The Sutra of Earth Treasury Bodhisattva’s Vows, also known by the abbreviated title, The Earth Treasury Sutra, is classified as one of the Mahayana sutras. This sutra primarily focuses on explaining filial piety, the law of karma, and the practice of great vows as exemplified by Earth Treasury Bodhisattva. Although the sutra text is easy to understand, the principles it contains are profound.

The Thirty-Seven Practices to Enlightenment is not a sutra, but a description of the thirty-seven practices needed to advance on the path toward liberation and attain awakening. The Thirty-Seven Practices to Enlightenment are considered a foundational teaching of the Buddha Dharma, and they are the essential supporting practices of the path.

The Medicine Buddha made twelve great vows, including the vow to lead sentient beings away from all kinds of hardships and disasters and guide them toward liberation. Sentient beings suffer from many physical and mental afflictions, especially from the Three Poisons of greed, anger, and ignorance. Sentient beings’ mental tribulations thus result in the 404 ailments, which bring anguish and suffering to their bodies and minds.

In Sanskrit, the Sutra of Infinite Meanings (also known as the Sutra of Innumerable Meanings) is called the Amitarthasutra. This sutra is one volume comprised of three chapters: the Chapter on Virtues, the Chapter on Expounding the Dharma, and the Chapter on the Ten Merits. Together with the Wondrous Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra and the Sutra of Meditation on Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, they form the Threefold Lotus Sutra. Before expounding the True Dharma of the Wondrous Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra, the Buddha first taught the Sutra of Infinite Meanings in the hopes that everyone in the state of unenlightened beings could develop great compassion and reach the Bodhisattva Path.