I believe the teaching of this sutra can give rise to an auspicious cause for people all over the world to establish a deep connection with Ksitigarbha and to receive his extraordinary blessing, something that is desperately needed in this increasingly degenerate age. When I was translating this sutra, my fervent hope was to encourage everyone to study the Ksitigarbha Sutra, to pray to Ksitigarbha, and to engage in the practice of Ksitigarbha.
Original Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra
In the past few years, we have seen much suffering all over the world caused by a variety of natural disasters, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2020. Faced with all these difficulties, if we can deepen our connection to Ksitigarbha by studying this sutra and engaging in his practice, this great bodhisattva will no doubt bring astonishing changes and help us overcome all our seemingly overwhelming obstacles.
We are pleased to offer you this precious oral teaching by Khenpo Sodargye Rinpoche on the Ksitigarbha Sutra. This teaching will be in four volumes. Books I & II are now available. We hope that you will find this special gift helpful in your study, keep you connected to Ksitigarbha, and bring you extraordinary blessing from this great bodhisattva.
In order to liberate beings who have karmic connections to us, we should follow in the footsteps of Buddha Shakyamuni, Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, Samantabhadra and Manjushri to firmly vow that we will not rest in final liberation until we bring all sentient beings across to liberation!
The powers and blessings of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is extraordinary. Anyone who prays to Ksitigarbha will enjoy longevity, good health, wealth, and the fulfillment of their wishes in this life. Ultimately, if one prays devotedly to Ksitigarbha, one will surely attain the supreme merit and transcendental wisdom of noble beings. The benefits connected with the practice of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva are so unique that even 100,000 wish-fulfilling jewels would not compare.
The Original Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra, known simply as the Ksitigarbha Sutra, is one of three well-known sutras associated with Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva in the Han Buddhist tradition. It is highly regarded by numerous great masters as well as ordinary Buddhist practitioners. It tells of the fundamental vows that Ksitigarbha made in his previous lives and the inconceivable blessings that Ksitigarbha can bring to us ordinary beings in this degenerate age.
In the summer of 2020, shortly after he had finished the translation of the Ksitigarbha Sutra into Tibetan, Khenpo Sodargye Rinpoche gave oral teachings on this sutra in a series of 25 lectures.
Khenpo Sodargye said, “In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, only the Sutra of the Ten Wheels of Ksitigarbha had been translated. There are also few accounts of the efficacy of Ksitigarbha in the Tibetan regions. Since my arrival to Larung Gar, I have often wondered why among the Eight Great Bodhisattvas, my root guru His Holiness Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche placed such great importance on Ksitigarbha, and why we would only hold an annual Dharma assembly for Ksitigarbha but not for Avalokiteshvara or Manjushri. It was not until last winter, when I started translating the Ksitigarbha Sutra, that I fully understood His Holiness’ deep conviction in Ksitigarbha. Now I cannot stress enough how important it is at the present time to propagate the practice of Ksitigarbha to the entire world.”
In the past few years, we have seen much suffering all over the world caused by a variety of natural disasters, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2020. Faced with all these difficulties, if we can deepen our connection to Ksitigarbha by studying this sutra and engaging in his practice, this great bodhisattva will no doubt bring astonishing changes and help us overcome all our seemingly overwhelming obstacles.
We are pleased to offer you this precious oral teaching by Khenpo Sodargye Rinpoche on the Ksitigarbha Sutra. This teaching will be in four volumes. Books I & II are now available. We hope that you will find this special gift helpful in your study, keep you connected to Ksitigarbha, and bring you extraordinary blessing from this great bodhisattva.
May the world be free of wars, famines, plagues and all other calamities!
May everyone enjoy peace and happiness!
May everyone attain full awakening and ultimate freedom!
I believe H. H. Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche had an extraordinary connection to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and the supreme blessing of Ksitigarbha had never been separated from him. Thanks to the blessing of His Holiness, I also have a strong devotion to Ksitigarbha. I feel that as the lineage disciples of His Holiness, we all have an uncommon connection to this great bodhisattva.
Considering the incessant calamities currently occurring in the world, no one can say for certain whether we would be alive or not next year. In order to receive good health, peace, happiness, prosperity and well-being for not just our friends and families but all sentient beings in this world, we should join together to sincerely study the Ksitigarbha Sutra and pray to Ksitigarbha. The time is right for me to teach this sutra, and for all of you to engage in the Ksitigarbha practice.
Resources
For Khenpo’s oral teachings on Ksitigarbha Sutra with simultaneous English translation, please click here.
Listen as I now praise and extol Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva-Mahasattva for how he manifests powers of great, inconceivable and awesome spiritual penetration, kindness, and compassion in the worlds of the ten directions to rescue and care for all wrongdoing suffering beings.
