The Buddha Speaks of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra

• 2009novice

  1 Apr 12, 00:25

  佛说地���� (炖煌�本)
  The Buddha Speaks of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra
  
  (Translated from Dunhuang Treasury Version to English, with Comments by Shen Shi'an)
  
  尔时地è—�è�©è�¨ä½�在å�—æ–¹ç�‰ç’ƒä¸–界，以净天眼观地狱之中å�—苦众生，é“�碓æ�£(duìdÇŽo)ã€�é“�磨磨ã€�é“�çŠ�(lí)耕ã€�é“�锯解，镬(huò)汤涌沸，猛ç�«æ—¦å¤©ï¼Œé¥¥åˆ™å�žçƒ­é“�丸，渴饮铜æ±�，å�—诸苦æ�¼æ— æœ‰ä¼‘æ�¯ã€‚
  
  Then, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, who was abiding in the southern direction's world of lapis lazuli, with his pure heavenly eye, observed the hells' suffering beings, [suffering from] metal pounding, metal grinding, metal ploughing, metal sawing and dismembering, in cauldrons overflowing from boiling, with fierce fires reaching the sky, swallowing hot metal balls when hungry, drinking molten bronze when thirsty, experiencing all suffering and afflictions without rest.
  
  地������之，�从�方�到地狱中，与阎罗王共�一处别床而座，有四�因缘，一者�阎罗王断罪�凭，二者�文案交错，三者未�死，四者�罪了出地狱池边。
  
  Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, who cannot bear seeing this [suffering], immediately, from the southern direction, comes into the hells [here]. With King Yama together at one place, [but] seated apart, for four kinds of causes and conditions. First, fearing that King Yama's convicting of misgivings are not believed [by the guilty, or 'cannot be believed due to misjudgement']. Second, fearing that official [karmic] documents are mixed up [criss-crossed, thus leading to misjudgements]. Third, [fearing that] some are yet supposed to die. Fourth, for those who have received retribution [for their misgivings], who are exiting by the side of the pool(s) of the hells.    
  
  若有善男�善女人，造地����，写地����，�念地����，此人定得往生西方��世界，从一佛国至一佛国，从一天堂至一天堂；
  
  If there are good men and good women, who create Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s images, write this [The Buddha Speaks of] Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra, and are mindful of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s name, these persons will definitely attain rebirth in the Western [Pure] Land of Ultimate Bliss, from one Buddha Land, [able to access] to another one Buddha Land, from one heaven, [able to access] to another one heaven.
  
  若有人造地����，写地����，�念地����，此人定得往生西方��世界，此人�命之日，地���亲自�迎，常得与地���共�一处。
  
  If there are those who create Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s images, write this [The Buddha Speaks of] Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra, and are mindful of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s name, these persons will definitely attain rebirth in the Western [Pure] Land of Ultimate Bliss. These persons, on the days they renounce their lives, will be personally received by Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, always being together with Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva in one place.
  
  闻佛所说，皆大欢喜信�奉行。
  
  Hearing what the Buddha thus said, all rejoiced greatly, received this with faith, and practised accordingly.
  
  Comments:
  
  1. Out of great compassion, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is constantly looking out for beings in suffering, for wherever help is needed and possible to render. This naturally includes the hells, where there is the most suffering. He is also with King Yama (a wrathful Dharmapala deva; Dharma-protector god) to support his work of meting out justice. With King Yama together at one place, which represents their like-mindedness in wanting to serve justice, he is however seated apart, which represents Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's objectivity.
  
  2. Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is in the hells to help ensure that the guilty realise their mistakes, to offer second opinions in case judgements and karmic records are muddled up, to ensure those who reached the hells are karmically there at the right time, as some might die in untimely ways, who karmically should resurrect to their previous lives, thus escaping the hells (for good later, if they make amends in time.) He also receives and guides those departing from the hells, so as to ensure they are reborn accordingly, with appropriate parting advice where possible.
  
  3. These deeds above do not limit his boundless skilful means in the hells. For example, he also encourages those with the appropriate conditions to be mindful of Buddha, so as to swiftly create great merits (to dilute the effects of negative karma) and connect to the Other-power of a Buddha to leave the hells. However, it is very difficult for the very evil who have weak good roots to practise this well. (The more reluctant one is to practise mindfulness of Buddha well in the human realm, the harder it will be to do so if one reaches the hells. See http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Amituofo/message/303 to check if your Faith, Aspiration and Practice is resolute enough, and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Amituofo/message/248 for the story of 'The Boy Who Lacked Good Roots'.)
  
  4. It is interesting that Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is sometimes mistaken as King Yama in Chinese culture. In a way, since he aids King Yama in his work, he is as if an extension of King Yama, and can override King Yama's role in authority too. In this sense, King Yama's final decisions and actions are ultimately bodhisattvic in nature, to admonish the evil and to awaken repentance in them. Judgements in the hells will always be karmically fair and accurate - as manifestations of the natural processing of karma.
  
  5. Even when there seems to be some 'unfairness' or 'misjudgements' along the way, they are still natural karmic processes in function, unfolding and ironing out themselves, with lessons to learn for the guilty. Such is the case for 'unfair' sentences in the human world too, which can be appealed against, just as Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva can change the mind of King Yama. Appeals fail only when one is truly guilty in one way or another. In the larger picture, everything turns out fair. If karma can process itself naturally, is there a need for the roles of King Yama and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, in helping to ensure there is justice? Ultimately, no. However, just as it is useful to have good human judges in our world to serve as living moral examples and purveyors of justice, their compassionate presence makes a lot of sense.
  
  6. Perhaps not all hell-beings get to encounter King Yama and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, as there are non-Buddhist recollections of hell experiences (if they are true accounts) without mention of them. Perhaps the presence of the two can be seen as skilful manifestations by beings of great compassion, only perceived by those who have the karmic affinity to receive their teachings of both gentle and tough love, as exemplified by Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and King Yama respectively. Of course, with or without King Yama and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, life in the hells, being a realm manifested and sustained naturally by karma, goes on.
  
  7. If King Yama is, as described in the sutras, an actual being, could the demonic hell guards be 'actual' too? Or are they merely manifestations from hell-beings' guilty minds? It is possible both ways. They can be karmically manifested from hell-beings' minds and/or be 'actual' beings, also experienced karmically. Usually, they are taught as the first to emphasise the primary cause for their appearances being karmic, of heir own making. Hell guards being 'actual' is only possible when they are enlightened beings manifesting to teach hell-beings via the wrathful way, because the suffering in the hells is so intense for hell-beings that no ordinary beings there would be distracted by the urge to cause others to suffer. In this sense, any 'actual' hell guards must be very special. They must be 'above the law', as in not being able to suffer themselves, and not being able to create any negative karma, as there is nowhere worse to go to as a negative karmic result of inflicting great suffering upon others. However, when we speak of 'hell in our world', such as during a World War, there can be actual torturers, who are also experienced karmically by their victims, although the torturers definitely create negative karma if their intention is to harm.
  
  8. The mindful and thus meritorious practice of creating Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s images, copying of this sutra, and/or mindfulness of his name enables one to reach Amituofo's Pure Land if the process of doing so includes the proper Three Provisions of Faith, Aspiration and Practice. (See http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Amituofo/message/229 for details) The practice of mindfulness of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's name is the easiest practice for doing so, and the guidelines for doing so are the same as those when practising mindfulness of Amituofo's name, especially crucially applicable on the deathbed, in order to connect to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, to be received by him, to be directed to Amituofo's Pure Land. Upon reaching Amituofo's Pure Land, as empowered by Amituofo's vows, one will be able to access other Pure Lands, heavens and any other realms to accumulate wisdom and merits, and practise compassion.
  
  9. This sutra about Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, 'The Buddha Speaks of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra' (佛说地����), is very concise, in comparison to 'The Sutra of the Original Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva' (地���本愿�), which is much lengthier. However, despite its brevity, it doubly focuses (repeats) on how Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva vows to personally guide beings to Amituofo's Pure Land by default. This is in contrast to the longer sutra which teaches the benefits of mindfulness of Buddhas in general, without mention of specific ones. (Note that the specific Buddha or Bodhisattva one is mindful of will appear by corresponding cause and effect when dying.) All great Bodhisattvas will guide beings to be reborn in the Pure Lands these beings choose. For beings unsure of which Buddha or Bodhisattva to be mindful of, and which Pure Land to go, mindfulness of Amituofo is recommended directly by default as his Pure Land is universally recommended by all Buddhas.
  
  10. It should no longer be mistaken that Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's good works are confined to guiding beings in the hells, as they extend to guiding beings to Pure Land too. (He guides beings to avoid and leave the hells; not to reach them, and the point furthest and safest from the hells is Pure Land.) In fact, as stated in the sutra, he also manifests in Amituofo's Pure Land to always accompany and guide beings to Buddhahood. This is after all, the complete scope of perfect compassion, the guiding of beings at every level - from the 'worst' to the 'best'. As Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva personifies perfect Practice in Buddhism, and was entrusted and empowered by Shakyamuni Buddha to guide beings in our world to enlightenment (at least) before the arrival of Maitreya Buddha, his choice of guiding beings here to Amituofo’s Pure Land also represents it being the most skilful choice for us, both due to its excellence and our great affinity with it.
  
  11. There is an account of a man who felt closer to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, who requested that the longer sutra above be chanted to aid his smooth passing, instead of the relatively more popular Amitabha Sutra with the name of Amituofo. However, amazingly, after his confirmed passing, a single recital of 'Namo Amituofo' was heard from his body left alone in his room. What could had happened is that the deceased managed to connect to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, who appears and teaches him to be mindful of Amituofo with the Three Provisions, to be born in his Pure Land. This redirection is aligned to the teaching in this sutra!
  

• Dawnfirstlight

  1 Apr 12, 23:17

  I can't remember the exact words in the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra, but it said if there's a family member who chants  Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's name for 1000 days, the family will not get into financial problem, this family will be ä¸°è¡£è¶³é£Ÿã€‚This is proven but I shall not elaborate here. Just trust what is written in the sutra.

• mr music

  2 Apr 12, 09:05

  地���本愿�

  Very few young people will chant the above. The benefits are immeasurable and infinite.

• Beautiful951

  2 Apr 12, 09:15

  If I am reciting amitabha buddha's name, should I also recite the name of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva?

• mr music

  2 Apr 12, 09:23

  you can chant both

• 2009novice

  2 Apr 12, 21:11

  Originally posted by Dawnfirstlight:

  I can't remember the exact words in the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra, but it said if there's a family member who chants  Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's name for 1000 days, the family will not get into financial problem, this family will be ä¸°è¡£è¶³é£Ÿã€‚This is proven but I shall not elaborate here. Just trust what is written in the sutra.

  
  Hi Dawn,

  Are you referring to Chapter 12?

  是人更能三七日中，一心瞻礼地�形�，念其�字，满于万�。当得��现无边身，具告是人，眷属生界。或于梦中，��现大神力，亲领是人，于诸世界，�诸眷属。更能�日念�����，至于�日。是人当得���所在土地鬼神，终身�护，现世衣食丰溢，无诸疾苦。乃至横事�入其门，何况�身。是人毕竟得��摩顶授记。

• Dawnfirstlight

  4 Apr 12, 20:34

  Originally posted by 2009novice:

  
  Hi Dawn,

  Are you referring to Chapter 12?

  是人更能三七日中，一心瞻礼地�形�，念其�字，满于万�。当得��现无边身，具告是人，眷属生界。或于梦中，��现大神力，亲领是人，于诸世界，�诸眷属。更能�日念�����，至于�日。是人当得���所在土地鬼神，终身�护，现世衣食丰溢，无诸疾苦。乃至横事�入其门，何况�身。是人毕竟得��摩顶授记。

  Yes, this is what I'm referring to. In fact, just recite his name daily. It still works when one did not recite his name 1000 times a day and have not fulfilled 1000 days, just recite his name daily.

• Fcukpap

  7 Apr 12, 20:24

  Thanks Dawn! perhaps reciting Dawnfirstlight would remind one to keep to the side of truth and compassion....
• Fcukpap

  7 Apr 12, 20:25

  :)
• Dawnfirstlight

  8 Apr 12, 13:56

  Originally posted by Fcukpap:

  Thanks Dawn!

  perhaps reciting Dawnfirstlight would remind one to keep to the side of truth and compassion….

   

• Dawnfirstlight

  8 Apr 12, 13:59

  

  Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva

  地è—�è�©è�¨ï¼š“我ä¸�入地狱，è°�入地狱？地狱ä¸�空，誓ä¸�æˆ�佛；众生度尽，方è¯�è�©æ��。” Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's vow : If the Hell is not empty,I will not attain Buddhahood. 顶礼大愿地è—�王è�©è�¨ã€‚

• Deana

  30 May 12, 08:56

  There are 10 dates of each month that you need to take note of where you should chant more than usual. Chanting a book will take about 1hr 30 mins without breaks.

• Dawnfirstlight

  30 May 12, 22:15

  Originally posted by Deana:

  There are 10 dates of each month that you need to take note of where you should chant more than usual. Chanting a book will take about 1hr 30 mins without breaks.

  
  Are you referring to the å��斋日？Yeah, I understand it is better to chant without breaks. You must be very familiar in chanting this sutra and you must have chanted very fast as it takes you only 1 hr 30 mins to complete chanting it. For me, it takes me slightly more than 2 hours without stopping and I consider chanting quite fast.

• Deana

  2 Jun 12, 16:36

  Originally posted by Dawnfirstlight:

  
  Are you referring to the å��斋日？Yeah, I understand it is better to chant without breaks. You must be very familiar in chanting this sutra and you must have chanted very fast as it takes you only 1 hr 30 mins to complete chanting it. For me, it takes me slightly more than 2 hours without stopping and I consider chanting quite fast.

  
  Haha..correct, In the past I took more than 2 hrs to chant, now getting faster. I always chant together with all my shi xiong on Ksitigarbha's birthday every year and I am one of the slowest among the experts. I need to keep improving on my speed some more. Practice makes perfect.
• sinweiy

  4 Jun 12, 14:03

  Originally posted by Dawnfirstlight:

  

   

  nice pic! got higher res?

  /\

• Dawnfirstlight

  4 Jun 12, 23:50

  Originally posted by sinweiy:

  nice pic! got higher res?

  /\

  
  Yeah, I also find it nice but couldn't find higher res.

• Fcukpap

  4 Jun 12, 23:54

  

• bycai

  8 Aug 12, 10:05

  Originally posted by Deana:

  
  Haha..correct, In the past I took more than 2 hrs to chant, now getting faster. I always chant together with all my shi xiong on Ksitigarbha's birthday every year and I am one of the slowest among the experts. I need to keep improving on my speed some more. Practice makes perfect.

  Awesome! It's A Bird... It's A Plane... It's Superman it's great to chant several everyday, and merit of chant be transferred, especially to Pureland /\

• 2009novice

  14 Aug 12, 00:02

  hi all fellow buddhists,

  this friday is the 1st day of the 7th lunar month... please chant Di Zang sutra if you are free... dedicate all merits to the departed ones

  Amituofo.

  Jiayou

• sinweiy

  14 Aug 12, 13:40

  Originally posted by 2009novice:

  hi all fellow buddhists,

  this friday is the 1st day of the 7th lunar month... please chant Di Zang sutra if you are free... dedicate all merits to the departed ones

  Amituofo.

  Jiayou

  
  erm, ghosts gate open is bit chinese folk believe de.  they are around everyday. no need to open any gate.  :)

  but i think the more people believe the more they become more active though. recite also good. more better, everyday. :)

  ps: though Di Zang is more related to hell, while ghost and hell relation, i am still figuring.

  /\ 

• 2009novice

  15 Aug 12, 23:42

  Originally posted by sinweiy:

  
  erm, ghosts gate open is bit chinese folk believe de.  they are around everyday. no need to open any gate.  :)

  but i think the more people believe the more they become more active though. recite also good. more better, everyday. :)

  ps: though Di Zang is more related to hell, while ghost and hell relation, i am still figuring.

  /\ 

  
  oh haha yes u are right... but i try not to divert or slanting towards the attention to this ghost gates thingy

  what i meant is to use this opportunity to chant DiZang sutra, dedicate merits to all sentient beings

  why Di Zang is so popular among the Hells... not too sure, could be due to chinese folks belief

  Di Zang is thought to be benefitting all realms, especially for the devas too

   

• 2009novice

  15 Aug 12, 23:47

  oh yah really forgotten leh...

  Di Zang Pusa made a very serious vow... that could be main reason why Di Zang Pusa is so popular among the Hells...

  地狱未空，誓��佛....

• sinweiy

  16 Aug 12, 13:48

  yes, DiZang sutra is also describing the hell realm in detail. most of the folk or "tao" believes also took from here i think.

  /\ 

• Dawnfirstlight

  16 Aug 12, 15:30

  Many people thought Di Zang Pusa is in charge of hell realm only. In fact, Di Zang Pusa is not just 阴阳两利(benefits both hell and humans realm), according to the sutra, heavenly beings who know that they are about to rebirth in lower realm, can recite Di Zang Pusa's name to prolong their stay in heaven.

  

• Ihatemen

  17 Aug 12, 16:55

  Today is the 7th month, I need to chant 地���� religiously from today till 地���'s birthday, last day of 7th month. Hope my chanting helps all the unseen beings to gain enlightment and rebirth.