Afflictions are inexhaustible;
I vow to end them all.  

After we make the fundamental vow to universally help all beings, we vow to eliminate our afflictions, the second of the four great vows. While there are innumerable afflictions, the major ones are greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, and doubt about the sage’s teachings. Falling prey to these afflictions, and many others, our minds and bodies are in a continuous state of agitation and self-absorption.

Suffering from physical pain and mental distress, we are hardly in a state to help anyone.

So how do we change this? How do we end our afflictions?

We can begin by observing the precepts, foremost of which are no killing, stealing, and false speech. Our abiding by the precepts will lead to our attaining meditative concentration. In this calm, clear state, we will see things as they really are. We can see how our energy-draining, time-consuming afflictions are holding us back from helping ourselves, but much more importantly, from helping others. 

Sentient beings are innumerable; 

I vow to help them all.  

This aspiration to help all beings is the first of the four great vows of Buddhas. With much enthusiasm to learn and practice the teachings, many people become enthralled with the abundance of Buddhist teachings. But in the vows, we see that mastering boundless Dharma doors, the methods of learning and practice, is the third vow.

The first is to give rise to the vow to help all beings.

All beings? Can’t I just help myself?

If we practice to solely help ourselves, our mind will remain narrow and biased. A broad and impartial mind, like that of an awakened being, is what we strive for. With our firm holding of the first great vow—the aspiration to help all sentient beings—our great compassion will be generated and compel us to be diligent on the path.

Without compassion and diligence, we will give up in the face of obstacles. So the first vow inspires and encourages us, and serves as our fundamental vow. The other three vows serve to help us fulfill this first vow.