The Sutra of Ksitigarbha's Fundamental Vows: A Colloquial Translation

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 rescued.

“The Sutra of Ksitigarbha’s Fundamental Vows” has the most direct connection with us sentient beings in this chaotic, troubled and distressed era and world. The Buddha foresaw the suffering and chaos in this Dharma-Declining Period that we are now living in, which is due to our own individual as well as collective deeds.

Although there is still a lot of work to be done, the Buddha had a miraculous plan! Through His great kindness and mercy, before He went into nirvana, the Buddha entrusted us to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Mahasattva to be saved, rescued and guided, not just humans, but all beings in the six realms including celestial beings and especially those in the three lower realms – animals, hungry ghosts and hell beings.

The narrator, Paul, is an inmate who was under maximum security incarceration in the United States. He has been rescued by the Three Jewels and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva multiple times when faced with distress, troubles in mind, critical illness and life-death issues. We are moved by his serious, persistent vows to change himself and cultivate inwardly according to the Buddha and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s teachings. These experiences helped and inspired many Buddhist practitioners all over. We are grateful that Buddhist dharma friends are sharing their lives with us and validating that the miraculous power of the Three Jewels and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is real. And we are immensely honored to have the chance to witness one miracle after another.

This is an unprecedented project and would not have been possible without the gracious and generous support of the state correctional officers, the superintendent and the officers of the corrections center to whom we are deeply grateful. We are also very thankful to our audio editor and sound engineer, Jonathan Raz, for his caring, patient and detailed work that made it possible for the recording to be professional and pleasing to listen to. Due to the limitations of the recording circumstances and the narrator’s health condition, there are a few places where the recorded audio does not exactly reflect the printed version, or may have some background noise, and the voice may sound a bit different at times.

As Mahayana Buddhists, we are most grateful to have the chance to present this sutra recording to share with you all. From our experience, reading and/or copying this sutra helps to obtain calm, peace and inspiration; may your listening to it also bring the same.

And if you have any questions, we’d be honored to hear from you. Please feel free to contact us at [email protected].

May the Three Jewels and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Mahasattva bless and guide us all to find true liberation and peace!

Namaḥ Kṣitigarbhāya Bodhisattvāya Mahāsattvāya!

Society of Ksitigarbha Studies, USA

Our gratitude to L. Hsu for narrating the Preface.

*This recording is based on our first edition from 2017. A newly revised edition has been published in December 2022 with ISBN 979-8-218-12688-9 at Amazon www.amazon.com/dp/B0BQZDXL5V/ and can also be found at Blackwell's and other stores. Our website is www.ksitigarbha-studies.org.

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 Arya-Ksitigarbhaya Bodhisattvaya Mahasattvaya, Take away my suffering!

Nama Arya-Ksitigarbhaya Bodhisattvaya Mahasattvaya, Remove my fear!

Chant each line 4 times before chanting the next.

Composed by the late Master Sheng Chang Hwang

*Arya is a Sanskrit word meaning “noble”, “excellent” or “venerable”.

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 to the Invisible World (14:42)

7. Advice at the Times of Birth and Death (19:28)

8. The Principle of Giving: Nobility should care for the Indigent while Commoners should make offerings to the Three Jewels (20:32)

9. Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva-Mahasattva is the Prime Representative of all the Buddhas, Dharma and Samgha in the Ten Directions (21:13)

10. The Sutra of Ksitigarbha’s Fundamental Vows is the most important Sutra for all Sentient Beings of this Era and this Earth to make direct Connections with Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva-Mahasattva (23:11)

"Ksitigarbha’s Gatha"

Alas! We, the suffering beings born in this Dharma-Declining Period,

• • • 

"In Praise of Ksitigarbha"

The supreme enlightenment of the Buddha radiates with kindness and mercy!

“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 follow the unsurpassed path of Mahayana. Do not let them get lost on the path, thus forgetting their original vows because of the regrettable regression.”

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 forever enjoy blissful peace and happiness for hundreds and thousands of millions of kalpas.”

“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, as well as other celestial beings and their subordinates, will also protect them…

Eventually and certainly, they will be liberated from the Suffering Sea to validate the happiness of Nirvana.”

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 blessings in only one lifetime, others enjoyed their blessings for ten lifetimes, and there were some who received great benefits for hundreds or thousands of lifetimes.

What would make such immense differences? I solely wish that you, Bhagavat, will explain that to me.”

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 Buddhas’ names!

These sentient beings will gain great benefits while living, and at the time of their deaths, they will not fall into evil paths.”

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 evil realms, Ksitigarbha uses His ingenious, convenient and miraculous power to uproot the origins of their karmic causes and help them recollect their past.

Unfortunately, sentient beings of Jambudvipa have the habit of clinging to evil and attracting evil. They repeatedly come in and out of those evil realms. Therefore, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva has been extremely attentive, and after infinite kalpas have passed, He still continues to rescue those beings.”