What is so special about a promise made to all sentient beings?
Just think about it. All our promises are meant for limited groups of people. For example, the prime minister of Japan makes promises to all Japanese citizens, while the president of the United States does the same for all U.S. citizens. In both cases, these promises are made to a limited group. No promise can be made randomly. Even Sakyamuni Buddha and all the other buddhas are not capable of making such a promise. Although all buddhas make certain promises of their own, these always come with conditions. These are promises made to people capable of performing certain things. Amida Buddha alone has made a promise to all sentient beings. Amida’s absolute salvation is for one and all, without any form of discrimination. This is because his ability to save us far surpasses that of the other buddhas. Are there any other reasons why the ocean is used as a metaphor for Amida Buddha’s Vow? Yes. The ocean also has another defining characteristic: it is the final destination of all rivers. The
