Expert: Bodhicitta - 10/11/2004

Question
I'm trying to learn more on Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva,Earth Store Bodhisattva.Over here many Chinese referred Him as Di Zang Wang Bodhisattva.I believed He is very famous in many places and have many followers.Recently I have followed His teaching taught by one famous nun from Taiwan.Can you further tell me more?

Answer
Hi Patrick
Thanks for your question.

I would be interested to hear more about what you are
doing.I cant say I am a great expert on Ksitigarbha
but he is a very important figure in Mahayana Buddhism
of which Tibetan, Chinese and Japanese Buddhism form part.

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva as you say has becoming an important figure in China over the centuries.

Ksitigarbha is called Di Zang Wang in Chinese; Sai Nyingpo in Tibetan; Jizo in Japanese. The  name means the Earth Store or "essence of the Earth."  

Like all Bodhisattvas he has taken vows not to enter
Nirvana but instead to work tirelessly to help all sentient beings.

In the case of Ksitigarbha he has particularly vowed to empty
the Hell realms of sentient beings and is also thought
to be working for all sentient beings on earth until the time of Buddha Maitraya.He can appear in many
forms to help different beings he is often shown as a monk
with a staff in his right hand and a jewel in his left.
He is attended by the ten lords of hell.

There are 8 great Bodhisattvas in Mahayana Buddhism each carrying
a different septre or symbol each having taken great vows.
These are:-
Manjushri (Jampelyang) has a blue utpala flower [like GreenTara's]
Vajrapani (Chana Dorje) - vajra
Avalokiteshvara (Chenresi) - white lotus
Maitreya (Jampa) - naga tree
Kshitigarbha (Sai Nyingpo) - jewel
(Sarva)Nivarana-vishvakambin  - moon
Akashagarbha - [blazing] sword
Samantabhadra (Kuntuzangpo) - sun


I think if you are interested in finding out more I would
recommend you study the Ksitigarbha Sutra. there are
various translations into English. I think you might
even find some online.

The Sutra talks of the previous lives of Ksitigarbha and
the vows he has taken.

Some people are able to find Sutras inspiring to read some arent. It is said that a Sutra itself has great power,
just possesing and treating in a respectful way a Sutra
text could be very powerful.

Might be good to take a copy of such a sutra to a teacher familiar and ask them to teach you it. perhaps your Taiwanese teacher?
There is quite a lot of background that you might need
to really  understand the  Sutras. So bare this in
mind and seek teachers of Mahayana Buddhism to  teach you.

I wish you well,

Bodhicitta