This version* of “The Sutra of Ksitigarbha’s Fundamental Vows” is a colloquial English translation of the ancient 7th century Chinese sutra translated from Sanskrit by Master Siksananda of the Kingdom of Khotan. “Ksitigarbha” is a Sanskrit word meaning “earth treasury”, which reflects the hidden treasure in the minds of all sentient beings, and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s specialty and merit is His “power of vow” – He vowed not to become a Buddha until all beings, including those in hell, are...

Nama Arya*-Ksitigarbhaya Bodhisattvaya Mahasattvaya, Rid my guilt and sin! Nama Arya-Ksitigarbhaya Bodhisattvaya Mahasattvaya, Enlighten me! Nama Arya-Ksitigarbhaya Bodhisattvaya Mahasattvaya, Transform my body! Nama Arya-Ksitigarbhaya Bodhisattvaya Mahasattvaya, Save my life! Nama Arya-Ksitigarbhaya Bodhisattvaya Mahasattvaya, Cure my illness! Nama Arya-Ksitigarbhaya Bodhisattvaya Mahasattvaya, Heal my wound! Nama Arya-Ksitigarbhaya Bodhisattvaya Mahasattvaya, End my pain! Nama...

1. This Sutra is addressed to You and Me (0:55) 2. Knowing the Dharma of “What is Suffering and What is Happiness” is our initial connection with the Three Jewels (3:17) 3. Knowing the Dharma of “Suffering and Happiness” is learning the Dharma of the Four Noble Truths (5:44) 4. Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva-Mahasattva is the Prime Representative of the Dharma of the Power of Vows (9:11) 5. Knowing the Invisible World (11:39) 6. The “Ten Virtues and Ten Evils” is the link from the Visible World...

"Ksitigarbha’s Gatha" Alas! We, the suffering beings born in this Dharma-Declining Period, Our grave, sinful deeds steer us right into the murky realms. The three poison fires of the mind bring forth misfortunes, and The seven deeds of action and speech offend ghosts and gods. Reincarnating repeatedly on the karmic path is not His wish. Drifting in and out of the evil paths contradicts His grace. Who will rescue us out of the infinite and endless sufferings? The kindness and mercy of...

“O Ksitigarbha! Today, I earnestly entrust to you these celestial beings and humans: In the future, if there are celestial beings or virtuous men and women who plant a few virtuous roots according to the Buddha-dharma, even if these virtuous roots are as small as a strand of hair, a particle of dust, a grain of sand or a droplet of water, you will apply your miraculous power to swiftly rescue them and protect them. Be sure that they will gradually make the vows to pursue the Bodhi and...

The Buddha said to Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva: “This Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva has the most intimate relationship with sentient beings in Jambudvipa. If I were to describe the details of how He benefits and uplifts those sentient beings who behold His image and learn about His name, I would not be able to do so even by taking one hundred thousand kalpas of time. Therefore, Avalokitesvara, you must apply your miraculous power to circulate this Sutra so that sentient beings in the Saha World can...

“O God of Solid-Firm-Earth! In the future, if there are virtuous men and virtuous women who can make offerings to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, read ‘The Sutra of Ksitigarbha’s Fundamental Vows’ and also practice the Sutra teachings accordingly, then you shall protect them with your miraculous power. Do not let them hear all the harmful disasters and unpleasant events, lest the harms reach them. Not only will you be protecting these people, but Lord Sakra, Lord Maha-Brahma and their subordinates,...

At that time, strengthened by the majestic powers of the Buddha, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva-Mahasattva stood up from His seat, kneeled down on His right knee and brought His palms together. Reverently, He addressed the Buddha: “O Bhagavat! I have been observing sentient beings who have been reincarnating on their karmic paths, and I appraised their meritorious blessings according to the dana they have performed. Some exerted great effort, and some did very little. Some of them enjoyed their...

At that time, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva-Mahasattva expressed His wish to the Buddha: “O Bhagavat! Today I would like to disclose the ways and means, for the good of future sentient beings, of how they can obtain great benefits between their births and deaths… If all sentient beings of the present and future, whether they are celestial beings, or humans, or men, or women, can chant even one of the Buddhas’ names, they will gain infinite merits. And how much better will it be to invoke many...

The Buddha said to Yamaraja: “The temperaments of sentient beings of Southern Jambudvipa are characterized by extreme stubbornness and unwillingness to yield. They are very difficult to mediate and tame. Look at this Mahasattva! In the past one hundred thousand kalpas, He has continued to rescue them one after another, without a moment of rest. He only wishes that they could reach liberation sooner. For those beings with grave, sinful deeds, including the ones who have fallen into the worst...

“Bhagavat! These sentient beings who are habitually inclined toward evil will always make some petty evil suddenly grow into an infinite and enormous one. Hence, while they are on the verge of death, their parents and other dependents should help to gather some capital for them so they can have resources to meet the challenges of the journey ahead… If these dying persons committed many evil deeds, then the deeds will magnetize the evil realms. However, when their relatives and dependents...

“Therefore, Samantavipula! All of you should know that Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva has such enormous, unspeakable, great miraculous power that enables Him to accomplish one hundred quadrillion beneficial matters. Sentient beings of Jambudvipa have very special bonds with this great Bodhisattva. If these sentient beings have heard about the name of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, seen His image and learned about this Sutra – even three words, five words, one gatha or one sentence – they will have superb...

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva explained further for Samantabhadra Bodhisattva: “Your Kindness! These hells are perceived by evil-doing beings and magnetized by their karma in Southern Jambudvipa. The karmic force is extremely powerful – its strength is hard to overcome – as high as Mount Sumeru and as deep as the deepest sea. It creates immense barriers for practitioners during their pursuit of virtuous learning. Therefore, all you sentient beings should never overlook any evil, nor should you...

Then, the Buddha said to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva: “Before all those sentient beings gain their deliverance, they lack firm disposition and direction. If habitually they lean towards the evil direction, they will tend to attract evil conditions and commit evil karmic deeds. If they habitually lean towards the virtuous direction, they will attract virtuous deeds and obtain innumerable virtuous consequences.  Nevertheless, all sentient beings are at all times influenced by their environments...

At that time, Lady Maya, the Buddha’s mundane mother, reverently brought her palms together in front of her chest and asked Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva: “O Holy One, when sentient beings in Jambudvipa commit various karmic deeds, how different in severity are the deeds? And what kinds of retributions will these sentient beings receive?” Ksitigarbha answered… “In southern Jambudvipa, the five evil deeds that will attract grave retributions are as follows... Noble Mother, if any sentient beings...

At that time, Bhagavat extended His golden-bronze-colored arms to bless and touch the heads of one hundred quadrillion asamkhyeya divided-identical Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva-Mahasattvas, who came from all of the worlds—an unthinkable, indiscussable, immeasurable and unspeakable number. The Buddha said to the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattvas: “I have taught and influenced many obstinate, hard-to-tame beings in this foul time with the Five Contaminations... However, there are still many untamed beings...

At that time, Sakyamuni Buddha said to the Dharma Prince Manjusri Bodhisattva-Mahasattva: “Look at all the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, devas, nagas, ghosts and gods, from this Saha World and other worlds, from this land and other lands, now assembled here in Trayastrimsa Heaven to attend this dharma gathering...  These sentient beings are all related to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva-Mahasattva. From past infinite kalpas, some of them have been delivered and transformed; some will be delivered and...

As a disciple of the Three Jewels, I __(your name)__ , in front of the image of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva-Mahasattva and with utmost sincerity and respect, make the following grand vows: Namah Ksitigarbhaya Bodhisattvaya Mahasattvaya! Namah Ksitigarbhaya Bodhisattvaya Mahasattvaya! Namah Ksitigarbhaya Bodhisattvaya Mahasattvaya! I vow: that all sentient beings and I will often receive, uphold, study and chant The Sutra of Ksitigarbha’s Fundamental Vows; I vow: that while receiving,...

We bow deeply before the feet of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva-Mahasattva! We respectfully make offerings and pay homage to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva-Mahasattva! We take refuge in Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva-Mahasattva! We pray that Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva-Mahasattva will swiftly and urgently rescue ______________ and all newly deceased beings. We pray that Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva-Mahasattva will strengthen us with kindness and mercy, deliverance and fearless-miraculous power as we make a vow to study...

With utmost sincerity, I contemplate the following thoughts: I solely vow that when I open The Sutra of Ksitigarbha’s Fundamental Vows, it will be as if I am personally attending the assembly in Trayastrimsa Heaven, listening to the teachings of Sakyamuni Buddha, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva-Mahasattva and many other Bodhisattva-Mahasattvas! I vow: As I read this Sutra, it will be as if the Buddha, the Bodhisattvas, God of Solid-Firm-Earth, Deva Yamaraja and many ghost kings are directly...

"The Four Grand Vows" Sentient beings are infinite, I vow to transform them all; Troubles are countless, I vow to end them all; Dharma conveniences are limitless, I vow to learn them all; Unsurpassed Buddha-dharma is boundless, I vow to realize them all. • • •  "Opening Prayer before Reading a Sutra" This unsurpassed, profound, intricate and wondrous dharma is hard to encounter even in one billion kalpas of time. Now I have the chance to see, hear, receive and uphold it, I vow to unlock...

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