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Earth Store Bodhisattva Earth Store Bodhisattva (Sanskrit: क्षितिगर्भ ), is also known as Earth Store King Bodhisattva. He attained the title of Earth Store Bodhisattva where the word “Earth” reflects his capability of upholding; while the word “Store” implies his stillness and contemplation which resembles hidden treasure troves. Being one of the four main bodhisattvas in Buddhism, Earth Store Bodhisattva is revered alongside Guan Yin Bodhisattva, Manjushri Bodhisattva, and Universal Worthy Bodhisattva. He is regarded as Earth Store King Bodhisattva of Great Vows due to the great vows he made distant eons ago, as well as his vow not to achieve Buddhahood until the hells are emptied. The Entrustment of the Buddha Earth Store Bodhisattva is mentioned in The Sutra of the Past Vows of Earth Store Bodhisattva, The Ten Wheels of Earth Store Bodhisattva Sutra, and many other sutras. Shakyamuni Buddha once made his pledge to Earth Store Bodhisattva in front of all beings in Trayastrimsa heaven. As regards the pledge, Earth Store Bodhisattva has to take responsibility for teaching all beings in the era after the passing of Shakyamuni Buddha and before the birth of Maitreya Bodhisattva. According to the first chapter of The Ten Wheels of Earth Store Bodhisattva Sutra, he attained the title of Earth Store Bodhisattva where the word “Earth” reflects his capability of upholding; while the word “Store” implies his stillness and contemplation which resembles hidden treasure troves. His unswerving determination suggests the endurance of the great earth, for he vows to offer relief to all beings of three realms and six paths. He even vows to forgo Buddhahood until the hells are emptied. The Earth Store Bodhisattva is stated to be a Tenth Ground Bodhisattva according to The Ten Wheels of Earth Store Bodhisattva Sutra. Earth Store Bodhisattva’s practices in the formative stage (1) In the distant past, an indescribable number of kalpas ago, Earth Store Bodhisattva was born as the son of a great elder. At that time there was a Buddha called Swift Lion Myriad Accomplishment Tathāgata. The elder's son saw the Buddha's virtuous and stately appearance and so asked him, 'What vows did you practice to attain such an appearance?' Swift Lion Myriad Accomplishment Tathāgata said to the elder's son, 'If you wish to have a body like this, then you must liberate all sentient beings from suffering for a long period.' Because of that vow the elder's son said, 'From now until incalculable kalpas in the future I will use many different skillful means to liberate sentient beings suffering in the Six Realms before I realize Buddhahood myself.' (2) In the distant past, an unimaginably large number of asaṃkhyeya kalpas ago, there was a Buddha called Realization Flower Meditation at Ease King Tathāgata. Earth Store Bodhisattva was a Brahman woman. Her mother Yue Di Li believed in evil paths and often belittled the Three Jewels. After death, Yue Di Li fell into hell and suffered. The Brahman woman sold her house and properties to purchase incense and flowers and make great offerings in Buddhist temples and pagodas. She was very sincere and recited Buddha’s name with her whole heart. Her mother Yue Di Li was liberated from hell and reborn in heaven because of her filial acts and virtue. (3)In the distant past, countless kalpas ago, there was a Buddha called All-Knowledge-Accomplished Tathāgata. Before this Buddha renounced the household life, he was the king of a small country. He had a friend who was the king of a neighboring country. Both of them practiced the ten virtues for the benefit of all living beings. One king vowed to first become a Buddha and then to save all the people, without exception. The other king made a vow that if he did not first save beings from suffering and lead them to peace and happiness, then he would never become a Buddha. This king who vowed to save living beings first was Earth Store Bodhisattva. (4) In the distant past, countless kalpas ago, Earth Store Bodhisattva was a filial lady named Bright Eyes. Her mother especially indulged in eating fish roe and turtle eggs. As a result her mother committed many killing offenses. Bright Eyes knew that her mother would fall into a lower path so she asked an Arhat to enter samadhi to observe. Her mother was indeed suffering greatly in hell. Bright Eyes recited the Buddha’s name whole-heartedly and made offerings sincerely. Because of her filial heart, her mother was liberated from suffering in hell. Birthday The 30th of the seventh lunar month is Earth Store Bodhisattva’s birthday. |
The oil panting drawn by
Venerable Master Hsuan Hua
Is Earth Store Bodhisattva considered dumb?
No, this action is not the dumbest, it is in fact the action of great compassion,
and it is also the idea of being filial piety
A talk given by Venerable Master Hsuan Hua
The Earth Store Bodhisattva once said: “ I will be in the hells to receive and guide all the hungry ghosts. For each day that they have not been lead from suffering to bliss, for one more day I will hold off on Buddhahood. The hungry ghosts in the hells must completely gain deliverance, leave suffering, and attain bliss, and then I will become a Buddha.”
Let’s think that over. The karma sentient beings create is endless, so are their afflictions. Then how could the hells ever come to an end? Only if sentient beings’ afflictions were ended and their karmic obstruction cleared would the hells then be empty. Yet, for ordinary beings, karmic obstructions cannot be eradicated and afflictions cannot be ended, so how could the hells ever be empty? From the standpoint of contemporary scientists and philosophers, wouldn’t the vows which Earth Store Bodhisattva made—the power of his vows—be considered the dumbest of conduct and notions?
Why say “the dumbest of conduct and notions?” He made a resolve and put it into action, but the action he has chosen appears to be quite foolish because it cannot be done. Fundamentally, the hells can never be empty, which means that Earth Store Bodhisattva stands no chance to ever become a Buddha, right? Not right. In fact, far from being a dumb notion put into practice, it is a most compassionate and most filial sort of notion and practice.
Why do I say it is an extremely filial concept and practice? Earth Store Bodhisattva perceived in his contemplation that his mother had fallen into the hells where she was undergoing great sufferings, and he asked the Buddha to help rescue his mother.
Who is Earth Store Bodhisattva, really? He is the Venerable Mahamagayayana, and he serves as a Bodhisattva in the hells. Why would he want to do that? He felt the pain that his mother underwent in the hells, and reflected on the issue of ‘extending filiality for one’s elders to others’ elders.’ His thought was: If my mother went through such sufferings, others’ mothers could also be put through similar sufferings. Thus, he brings forth an unprejudiced filial conduct that is extended equally to all in hope to rescue all beings from the hells and guide them from suffering to bliss.
That is what Earth Store Bodhisattva’s vows are about. No amount of words can fully describe the extent of his vow-power.
No, this action is not the dumbest, it is in fact the action of great compassion,
and it is also the idea of being filial piety
A talk given by Venerable Master Hsuan Hua
The Earth Store Bodhisattva once said: “ I will be in the hells to receive and guide all the hungry ghosts. For each day that they have not been lead from suffering to bliss, for one more day I will hold off on Buddhahood. The hungry ghosts in the hells must completely gain deliverance, leave suffering, and attain bliss, and then I will become a Buddha.”
Let’s think that over. The karma sentient beings create is endless, so are their afflictions. Then how could the hells ever come to an end? Only if sentient beings’ afflictions were ended and their karmic obstruction cleared would the hells then be empty. Yet, for ordinary beings, karmic obstructions cannot be eradicated and afflictions cannot be ended, so how could the hells ever be empty? From the standpoint of contemporary scientists and philosophers, wouldn’t the vows which Earth Store Bodhisattva made—the power of his vows—be considered the dumbest of conduct and notions?
Why say “the dumbest of conduct and notions?” He made a resolve and put it into action, but the action he has chosen appears to be quite foolish because it cannot be done. Fundamentally, the hells can never be empty, which means that Earth Store Bodhisattva stands no chance to ever become a Buddha, right? Not right. In fact, far from being a dumb notion put into practice, it is a most compassionate and most filial sort of notion and practice.
Why do I say it is an extremely filial concept and practice? Earth Store Bodhisattva perceived in his contemplation that his mother had fallen into the hells where she was undergoing great sufferings, and he asked the Buddha to help rescue his mother.
Who is Earth Store Bodhisattva, really? He is the Venerable Mahamagayayana, and he serves as a Bodhisattva in the hells. Why would he want to do that? He felt the pain that his mother underwent in the hells, and reflected on the issue of ‘extending filiality for one’s elders to others’ elders.’ His thought was: If my mother went through such sufferings, others’ mothers could also be put through similar sufferings. Thus, he brings forth an unprejudiced filial conduct that is extended equally to all in hope to rescue all beings from the hells and guide them from suffering to bliss.
That is what Earth Store Bodhisattva’s vows are about. No amount of words can fully describe the extent of his vow-power.