Can anyone explain chapter 4 of this sutra? On why, despite Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha's powers, he remains unable to fulfil his vows? Can't really understand Buddha's explanation in the sutra.
Then the Devarajas from the four directions rose from their seats and, with palms joined, respectfully addressed the Buddha, saying, "O World Honored One, since Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha took such grand vows vast long kalpas ago, how is it that he has not yet completed his work of deliverance and that he is now, even again, taking extensive, immense vows? It is our sole hope that you, O World Honored One, will explain this to us."
The Buddha responded to the four Devarajas, "Excellent, excellent! Now I am going to tell you and the present and future devas and human beings about the expedient things which Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha is doing on the paths of birth and death in Jambudvipa of the Saha World to render merciful and compassionate deliverance and liberation to all sinful and suffering beings."
The four Devarajas said, " Yes, indeed, O World Honored One, we will be delighted to listen."
The Buddha said to the four Devarajas, "From vast, long kalpas ago until the present time, Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha has been delivering and liberating sentient beings, but he has not yet completely fulfilled his vows. Since he has mercy and pity on all sinful suffering beings in this world and sees that their entanglement will not be cut off for countless kalpas in the future, he again has taken further colossal vows to encourage all the Bodhisattvas to resort to hundreds of thousands of myriads of millions of expediencies in Jambudvipa of the Saha World in order to teach and convert them.
Excerpted from http://www.sinc.sunysb.edu/clubs/buddhism/ksitigarbha/chap4.html
Originally posted by Beyond Religion:Can anyone explain chapter 4 of this sutra? On why, despite Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha's powers, he remains unable to fulfil his vows? Can't really understand Buddha's explanation in the sutra.
Excerpted from http://www.sinc.sunysb.edu/clubs/buddhism/ksitigarbha/chap4.html
Simple answer: because there is and always will be suffering unless all beings become enlightened about the nature of suffering, ksitigrbha will have to bring relief to those in suffering.