Under What Circumstances Can One Make a Vow to Remain in the Saha World?

In worlds like the Saha World, the three evil realms exist. If one vows to remain in the Saha World, one must at the very least ensure the ability to eradicate the karma leading to the three evil realms, eliminate the retribution of the three evil realms, and avoid falling into the three evil realms in future lives. To avoid the three evil realms, one must sever the three fetters. The three fetters are severed when the manas attains the fruit of enlightenment. Severing the three fetters eliminates the coarse and heavy bonds of afflictions; otherwise, one cannot escape the suffering of the three evil realms in future lives. It is not the case that merely severing the three fetters with the mind-consciousness can exempt one from the karma of the three evil realms. The afflictions of the mind-consciousness and the three fetters depend on the manas. If the manas is not severed, even if the mind-consciousness severs them, it is useless, for the mind-consciousness is governed by the manas.

Only after eradicating the five grades of afflictions in the desire realm and becoming a candidate for the first fruit (Sotāpatti) can one attain the first fruit and sever the three fetters. First, observe whether one possesses the five grades of afflictions, assess their severity, and determine whether they can be eradicated. Only then can one judge whether there is hope to sever the three fetters. Based on one’s actual circumstances, one should then make vows to avoid experiencing extreme suffering in future lives. If not handled properly, one might vow to remain in the Saha World yet suffer in the three evil realms for a long time. If one is oneself an object awaiting salvation, how could one possibly save others? Wouldn’t such a future life be filled with distress?

If one cannot guarantee the severance of the three fetters, or even ensure that the bonds of the mind-consciousness can be severed, one cannot avoid the three evil realms. Even if the mind-consciousness has severed the three fetters, if the manas still possesses them, one cannot avoid the karma of the three evil realms. Moreover, if the bonds of the manas are deep and the afflictions heavy, the three fetters of the mind-consciousness can arise at any time, uncontrollably, inevitably leading to the three evil realms in future lives. In such a case, making such a vow is equivalent to vowing to remain in the three evil realms and suffer. Therefore, one must be extremely cautious when making vows. What vow to make depends on one’s level of cultivation and actual circumstances. One must not act impulsively, disregarding everything. Wisdom is a valuable thing; one must use one’s intellect diligently, awaken wisdom, and only then take action.