Vows and Dedication of Merit for the Eight Precepts of Fasting (aṣṭāṅga-upavāsa-śīla)

Original text: 我今字某。离此八事。奉持八关斋法。不堕三恶趣。持是功德。不入地狱饿鬼畜生。八难之中。恒得善知识。莫与恶知识从事。恒得好父母家生。莫生边地无佛法处。莫生长寿天上。莫与人作奴婢。莫作梵天。莫作释身。亦莫作转轮圣王。恒生佛前。自见佛。自闻法。使诸根不乱。若我誓愿向三乘行。速成道果。

Explanation: This passage is a vow and dedication of merit (pariṇāmanā): "My name is so-and-so; may I depart from these eight matters and uphold the practice of the eight precepts of fasting, so as not to fall into the three evil destinies. By the merit of holding the eight precepts of fasting, may I not enter the eight difficulties, including the hells, the realm of hungry ghosts, and the animal realm. May I constantly meet with good spiritual friends and not associate with bad spiritual friends. May I always be reborn in a family with good parents, not born in frontier lands where there is no Buddha-dharma, not born in the heavens of long life, not be made a slave to others, not become a Brahmā deity, not take the body of Śakra, nor become a wheel-turning sage king. May I always be born before the Buddha, able to see the Buddha and hear the Dharma myself, with my six faculties undisturbed. If I vow to practice toward the three vehicles, may I swiftly accomplish the fruits of the path."

This vow and dedication of merit is very important, showing that all aspirations will be fulfilled: one can choose for oneself what to do and what not to do in future lives, and the benefits are immeasurable. Therefore, by making such a vow, the wishes of future lives will automatically come to pass, and the fruits of the path will be swiftly and naturally accomplished.