The 8 vow labels
The twelve vows of the Medicine Buddha mention some needs more than once. We group them into eight types of action. Each type has a free label, checked with evidence. No label has been awarded.
These labels turn religious aspirations into practical action. They require no belief, do not heal and do not endorse a doctrine. The eighth vow is read in its ancient context: here it informs an equality criterion, without changing the text.
One label for each type of vow
Light
Vow 1 · Vow 2
Clear information, readable sources and no deception.
Essential needs
Vow 3 · Vow 11 · Vow 12
Food, clothing and shelter without exploiting poverty.
Right path
Vow 4
Help people find their way freely, without coercion or indoctrination.
Integrity
Vow 5
Keep ethical rules, repair wrongdoing and show understandable accounts.
Equality
Vow 8
Equal rights and safety, especially for women and excluded people.
Care and dignity
Vow 6 · Vow 7
Make recognised care and support accessible.
Wisdom and freedom of thought
Vow 9
Learn to verify, doubt freely and resist coercive control.
Protection and justice
Vow 10
Protect threatened people, defend their rights and prevent violence.
The “grand winners”
A grand winner holds all eight labels, each backed by a dated evidence file. This is neither a contest nor a ranking. A creation can progress step by step; a withdrawn label must be earned again with new evidence.
No vow label has been awarded to date.
Good intentions are not enough
We check actions, not just words. We refuse coercive control or forced estrangement, compulsory gifts or work, an unquestionable guru, healing claims based on energy or objects, unproven pseudo-treatments, abusive prices, hidden accounts and discrimination.
For every label: a clear identity and reachable person in charge, written consent, dated public evidence, fair prices and readable accounts, safety and freedom for everyone. No payment can buy a label. A serious alert triggers a new review; serious fraud means withdrawal.
How to request a review
- Choose the type or types that match work already done.
- Provide the responsible person’s consent, dated evidence and relevant accounts.
- Lapis also checks suppliers, working conditions and possible abuses.
- Publish only after review; regular checks and withdrawal if criteria are no longer met.
Text sources : The twelve vows, one by one, on Lapis · 84000 — Toh 504