .
These are not simply rule violations. Each undermines the core motivation of the Bodhisattva: to serve beings with humility, generosity, patience, and truth. Violating these precepts damages not just one’s progress, but the trust and welfare of others.
In some traditions, such as East Asian Buddhism, further elaborations of the Bodhisattva precepts are given in texts like the Brahmajāla Sūtra. These include ten major and forty-eight minor precepts, covering everything from caring for the sick and avoiding meat, to protecting the environment and teaching others with clarity and sincerity .
What makes the Bodhisattva precepts unique is their orientation toward others. Unlike precepts in early Buddhism that emphasize personal restraint, these precepts expand morality into a field of active compassion. They call the practitioner not just to refrain from harm, but to cultivate love, wisdom, and altruistic action at every opportunity.
Importantly, these vows are not confined to monastics. Mahāyāna opened the Bodhisattva path to laypeople. Many devout lay practitioners today take these vows formally in ceremonies, such as the Jūkai rituals in Zen, or the lay ordinations in Chinese and Tibetan Buddhism. In these moments, ordinary people commit to extraordinary aims: to live ethically for the sake of all beings, and to turn their life into an offering of compassion.
The Bodhisattva precepts are living vows. They are not rigid commandments, but fluid guidelines rooted in the wisdom of emptiness and the power of love. They invite us to live with care, to act with courage, and to walk a path where every thought and deed is dedicated to the awakening of all.