Chapter 2: The Assembly of Innumerable
Emanations of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva
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The Emanations of Ksitigarbha
Bodhisattva
and beings delivered by him gathers
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At that time, from the hells of all of the unthinkable, immeasurable,
inexpressible asankhyeya numbers of worlds, all of Ksitigarbha
Bodhisattva's manifestations came to
assemble in the Trayastrimsas Palace. Through the Tathagata's
divine
power,
each
emanation was accompanied by trillions of liberated
beings who all brought offerings of incense and flowers for
[Shakyamuni] Buddha. These companions all had been liberated from
the karmic paths. Transformed by Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's
instructions, they will never regress from [the path of]
Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi. All of them had,
for extended numbers of kalpas,
wandered through the cycles of life and death, suffering in the six
realms
of samsara without a moment of rest. It was the great
mercy, compassion and profound vow of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva that
enabled them to attain fruitions [in the Buddha-dharma]. Having
arrived
at the
Trayastrimsas Palace, their hearts were full of
joy. They looked upon the Tathagata with great admiration
and were unwilling to blink their eyes even once.
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Shakyamuni Buddha Touched the heads of
every one of Ksitigarbha
Bodhisattva's countless emanations.
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At that time, the World Honored One reached out his
golden-colored arm and simultaneously touched the heads of all of the
countless manifestations of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva-Mahasattva
from all
the unthinkable, immeasurable, and inexpressible asankhyeya numbers of
worlds.
Then, the Buddha told Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, "In the world
polluted by the five kinds of defilements, I have transformed
such stubborn sentient beings through my instructions. [My
teachings] enabled them to tame
their
hearts. [My teachings] enabled them to forsake their deviant
views and return to the
righteous paths. However,
for every ten beings, there is still one or two whose evil
habits remained. I also have manifested trillions
of emanations to provide extensive expedient means [for their
deliverance
and liberation]. There were some with strong
virtuous foundations who would immediately believe and
accept [the righteous path] upon
hearing [the Dharma]. There were others with virtuous
fruitions who
would, after some diligent persuasion, achieve the [same]
accomplishment [as
those with virtuous foundations]. Then, there were those
with dull vessels, who would be awakened only after long periods of
instructions. Finally, there were still others with heavy karma
whose hearts
would not even muster
respect."
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The Buddha's Various Emanation:
Minister, Woman,
and Devaraja
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"For these various sentient beings, each is different from
the others [in temperaments, abilities, etc.]. [I have generated
numerous] emanations to
deliver and liberate them.
[In accordance to their capacities], I manifested in
the forms of men, women, eight classes of supernatural beings,
mountains, rivers, plains, streams, ponds, springs or wells.
These forms were the ones that would have benefited those being rescued
the most facilitating their deliverance and
liberation.
[There were times], I manifested myself in the forms of devarajas,
brahmarajas
or chakravartins; in the form of laities, kings, or ministers;
in the form of bhikkhus, a bhikkhunis, upasakas or upasikas; or
even in the forms of Sravakas, Arahats, Pratyeka-Buddhas or
Bodhisattvas
in order to
accomplish the conversion and deliverance of these sentient
beings. This
form of the Buddha is not the only form I have manifested before them."
"Observe my diligence in this difficult task, for many
kalpas, of delivering and
liberating such stubborn, sinful and suffering beings.
Those beings, whose hearts are not yet tamed, will be guided by their
negative
karma to the ill fruitions [of their negative actions]. If
they fall into the suffering realms experiencing great
suffering, remember my instruction to you.
Here, in the Trayastrimsas Palace, I earnestly entrust in you [the
responsibility for] the deliverance of all sentient beings from now to
the advent of Maitreya. [Deliver them] so they will forever
leave suffering. [Deliver them] so they shall all meet Buddhas
and receive prophecies predicting that they shall become Buddhas
themselves."
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Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's emanations merged
together
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At that time,
all the separate emanations of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva from all the
countless worlds merged into one form. [Deeply moved by
the incredible responsibility entrusted to him], shedding tears of
compassion, he addressed the Buddha, saying, "For many
kalpas, I
have received guidance from many Buddhas which allowed me to attain
inconceivable divine powers and great wisdom. My emanations cover
all worlds, as numerous as all the
sands of trillions of Ganges Rivers. In
each one of these worlds, I manifest trillions of emanations.
Every emanation delivers trillions of beings enabling them to seek
refuge in the Three
Jewels, forever leaving the cycle of life and death, and delivering
[them] until [they] attain the joy of nirvana. If they
have performed
any virtuous deed in the
Buddha-dharma - even if it is as small as a strand of hair, a
droplet of water, a grain of sand, a speck of dust or even a bit of
hair - I
shall gradually deliver and liberate them, enabling them to attain
great
benefits. I only hope that the
World
Honored One does not worry about [the deliverance of] those beings of
future generations with
negative karma."
He stated this twice more to the Buddha, saying, "I only
hope that the World Honored One does not worry about [the deliverance
of]
those beings of
future
generations with negative karma." At that time,
the Buddha praised Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, saying, "Excellent,
excellent! I shall help you to rejoice. You will be able to fulfill the
great vows you took in all these kalpas. The universal
deliverance
will be soon completed and you shall finally achieve Buddhahood."
