At that time, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva said to the Buddha, "World
Honored One, for the sake of future sentient beings, I
shall now expound on methods which will enable them to gain great
benefits in their live. I only hope the World
Honored One will
be willing to
listen."
The Buddha told Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, "To rescue all of the
suffering sentient beings in the six realms of samsara, you
compassionately want to expound these unimaginable methods. Now
is the right time, for I shall be
entering into nirvana soon. You should quickly proceed so you can
fulfill your vow
early; then, I would not worry about the [deliverance of] present
and
future sentient
beings."
Ksitigarbha said to the Buddha, "World Honored One, countless
asankhyeya
numbers of kalpas ago, there was a Buddha in the world with the title
of
Anantakaya (Boundless Body)
Tathagata. After hearing this Buddha's name, if there are men or
women
who instantly develop devotions [to this Buddha], then they will be
liberated
from offenses which would cause them to suffer cycles of life and death
for forty
kalpas. The
blessing will be even greater for those who forge statues of this
Tathagata, paint images of him,
make offerings to and praise [Him]. Those people
will receive boundless
blessing."
Painting images of the Tathagata
"Moreover, as many kalpas as there are sands in the Ganges River in the
past,
there was a Buddha in the world. His title was Ratnasuabhava
(Jewel Nature) Tathagata. After hearing this Buddha's name, if
there are men or women who devotedly seek refuge [in this Buddha] in
the
time to snap one's fingers, then they
shall never regress from the Path to Enlightenment."
"Additionally, in the past, there was a Buddha in the world with the
name
of
Supreme Padma (Lotus) Tathagata. If there are men or women
who hear this Buddha's name, they shall be reborn thousands of
consecutive time into the Six Heavens of Desire. The blessing
will be greater for
those who recite
his name with devotion."
"Moreover, in the past, inexpressible asankhyeya numbers of kalpas ago,
there was a
Buddha in the world by the name of Simhananda (Lion's Roar)
Tathagata. After hearing this Buddha's name, if there are
men
or women who have a thought of seeking refuge [in this Buddha],
then they shall
encounter countless Buddhas who will touch their heads and
predict their future Enlightenment."
Krakucchanda
Tathagata
Ratnasambhava
Tathagata
"Additionally in the past, there was a Buddha called Krakucchanda
Tathagata.
After hearing this Buddha's name, if there are men or women who
devotedly pay
homage
and say praises [to this Buddha], then these people will become the
Great Brahma in the
Bhadrakalpa Assembly of one thousand Buddhas and receive predictions
for becoming Buddhas themselves."
"Moreover in the past, there was a Buddha named Vipasyin Buddha. If
there are men
or women who hear this Buddha's name, they shall never fall
into the realms of suffering. They also shall often
be reborn
in the human or heavenly realms to receive superior subtle
blessings."
"Additionally, in the past, as many kalpas ago as all of the sands in
innumerable
Ganges Rivers, there was a Buddha in the world named Ratnasambhava
Tathagata. If there are men or women who hear this Buddha's name,
they shall
ultimately not fall into the realms of suffering. They shall
often
be born
into heaven and receive blessings."
"Moreover, in the past, there was a Buddha with the title Ratnalaksana
Tathagata. After hearing this Buddha's name, if there are men
or women who develop devotion [to this
Buddha in their hearts], then they shall
soon attain the fruition of Arahat-hood."
"Additionally, in the past, immeasurable asankhyeya numbers of kalpas
ago, there was
a Buddha in the world with the title Kasayadhvaja Tathagata. If
there are men
or women who hear this Buddha's name, they will be liberated from
offenses which cause them to enter cycles of life and death for one
hundred kalpas."
"Moreover, in the past, there was a Buddha with the title of
Mahabhijna-Sumeru
Tathagata. If there are men or women who hear this Buddha's
title, then they shall
encounter as many Buddhas as there are sands in the Ganges River.
These Buddhas will give them
extensive Dharma teaching. Thus, it is certain they will
realize Bodhi."
"Additionally, in the past, there is Sudhacandra Buddha, Sumeru Buddha,
Jnanajina Buddha, Vimalanamanraja Buddha, Jnanasaddhi Buddha, Anuttara
Buddha,
Sughosa Buddha, Purnacandra Buddha, and `Moon Face' Buddha.
There are these inexpressible numbers of Buddhas. For all of the
present and future sentient beings, regardless if they are devas or
humans, regardless if they are men or women, if they [devotedly] chant
[just] one
Buddha's name,
[they can generate] immeasurable amount of merit. The benefits
will be even greater if they chant
many names. Those sentient beings who do so shall attain great
benefits during the time of their birth and death. They shall
ultimately not fall into the suffering realms."
"If just one relative of dying people chants the
Buddha's name on the dying people's behalf, the dying people shall be
liberated from their sins with the exception of the five sins that
cause one to fall into Avici Hell. Although the five Avici sins
are extremely severe and the [sinners] cannot be released even after
millions of kalpas, the karmic retribution will be slowly
diminished as
the result of someone chanting the Buddha's name on the sinners' behalf
when the sinners were about to die. It will
be [even more beneficial] if the sentient beings chant the Buddha's
name for themselves. They shall receive
immeasurable amounts of blessings and be liberated from immeasurable
numbers of sins."
