Ksitigarbha & "the most lenient" cultivation

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FiveSkandhas
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Ksitigarbha & "the most lenient" cultivation

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150px-Jizo_(Ksitigarbha)_(Nara_National_Museum).jpg
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I found the perspective of a certain essay ("Study Guide to the Sutra of Ksitigarbha’s Fundamental Vows") quite interesting.

Often the Pure Land path of Amida Buddha is said to be the "easy path," welcoming all who chant the Nembutsu (and depending on the sect in question, fulfill certain other minimal requirements).

However, this essay puts forth the philosophy behind Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha's fundamental vows as perhaps even "easier," calling it "the most lenient." As many of you know, the
Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha vowed not to leave Samsaric existence until each and every sentient being had been liberated. Although this is in a sense a vow made by all on the Bodhisattva path, Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha is especially associated with this vow to aid in the salvation of all beings.

The essay can be found here:
https://www.bauswj.org/wp/wjonline/stud ... ntal-vows/
Quote follows:
"Each Buddha and Bodhisattva has his own special cultivation method that calls for specific prerequisites, and most cultivation methods are designed for virtuous men and virtuous women who have made the vow of Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. Right now we are unable to pull ourselves out of the path of ten harmful deeds and the eight sufferings; therefore, all these exquisite cultivation methods are beyond our reach. The cultivation methods provided by Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha are the most lenient, and do not ask for any qualification other than acknowledging the fact that we are the obstinate, hard to tame, habitual evil-doing, sinful-suffering beings who lack merits and are short of virtues..."


The sutra recommends a variety of ways to strengthen our relationship with the Three Jewels, but we must begin with a very simple acknowledgement:
This sutra has made very clear from the very beginning that the sentient beings of this era and this earth are obstinate and hard to tame, therefore we fail to make close connection with the Three Jewels.

In order to make close connection with the Three Jewels, the sequence is: (1) start from knowing and truly agreeing to the dharma on “suffering and happiness” according to Buddha’s view point. Once we do that, we have made a primary connection with the Three Jewels.
However even this is not easy for us in our wretched deluded state:
Unfortunately, as “obstinate, hard to tame, habitual evil-doing, sinful-suffering beings”, we are indifferent to “what is happiness and what is suffering” as Buddha taught it, therefore, we are unable to differentiate what is truly beneficial and what is truly evil, not to mention knowing the truth-false and right-wicked. Consequently, we are unable to take homage in the Three Jewels, thus forever live in a state of delusion, upside-down-ness, slumberous, ignorance and stupidity that wisdom is unable to elicit. This is a very important message provided by the Sutra of Ksitigarbha’s Fundamental Vow.
Hope is not lost, however. The sutra gently guides the reader through an understanding of various successive truths and practices. But we need help. Great emphasis is placed on the power of the Vow.
Because we are the obstinate, hard to tame, habitual evil-doing, sinful-suffering beings, without the help from Buddha we will not understand the dharma of “suffering and happiness”, so we could never get to know the dharma of The Four Noble Truths. Consequently, we are under the influence of the Power of Karma forever.

In the Sutra of Ksitigarbha’s Fundamental Vow, we learn about the four past lives of Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, which teaches us that even Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha had to rely on the Power of Vow as the only way and means to overcome the Power of Karma. As long as we are willing, our future can be guided by the Power of Vow and be free from the controlling force of Karma; in addition, we can forever leave the karma track to gain true freedom and true deliverance.

The Sutra of Ksitigarbha’s Fundamental Vow tells us that Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha is the prime representative of the Vows of all Bodhisattvas and Buddhas in the ten directions of the past, present and future...all sentient beings need to take homage in Ksitigarbha to synchronize their vows with his grand vow.
It is an interesting path, and one not much heard about thes days in Mahayana circles. There are many parallels with Amidist Pure Land theory (our fundamentally wretched and lowly state, the need for help from an 'other power', devotionalism, the power of the Vow). Perhaps the Ksitigarbha Sutras were "overshadowed" by the Amidist faith for this reason.

But there are many subtle differences, too...Ksitigarbha's path emphasizes a gentle process of understanding the four noble truths and taking our own vows to avoid evil; it also seems to place great importance on three-jewel devotion achieved with the help of Ksitigarbha devotion.

南無地蔵菩薩。
"One should cultivate contemplation in one’s foibles. The foibles are like fish, and contemplation is like fishing hooks. If there are no fish, then the fishing hooks have no use. The bigger the fish is, the better the result we will get. As long as the fishing hooks keep at it, all foibles will eventually be contained and controlled at will." -Zhiyi

"Just be kind." -Atisha
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Könchok Thrinley
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Re: Ksitigarbha & "the most lenient" cultivation

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Oh this is really cool! Is there a good reliable translation of the Ksitigarbha sutra?
“Observing samaya involves to remain inseparable from the union of wisdom and compassion at all times, to sustain mindfulness, and to put into practice the guru’s instructions”. Garchen Rinpoche

For those who do virtuous actions,
goodness is what comes to pass.
For those who do non-virtuous actions,
that becomes suffering indeed.

- Arya Sanghata Sutra
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Re: Ksitigarbha & "the most lenient" cultivation

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Könchok Thrinley wrote: Sun Dec 06, 2020 12:10 am Oh this is really cool! Is there a good reliable translation of the Ksitigarbha sutra?
I was using this one (PDF file):
http://ftp.budaedu.org/ebooks/pdf/EN123.pdf

This one looks solid too:
http://buddhism.org/Sutras/2/ksitigarbha_sutra.htm

There are a number of other versions online that a simple google search will reveal if you care to do some comparisons.
:anjali:
"One should cultivate contemplation in one’s foibles. The foibles are like fish, and contemplation is like fishing hooks. If there are no fish, then the fishing hooks have no use. The bigger the fish is, the better the result we will get. As long as the fishing hooks keep at it, all foibles will eventually be contained and controlled at will." -Zhiyi

"Just be kind." -Atisha
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Re: Ksitigarbha & "the most lenient" cultivation

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A Thousand (?) Ksitigarbhas Crowd the Nara Plain

With unfathomable compassion the Bodhisattva fills the site of religious and political turmoil
IMG_20200318_075407-min (1) (1) (1).jpg
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"One should cultivate contemplation in one’s foibles. The foibles are like fish, and contemplation is like fishing hooks. If there are no fish, then the fishing hooks have no use. The bigger the fish is, the better the result we will get. As long as the fishing hooks keep at it, all foibles will eventually be contained and controlled at will." -Zhiyi

"Just be kind." -Atisha
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Re: Ksitigarbha & "the most lenient" cultivation

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The Sutra mentions recitation of a Buddha or Bodhisattva will generate merit.
It’s eye blinking.
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Re: Ksitigarbha & "the most lenient" cultivation

Post by Malcolm »

FiveSkandhas wrote: Sat Dec 05, 2020 7:28 pm 150px-Jizo_(Ksitigarbha)_(Nara_National_Museum).jpg

I found the perspective of a certain essay ("Study Guide to the Sutra of Ksitigarbha’s Fundamental Vows") quite interesting.
Most likely a Chinese or a Khotanese text.
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Re: Ksitigarbha & "the most lenient" cultivation

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FiveSkandhas wrote: Sun May 09, 2021 9:27 am A Thousand (?) Ksitigarbhas Crowd the Nara Plain

With unfathomable compassion the Bodhisattva fills the site of religious and political turmoil

IMG_20200318_075407-min (1) (1) (1).jpg
Can you point me to where you found this image? I'd love a higher res version.
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when afflicted by disease

Meditate upon Bodhicitta when sad

Meditate upon Bodhicitta when suffering occurs

Meditate upon Bodhicitta when you are scared

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Re: Ksitigarbha & "the most lenient" cultivation

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Malcolm wrote: Sun May 09, 2021 7:43 pm
FiveSkandhas wrote: Sat Dec 05, 2020 7:28 pm 150px-Jizo_(Ksitigarbha)_(Nara_National_Museum).jpg

I found the perspective of a certain essay ("Study Guide to the Sutra of Ksitigarbha’s Fundamental Vows") quite interesting.
Most likely a Chinese or a Khotanese text.
Mmm...the old "Fundamentalist Fallacy:" "If it didn't come from India and the very mouth of Shakyamuni, it must be worthless." Not a subscriber.

Leaving aside how sure one can be that Indian texts proporting to be the words of Shakyamuni always are, What about Terma Texts? What about the Mahavairocana Sutra, which is not spoken by Shakyamuni but rather by Dainichi Nyorai? What about the higher Tantras that are spoken by their respective, non-Shakyamuni central beings of interest? Are these things not part of the stainless Dharma?

As for Chinese texts that have been called "apocrypha," might a sui generis origin of Dharmic texts in China, for China be a kind of upaya on the part of the Dharmadatu itself? Maybe not... but maybe not-not.

And even if one takes the driest, most uncompromising stance on the lack of "authenticity" of texts like The Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment or the Vajrasamadhi Sutra, they remain masterpieces of Buddhist writing, and the textural commentaries they spawned by genius-tier thinkers like Wonhyo are precious contributions to Buddhist scholarship.
Last edited by FiveSkandhas on Sun May 09, 2021 9:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"One should cultivate contemplation in one’s foibles. The foibles are like fish, and contemplation is like fishing hooks. If there are no fish, then the fishing hooks have no use. The bigger the fish is, the better the result we will get. As long as the fishing hooks keep at it, all foibles will eventually be contained and controlled at will." -Zhiyi

"Just be kind." -Atisha
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FiveSkandhas
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Re: Ksitigarbha & "the most lenient" cultivation

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Johnny Dangerous wrote: Sun May 09, 2021 9:33 pm
FiveSkandhas wrote: Sun May 09, 2021 9:27 am A Thousand (?) Ksitigarbhas Crowd the Nara Plain

With unfathomable compassion the Bodhisattva fills the site of religious and political turmoil

IMG_20200318_075407-min (1) (1) (1).jpg
Can you point me to where you found this image? I'd love a higher res version.
It's a photo I took myself of a Japanese artwork. I had to run it through a compressor about 6 times and drain it of color contrast to get it below the 1MG limit necessary for inline posting, so sadly there has been some compromise of quality. It's a stunning work nonetheless, though, isn't it?
"One should cultivate contemplation in one’s foibles. The foibles are like fish, and contemplation is like fishing hooks. If there are no fish, then the fishing hooks have no use. The bigger the fish is, the better the result we will get. As long as the fishing hooks keep at it, all foibles will eventually be contained and controlled at will." -Zhiyi

"Just be kind." -Atisha
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Re: Ksitigarbha & "the most lenient" cultivation

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FiveSkandhas wrote: Sun May 09, 2021 9:44 pm
Johnny Dangerous wrote: Sun May 09, 2021 9:33 pm
FiveSkandhas wrote: Sun May 09, 2021 9:27 am A Thousand (?) Ksitigarbhas Crowd the Nara Plain

With unfathomable compassion the Bodhisattva fills the site of religious and political turmoil

IMG_20200318_075407-min (1) (1) (1).jpg
Can you point me to where you found this image? I'd love a higher res version.
It's a photo I took myself of a Japanese artwork. I had to run it through a compressor about 6 times and drain it of color contrast to get it below the 1MG limit necessary for inline posting, so sadly there has been some compromise of quality. It's a stunning work nonetheless, though, isn't it?
Yeah, it really is.
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when afflicted by disease

Meditate upon Bodhicitta when sad

Meditate upon Bodhicitta when suffering occurs

Meditate upon Bodhicitta when you are scared

-Khunu Lama
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Re: Ksitigarbha & "the most lenient" cultivation

Post by WeiHan »

The other more universally recognised Ksitigarbha sutra is Daśacakra Kṣitigarbha Sūtra 地藏十轮经. Just a small piece of information for those who are interested in Ksitigarbha practice.
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Re: Ksitigarbha & "the most lenient" cultivation

Post by Queequeg »

Jizo is still very popular in Japan, relatively speaking.

A lot of practices don't get translated out of Asian languages I think because they tend to be waved off as primitive superstition.

I've always had an affinity for him. Seeing him by the sides of roads dressed in red bibs and wool hats it's hard not to be moved by the caring hands that adorned the images with those shields from the elements.
There is no suffering to be severed. Ignorance and klesas are indivisible from bodhi. There is no cause of suffering to be abandoned. Since extremes and the false are the Middle and genuine, there is no path to be practiced. Samsara is nirvana. No severance achieved. No suffering nor its cause. No path, no end. There is no transcendent realm; there is only the one true aspect. There is nothing separate from the true aspect.
-Guanding, Perfect and Sudden Contemplation,
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Re: Ksitigarbha & "the most lenient" cultivation

Post by FiveSkandhas »

Queequeg wrote: Thu Jun 03, 2021 2:58 pm Jizo is still very popular in Japan, relatively speaking.

A lot of practices don't get translated out of Asian languages I think because they tend to be waved off as primitive superstition.

I've always had an affinity for him. Seeing him by the sides of roads dressed in red bibs and wool hats it's hard not to be moved by the caring hands that adorned the images with those shields from the elements.
jizo-statues-red-hats-big.jpg
jizo-statues-red-hats-big.jpg (213.1 KiB) Viewed 974 times
"One should cultivate contemplation in one’s foibles. The foibles are like fish, and contemplation is like fishing hooks. If there are no fish, then the fishing hooks have no use. The bigger the fish is, the better the result we will get. As long as the fishing hooks keep at it, all foibles will eventually be contained and controlled at will." -Zhiyi

"Just be kind." -Atisha
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