Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha
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After being told by the Arahat, the girl disposed of her precious belongings, and with the money she had an image of the Exalted Buddha drawn and paid homage to it. Again, she begged to know where her mother was. Suddenly, one night, she saw the Buddha in the midst of a bright golden light as big as Mount Sumeru, telling her thus, "Your mother will be born to your family as a son of a servant, and will be able to speak as soon as she can feel cold and hunger." Before long, the servant in her family gave birth to a son. The newly-born child spoke to the girl three days after his birth. This newly-born infant said to the girl who was weeping bitterly, "Whatever evil deeds one has done, one will receive punishment without exception. I am your mother! After my departure from you, I have been cast into a dreadful Hell to suffer severe punishment.
It was on account of the good deeds offered by you that I am now born as a son of your servant. But, owing to the evil deeds which I committed during my life, I can only live to the age of thirteen, and will again be cast into the Hell. My child, what ways and means can you find to relieve me from my sufferings?" Upon hearing this, the girl was certain that the newly-born infant was her mother. -
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thank you very much, geforce for translating. really appreciate it!Originally posted by geforce:The Buddha told Empty Space Treasury Bodhisattva, "Listen attentively, listen attentively, I shall enumerate them and describe them to you.
"Good men or women in the future may see images of Earth Store Bodhisattva and hear this Sutra or read or recite it. They may use incense, flowers, food and drink, clothing, and gems to give gifts and make offerings. They may praise, behold and bow to him. Such beings will benefit in twenty-eight ways:
First, they will be protected by gods and dragons.
Second, their good roots will increase daily.
Third, they will amass supreme causes pertaining to Sagehood.
Fourth, they will not retreat from Bodhi.
Fifth, their clothing and food will be abundant.
Sixth, they will never be infected by epidemics.
Seventh, they will never be in disasters of fire and water.
Eighth, they will never be threatened by thieves.
Ninth, they will be respected by all who see them.
Tenth, they will be aided by ghosts and spirits.
Eleventh, women who want to can be reborn as men.
Twelfth, women who want to can be daughters of leaders of nations and officials.
Thirteenth, they will have an upright and proper appearance.
Fourteenth, they will often be born in the heavens.
Fifteenth, they may be emperors or leaders of nations.
Sixteenth, they will have the wisdom to know past lives.
Seventeenth, they will attain whatever they seek.
Eighteenth, their families will be happy.
Nineteenth, they will never undergo any disasters.
Twentieth, they will leave the bad karmic paths forever.
Twenty-first, they will always arrive at their destination.
Twenty-second, their dreams will be peaceful and happy.
Twenty-third, their deceased relatives will leave suffering behind.
Twenty-fourth, they will enjoy blessings earned in previous lives.
Twenty-fifth, they will be praised by sages.
Twenty-sixth, they will be intelligent and have keen faculties.
Twenty-seventh, they will be magnanimous and empathic.
Twenty-eighth, they will ultimately realize Buddhahood. -
Originally posted by geforce:
thank you..... -
no problem.
u can read about the sutra from here
http://www.siddham.org/yuan_english/sutra/earth_13.html -
thank you....
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The girl then asked the newly-born child, "Since you were my mother in your last life, you ought to know what sins were committed by you, so that you were cast into Hell." The child answered, "I have committed two sins, both by killing lives and speaking evil as well as scolding others.
Without your help, by practising good deeds, I can never be relieved from my sufferings." The girl then asked the infant, "What kind of suffering were you subjected to in Hell?" The mother replied, "The sufferings were so numerous that I can not fully relate them, even if given a thousand years to do so." Upon hearing this, the girl then wept bitterly again, "May my mother be relieved from Hell forever after?" Later, the child died at the age of thirteen. -
Meanwhile, the girl was seen calling, "Oh, Buddha of the ten directions of Space, please be compassionate and listen to me. If my mother can be relieved from the three States of Suffering or be born into an superior family, or will never be born a female again, I now make a strong vow in front of the image of the Buddha of Pure Lotus Eyes—I shall continue to forge ahead unremittingly to relieve all suffering beings from Hells, as well as in any state of suffering from every Universe and lead them to real Salvation. I shall accept Buddhahood only when I have completed the relief of all beings from their sufferings."
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After making such a firm declaration, the Buddha of the Pure Lotus Eyes then told the girl, "You are really a filial daughter to make such a strong vow for the benefit of your mother. May your mother be born as a Brahmacarin, a young Brahman, after living for thirteen years. She will then live for a hundred years. After that, she will be reborn in the Universe, where she will not suffer anymore, and there she will enjoy life for kalpas and kalpas, until she finally achieves Buddhahood. Then, she will be able to convert as many humans as the grains of sand in the Ganges River."
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Shakyamuni Buddha told the King of Devils, "The Arahat, who helped the girl with bright eyes to relieve her mother, is Aksayamati Bodhisattva. The mother of the girl with bright eyes is, at present, the Bodhisattva of Emancipation. The girl with bright eyes is at present the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva."
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Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva was noted for his compassion and sympathy through kalpa after kalpa by making innumerable vows to lead the erring world to Salvation. If any male or female of the future, through ignorance, does not practise good deeds, but commits sin through actions, words and thoughts, or ignores the law of Cause and Effect, they will always suffer in any one of the States of Suffering.
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But, after the chance of meeting a person with wisdom who persuades them to pay respect to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, even if only for a short length of time, they will certainly be relieved from the States of Sufferings.
Anyone who relies on Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, pays homage to him, or sincerely praises his meritorious acts, makes offerings of scented flowers and robes, jewels and various foods and beverages, will be reborn in the realms of celestial happiness for innumerable kalpas. When the effect of these meritorious deeds comes to an end, they will be reborn as kings of countries for hundreds of kalpas. These rulers will remember the links of causation in their previous lives. -
Then Shakyamuni Buddha told Isavaradevaraja "Because the Infinite powers of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva prove to be so great and the benefits he bestows on beings are so inconceivably boundless, that is why you Bodhisattvas must remember his Sutra and endeavour to propagate it far and wide.
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"Isavaradevaraja then addressed Shakyamuni Buddha, "Honoured of the World, be not apprehensive; we, millions and millions of Maha Bodhisattvas, will surely carry out your instructions and, by the grace of your Infinite powers, we shall propagate the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra far and wide and bring happiness and benefit to the beings of the Samsara world." After this promise Isavaradevaraja returned to his seat with hands clasped in adoration.
The Maharaja Deva Kings of the four quarters rose reverently from their seats and said to Shakyamuni Buddha, "Honoured of the World, since Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva has made such great vows kalpas and kalpas ago, why are there still unconverted beings and why was it necessary for Ksitigarbha to renew his vows?" Shakyamuni Buddha told the four Deva Kings, "Very well, your question is very good. For the welfare of the four Deva Kings, devas and beings of the Heavens or the worlds, at this time and for the future, I shall tell you how Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva with great compassion, relieved erring beings of the Samsara world from the ocean of birth and death, leading them to emancipation". -
The four Deva Kings replied, "We will listen most attentively to your words." Shakyamuni Buddha continued, "Although Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva has converted erring beings through the kalpas, he is still not satisfied. He has great pity for those who wander in sin, knowing that no matter how hard they try, they will fall back into erring actions again and again. They are like link-grass which spread far and wide. Therefore, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva has renewed his vows again and again. He has unceasingly tried to find upaya (devices) suitable for saving the sinful and converting them to the Eternal Truth ."
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Then Shakyamuni Buddha spoke again to the four Deva Kings, saying, "If Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva encounters beings who commit sin by killing, he helps them to realise that such sins shorten their lives. If he encounters thieves and robbers, he will lead them to understand that such evil actions will bring suffering and poverty to those who commit them. When he meets adulterers, he tells them that they will be reborn as pigeons which are inseparable. He tells those addicted to harsh language that they will be born into quarrelsome families. If scandalmongers are met, then he warns them of the danger of being born without tongues or with horrible boils in their mouths. He assures those with hot temper that they may risk being reborn with ugly faces and deformed bodies. Misers will not be successful in gaining their wishes, greedy beings will suffer hunger and thirst, and sickness of the throat. When he encounters hunters, he warns them that they are in danger of dying by violence. Those who are guilty of disrespect for their parents will die in warfare. Those who burn forests will die mentally unbalanced.
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Those who are unkind to step-children will eventually receive the same treatment. Those who catch living things in nets will be separated from their children and families. Those who despise the Triple-gems will be reborn deaf, dumb and blind. Those who have no respect for the Teachings of the Buddha are always reborn in the evil realms of suffering. Those who steal from temples will be reborn in Hells for kalpas and kalpas. Monks and nuns guilty of sexual misconduct will be reborn as animals endlessly. Also the laity will be included in this punishment if they are well instructed in the precepts but violate them. Those beings who harm people with boiling water, fire, cutting or otherwise injuring them will, in their next life, receive the same treatment. Those who encourage others to break the precepts shall be reborn as animals—- always suffering from hunger. Those who are guilty of stupid extravagance will never get their wishes fulfilled. Those who are proud and look down on others will have low births. Gossips and tale-bearers will be reborn without tongues or else with one hundred tongues. Those who cling to wrong views will be reborn in uncivilised places and endure suffering."
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"Erring beings who commit sins in actions, words and thoughts are countless, that I can only tell you some of them. Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva knows that erring being are different from one another and he accommodates himself to lead and teach them all, leading them to conversion. Evil beings suffer in this life-time for their evil deeds and upon death will be reborn into the Hells for kalpas and kalpas before they can emerge therefrom. It is the duty of you Deva Kings of the Four Quarters to protect your subjects and countries and lead them away from the countless sins."
After hearing this discourse, the Deva Kings wept and departed sorrowfully, with clasped hands, reverently. -
Great Vow Bodhisattva
(Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva)
Earth Store Bodhisattva, one of the Four Great Bodhisattvas in Buddhism, is the Bodhisattva with the greatest vow. His vow is:
If Hell is not empty
I will not attain Buddhahood -
Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha -
why not become an omniscient buddha and help more ppl?
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This is the mantra that Ksitigarbha heard from Buddhas equaling the number of sand grains of the river Ganga. He made offerings to them and then received this mantra. This mantra is to be used for any difficulties, problems; it is the best one to do for any problems in any situation. Even reciting four or five times, just a few times, it is very powerful. It is powerful to recite or just to think of the name of the bodhisattva. It is very, very powerful.
tsimbo tsimbo / dze tsimbo / aga ga tsimbo / bagara tsimbo / om ah bara tsimbo / bara tsimbo / badzira tsimbo / aroga tsimbo / dehama tsimbo / tsatewa tsimbo / sadenewa tsimbo / bewaroga sharwa tsimbo / owashama tsimbo / nyana tsimbo / bagasama moni ran-nga tsimbo / chana tsimbo / begimaba ria tsimbo / shashe dala maba tsimbo / bea dahso / dama haley / dombay abbey / satasey / satabasaley / geley / gela garaba / bara baretey / hasaley / barebey / paresata bendaney / benra / tsatsa tsatsa / heleneley / agata / take takelo / tare tare / nelematey / nemtey gulemela / om gutsibatey / arregerey / gutashamaley / dunga dunga dungurey / huru huru huru / gunodumeley / marito / naretey / mendata / harakam rem / huru huru //
Alternative mantra, which Rinpoche advised to do in preference to the above one:
tayata muni mo re / muni gha bhe / muni ki li dha ye / muni rogi ba tza le / muni hali de / muni gha me shu bha khye / mirla bhag / khe bhaa la la bhag khye / so ri kirta / tor na kir tsa le / bha tag sha kir te / ku ku la mir le / ava khya sa re / er ha ki li bha / muni bhaa thaba soha
Short Mantra
om ah khtiti garbha thaleng hung
This practice was translated, compiled and checked by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
(from http://www.medicinebuddha.org/ksitigarba.htm) -
Ksitigarbha has a deep relationship with beings of the earth – humans, and especially with the hungry ghosts and hell beings. Because these are the most difficult to raise into a more fortunate condition due to their previous unwholesome actions, and because of his past vow to save them all, Ksitigarbha has been known as the Teacher of the Dark Regions.
"If I do not go to hell to help them, who else will go?"
is the famous declaration popularly crime or the karma, he is willing to have a connection with any being, and to help free them from suffering. After he had practiced the perfections of the bodhisattva for many lifetimes, he was ready for the attainment of Buddhahood. However, he chose to remain among sentient beings in this period before the coming of Maitreya Buddha because of his compassion for all suffering beings. According to his vow, he will not become a Buddha unless all the sentient beings in the hells are relieved of their suffering. Ksitigarbha's patient support of sentient beings in the realms of hells is similar to the earth's support of all forms of life. Based on this comparison, he bears the name Ksitigarbha which means "treasure of the earth".
Praise by Buddha to Ksitigarbha:
You have generated stability of thought and pure thought (altruism / bodhicitta) and eliminated the sufferings of immeasurable sentient beings. I see (sentient beings) receiving happiness like the wish granting jewel, and like the vajra you cut the nets of the doubt (of others). You offer the Destroyer, Qualified-Gone-Beyond-Ones holy offerings with great compassionate thought and perseverance. You liberate the sentient beings from the sufferings with oceans of wisdom. Because you have no fear (delusions), you have gone beyond samsara.
This is especially beneficial for those who have heavy problems, serious health problems, big projects or financial difficulties. I will suggest it is extremely powerful to recite every day at least four or five times or more, depending on how crucial it is also, for protection. Even to grow crops well and to protect land and crops.
It explains in the sutra the extensive benefits and qualities, like the sky, of the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, like skies of benefit to all beings. There have been experiences, similar benefits received by those who practice Ksitigarbha.
(from http://www.medicinebuddha.org/ksitigarba.htm) -
Ksitigarbha Sutra 5
The Names Of The Various Hells
At that time, Samantabhadra Maha Bodhisattva requested Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and said, "My meritorious One, please be kind enough to relate to devas, the dragons and all beings of the Samsara world, in the present and the future, the names of different Hells and the kinds of punishment for committing sins, so that beings in the future generation will realise the result of evil deeds and therefore will avoid evil."