Preface
The Great Compassion of Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha was manifested by his profound Great Vow to uproot misery from and impart peace of mind to all sentient beings. This is evidenced by the fact that even though he has already attained the stage of the Patient Endurance of the Uncreate and has comprehended and realized the nature of the Dharma for an incalculably long time, yet he does not desire to attain Buddhahood nor to dwell in the realm of eternal rest and light. On the contrary, Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, using the power of his Great Vow, assumes various transformation bodies to meet the needs of and to convert all sentient beings, according to their natures, throughout many different worlds, even attempting to free all the beings suffering in the various hells.To this purpose, Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha has taken the Great Vow as follows: ” I shall attain Buddhahood only when every last sentient being has been converted and saved; and, furthermore, if Hell itself is not completely emptied of suffering beings, I vow never to enter Buddhahood.” How great and how wonderful is the limitless compassion of this Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha!
Ksitigarbha has innumerable and inconceivably great merits, and he has appeared again and again, during innumerable kalpas, in evil worlds stained by the five defilements, worlds without a living Buddha, in order to convert all sentient beings. So if anyone sincerely and wholeheartedly concentrates while reciting his name and, simultaneously, reverently makes an offering to Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha. then he or she can acquire all kinds of benefits and happiness. If anyone hears the name of and the Dharma words spoken by Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, then he or she can be freed from all kinds of obstacles, defilements and suffering. If anyone can recite this Bodhisattva’s name continuously, at all times and in all places, then he or she can reduce karma, be distant from and be unaffected by any sort of evil, neither falling onto the three evil paths with their attendant suffering nor encountering the eight sad conditions or any of the numerous evil actions. In addition, his or her intelligence will become honed to the clarity, sharpness and keenness of a fine swordblade so that such a person may frequently meet Buddhas, realize the highest virtue and create good roots, enabling him or her to listen to the Right Dharma and to open suddenly his or her mind to the highest wisdom.
Contents
Preface
Preface to the Second Edition
Acknowledgments
CHAPTER I
Miracles in The Paplace Ot The Trayastrimsas Heaven
CHAPTER 2
The Assembly Of Innumerable Transformational Ksitigarnhas
CHAPTER 3
Contemplation On the Karmic Connection Between Sentient Beings
CHAPTER 4
The Karmic Retribution Of Sentient Beings In Jambudvipa
CHAPTER 5
The Names Of The Various Hells
CHAPTER 6
Tathagata’s Praises
CHAPTER 7
Benefitting The Living And The Dead
CHAPTER8
The Praises Of Yamaraja And Others
CHAPTER 9
The Recitation Of The Buddhas’ Names
CHAPTER 10
Appraisal Of The Meritorious Virtue Gained From Almsgiving
CHAPTER 11
Protection Of The Dharma By The Deiteis In Charge Of The Land
CHAPTER 12
The Benefits Of Seeing And Hearing
CHAPTER 13
The Commendation Of Human Beings And Devas
Transfer-of-Merit Vow (Parinamana) For All Donors