Indian-American author and alternative medicine advocate, Deepak Chopra, had a famous quote: “The world is a projection of our collective consciousness. If our collective consciousness reach that of peace, harmony, laughter and love, it will be a very different world. ” In that spirit, I am taking up Ksitigarbha Sutra (Earth Store Sutra) and review the teachings from several Venerable Buddhist Masters, based on the translation from the Earth Store Project by City of Ten Thousand Buddhas.
First some of the backgrounds. This sutra’s full name is Sutra of The Past Vows of Earth Store Bodhisattva (《地藏菩萨本愿经》）. The Sutra had been spoken by the Buddha towards the end of his life. Shakyamuni Buddha was born from his mother’s left ribcage, and his mother passed away after giving birth. When he became a Buddha, he learned that his mother, Lady Maya, had ascended to the heavens. After he had spoken the Dharma Flower Sutra （《妙法莲花经》）and before starting the Nirvana Sutra （《涅磐经》）, he thought of his mother and ascended to the Palace of Trayastrimsha Heaven. To help crossing over his dear mother, he stayed there for three months to expound the Dharma. And that brought forth this teaching of Ksitigarbha Sutra (or Sutra of the Past Vows of Earth Store Bodhisattva). In the sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha entrusted Ksitigrbha Bodhisattva to continue to help the sentient being after he pass away. Ksitigrbha Bodhisattva ensure Shakyamuni Buddha three times not to worry, he will do his best.
The sutra illustrates that Ksitigrbha Bodhisattva will not seek enlightenment until he has relieved all beings in the hell from suffering. “Past Vows” refers vows he had made since the origin—countless eons ago. Ksitigarbha is a transcendent bodhisattva of Mahayana Buddhism. He is one of the most popular of the iconic bodhisattvas, especially in East Asia, where he often is called upon to guide and protect deceased children. Ksitigarbha primarily is known as the bodhisattva of the hell realm, although he travels to all of the Six Realms and is a guide and guardian of those between rebirths.
Usually there are three “divisions” of the tripitaka: Sutras, Vinaya and Shastras. Sutras fall within the study of samadhi, Vinaya the study of precepts, and Shastras the study of wisdom. Sutras, Vinaya and Shastras are simply samadhi, precepts and wisdom. This Sutra is contained within the divisions of Samadhi and Vinaya because they discuss the precepts as well.
Depend on the type of text in the Tripitaka, it can also be categorized in terms of the Five Vehicles: there are the Vehicle of Humans, the Vehicle of Gods, the Vehicle of Sound Hearers [Shravakas], the Vehicle of Those Enlightened to Conditions [Prateyka-buddhas], and the Vehicle of Bodhisattvas. Sutra of the Past Vows Of The Earth Store Bodhisattva( Ksitigarbha Sutra) is contained within the Vehicles of Humans, Celestial Beings, and Bodhisattvas.
Ksitigarbha Sutra is to teach people about the importance of filial piety, to help beings embarking from this shore to arrive at the other shore, uprooting suffering, and repaying kindness. Filial piety toward parents and fraternal regard for siblings, i.e., courtesy toward one’s siblings [and peers]–no fighting. Filial piety and fraternal regard are the foundation for everyone. Building on the base of filial piety applying toward one’s own parents, one’s family, it eventually lead to the “greater filiality” which consider everyone’s parents as one’s own parents. That is “extending filiality for one’s elders to others’ elders”. Ultimately, filiality is the root and foundation of humanity. If one fails to be filial to one’s parents, one is remiss in the responsibilities of being human. People who are filial to their parents steer clear of the various illegal dealings, and abide by the law making them good citizens of the country. When all the people of the country have become good citizens, they can serve as good citizens of the entire world. They will lead humanity as a whole well onto the right track. Eventually this greater filiality can be developed into being true filiality. True filiality is when you become a Buddha.
Ksitigarbha Sutra 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. This sutra has been very popular in the Mahayana Buddhism tradition. It had been studied by many venerable masters. Here they summarized the most important take-away points: it is sutra of filial piety, the Will left behind by Sakyamuni Buddha, a classical textbook for code of conduct with family, community and society, and finally an important sutra to learn about karma laws. Master Meng Chan (梦参老和尚) went even further to put lots of efforts to disseminate this Sutra. Here he talked about the powerful effects of the sutra.
The United States has a great legal system and many fine institutions, especially the education system, which has made education widely available and better. It serves as an exemplar for the world. Just one more thing [to add to that]: if everyone also learns to be filial to his or her parents, and—as it is said, if they can further find that basis and source, then when everyone is filial to their parents, this country will definitely prosper. What is the point in parents having kids? After giving birth to them, the parents still have to raise them for the next 18 years, and then the kids fly away from the nest, leaving their aging parents behind. Sure, the parents can move into retirement homes and will have the government as their support system, but there is no kindred affection to speak of. It would be best for children to show filial devotion and care for their own parents, allowing them peace of mind in the waning years of their lives. Or else, once the kids grow up they fly away just like birds, off to no-one-knows-where.
According to some editions of the Sutra, the Earth Store Sutra was translated by a Chinese Tripitaka Master, Dharma Master Fa Deng [“dharma-lamp”] circa the late Chen Dynasty. Some other editions list the translator as follows: Translated by Tripitaka Master Shramana Shikshananda （实叉难陀 公元652—710年) of Udyana（于阗国） during the Tang Dynasty .
Udyana was a kingdom at that time, roughly bordering Tang Dynasty’s northwest , which had a mythical origin. Legends had it that, at a time when the kingdom did have a name which was beyond recall, its emperor who was heirless prayed to the deity of a local temple for a son. Out came a baby boy from the forehead of the deity’s image. Isn’t that incredible? However, this baby boy refused to drink milk—no human milk, no cow’s milk for him. Later, an udder-like structure appeared on the ground, and the baby boy would nurse on the milk produced from the earth. That was how the country got the name Udyana, a Sanskrit term meaning “Earth Milk.” No ordinary cow’s milk, mind you, but earth’s milk, thus the name “Earth Milk Kingdom.”
A Tripitaka Shramana hailed from Earth Milk Kingdom. “Shramana,” a Sanskrit term, translated into Chinese means: Diligently cultivating precepts, samadhi and wisdom; Putting an end to greed, hatred and ignorance. “Shikshananda,” also Sanskrit, translated into Chinese means ” Study with Delight.” This Shramana was never lazy and was most delighted in learning the Buddhadharma.
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s birthday is observed on the thirtieth day of the seventh lunar month. At or near that time a Dharma Assembly is held with the chanting of the Sutra of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s Fundamental Vows, making of offerings, performing the ritual of transmigration for the deceased, and asking of blessings for the living.
Next we will explaining the meanings of the sutra text.
