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English version: Furthermore, Buddha said to Bodhisattva Puguan, ‘Puguan, if sentient beings in the future world, on the first, eighth, fourteenth, fifteenth, eighteenth, twenty-third, twenty-fourth, twenty-eighth, twenty-ninth, and even the thirtieth days of each month, these days are when all sins accumulate, and their severity is determined. Sentient beings in Jambudvipa (referring to the world we live in), every action and every thought is karma, is sin. How much more so when they indulge in killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, and lying, committing hundreds and thousands of sins? If they can, on these ten vegetarian days, in front of the images of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and all the sages, read this sutra once, then within a hundred yojanas (an ancient Indian unit of distance, approximately 1200-1600 kilometers today) in the east, west, south, and north, there will be no disasters. This household, whether old or young, in the present and future millions of years, will forever be free from evil realms. If they can recite it once every ten vegetarian days, then in this life, this household will be free from unexpected illnesses, and will have abundant food and clothing.’ ‘Therefore, Puguan, you should know that Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha has such inconceivable, hundreds of millions of great divine powers to benefit sentient beings. The sentient beings of Jambudvipa have a great affinity with this great Bodhisattva. These sentient beings, upon hearing the Bodhisattva's name, seeing the Bodhisattva's image, or even hearing three or five words of this sutra, or a single verse or line, will receive wonderful peace and happiness in this life, and in the future millions of lives, will always have a handsome appearance and be born into noble families.’ At that time, after Bodhisattva Puguan heard the Tathagata Buddha praising and extolling Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, he knelt down, joined his palms, and said to the Buddha again, ‘World Honored One, I have long known that this great Bodhisattva has such inconceivable divine power and great vows. It is for the sake of future sentient beings to understand these benefits that I asked the Tathagata, and I fully accept your teachings. World Honored One, what should this sutra be called? How should I propagate and circulate it?’ The Buddha told Puguan, ‘This sutra has three names: one is called 'Ksitigarbha's Fundamental Vows', also called 'Ksitigarbha's Fundamental Practices', and also called 'Ksitigarbha's Fundamental Vow Power Sutra'. Because this Bodhisattva, since countless eons ago, has made great vows to benefit sentient beings, therefore you should propagate and circulate it according to his vows.’ Upon hearing this, Puguan joined his palms. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 恭敬，作礼而退。 地藏菩萨本愿经卷上 大正藏第 13 册 No. 0412 地藏菩萨本愿经 地藏菩萨本愿经卷下 唐于阗国三藏沙门实叉难陀译 利益存亡品第七
Chinese
尔时，地藏菩萨摩诃萨白佛言：“世尊！我观是阎浮众生，举心动念，无非是罪。脱获善利，多退初心；若遇恶缘，念念增益。是等辈人，如履泥涂，负于重石，渐困渐重，足步深邃。若得遇知识，替与减负，或全与负，是知识有大力故，复相扶助，劝令牢脚，若达平地，须省恶路，无再经历。 “世尊！习恶众生，从纤毫间，便至无量。是诸众生，有如此习，临命终时，父母眷属宜为设福，以资前路。或悬幡盖，及然油灯，或转读尊经，或供养佛像及诸圣像。乃至念佛菩萨及辟支佛名字，一名一号，历临终人耳根，或闻在本识。是诸众生所造恶业，计其感果，必堕恶趣，缘是眷属为临终人修此圣因，如是众罪，悉皆销灭。若能更为身死之后，七七日内，广造众善，能使是诸众生，永离恶趣，得生人天，受胜妙乐，现在眷属，利益无量。 “是故我今对佛世尊，及天龙八部、人、非人等，劝于阎浮提众生：临终之日，慎勿杀害，及造恶缘——拜祭鬼神，求诸魍魉。何以故？尔所杀害，乃至拜祭， 现代汉语译本 恭敬地行礼后退下。 地藏菩萨本愿经卷上 大正藏第 13 册 No. 0412 地藏菩萨本愿经 地藏菩萨本愿经卷下 唐于阗国三藏沙门实叉难陀（Siksananda）译 利益存亡品第七 这时，地藏菩萨摩诃萨（Mahasattva）对佛说：‘世尊！我观察这阎浮（Jambudvipa）众生，他们每一个起心动念，没有不是罪过的。即使偶尔获得一些善的利益，也大多会退失最初的善心；如果遇到恶的因缘，恶念就会念念增长。这些人就像行走在泥泞的道路上，背负着沉重的石头，越走越困难，越走越沉重，脚步也越陷越深。如果能够遇到善知识，帮助他们减轻负担，或者完全替他们承担，这是因为善知识有强大的力量，能够互相扶持，劝导他们站稳脚跟。如果到达平坦的地面，就应该记住曾经走过的恶路，不要再经历。’ ‘世尊！习惯作恶的众生，从极小的恶行开始，就会发展到无量无边的恶行。这些众生有这样的习性，在临命终时，父母眷属应该为他们设福，以此来资助他们未来的道路。或者悬挂幡盖，点燃油灯，或者转读尊贵的经典，或者供养佛像以及诸圣像。乃至念诵佛、菩萨以及辟支佛（Pratyekabuddha）的名号，一个名号念一遍，让临终的人听到耳根，或者听到本识中。这些众生所造的恶业，按照其所感得的果报，必定会堕入恶道。因为眷属为临终的人修持这些圣因，这些罪过都会全部消灭。如果能够在他们死后的七七四十九天内，广泛地造作各种善事，就能够使这些众生永远脱离恶道，得生人天，享受殊胜的快乐，而现在的眷属也会获得无量的利益。’ ‘因此，我现在对佛世尊，以及天龙八部、人、非人等，劝告阎浮提的众生：在临终的时候，千万不要杀害生命，以及制造恶的因缘——祭拜鬼神，祈求各种魍魉（精灵）。为什么呢？因为你们所杀害的生命，乃至祭拜的行为，
English
English version Respectfully, they bowed and retreated. Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra, Volume 1 Taisho Tripitaka Volume 13, No. 0412, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra, Volume 2 Translated by Tripitaka Master Siksananda from the Kingdom of Khotan of the Tang Dynasty Chapter Seven: The Benefit of the Living and the Dead At that time, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Mahasattva said to the Buddha, 'World Honored One! I observe that the beings of Jambudvipa, with every thought and movement of their minds, are nothing but sin. Even if they occasionally obtain some good benefit, they mostly lose their initial good intention. If they encounter evil conditions, their evil thoughts increase with every moment. These beings are like walking on muddy ground, carrying heavy stones, becoming more and more tired, more and more burdened, and their steps sink deeper and deeper. If they can meet a wise teacher, who helps them reduce their burden, or completely takes it on, it is because the wise teacher has great power, and can support each other, encouraging them to stand firm. If they reach level ground, they should remember the evil path they have traveled, and not go through it again.' 'World Honored One! Beings who are accustomed to evil, starting from the smallest evil act, will develop to immeasurable evil. These beings have such habits, and when they are about to die, their parents and relatives should create blessings for them, to support their future path. They should hang banners and canopies, light oil lamps, or recite the honored scriptures, or make offerings to Buddha images and the images of the saints. Even reciting the names of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Pratyekabuddhas, one name at a time, letting the dying person hear it in their ears, or hear it in their consciousness. The evil karma created by these beings, according to the results they will receive, will surely cause them to fall into evil realms. Because their relatives cultivate these holy causes for the dying person, all these sins will be eliminated. If they can further create various good deeds within forty-nine days after their death, they can enable these beings to be forever free from evil realms, to be reborn in the human or heavenly realms, and to enjoy supreme happiness, while their present relatives will receive immeasurable benefits.' 'Therefore, I now advise the beings of Jambudvipa, before the World Honored One, and the eight classes of gods and dragons, humans, and non-humans: on the day of their death, be careful not to kill, and not to create evil conditions—worshipping ghosts and spirits, and seeking various goblins. Why is this? Because the lives you kill, and even the acts of worship, --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
无纤毫之力利益亡人，但结罪缘，转增深重。假使来世，或现在生，得获圣分，生人天中，缘是临终被诸眷属造是恶因，亦令是命终人，殃累对辩，晚生善处。何况临命终人，在生未曾有少善根，各据本业，自受恶趣，何忍眷属，更为增业？譬如有人，从远地来，绝粮三日，所负担物，强过百斤。忽遇邻人，更附少物，以是之故，转复困重。世尊！我观阎浮众生，但能于诸佛教中，乃至善事，一毛一渧，一沙一尘，如是利益，悉皆自得。” 说是语时，会中有一长者，名曰大辩——是长者，久证无生，化度十方，现长者身——，合掌恭敬，问地藏菩萨言：“大士！是南阎浮提众生，命终之后，小大眷属，为修功德，乃至设斋，造众善因，是命终人，得大利益及解脱不？” 地藏答言：“长者！我今为未来现在一切众生，承佛威力，略说是事。长者，未来现在诸众生等，临命终日，得闻一佛名、一菩萨名、一辟支佛名，不问有罪无罪，悉得解脱。 “若有男子女人，在生不修善因，多造众罪，命终之后，眷属小大为造福利一切圣事，七分之中，而乃获一，六分功德，生者自利。以是之故，未来现在善男女等，闻健自修，分分己获。无常大鬼，不期而到，冥冥游神，未知罪福，七七日内，如痴如聋。或 现代汉语译本：没有丝毫的力量可以利益亡者，反而会结下罪恶的因缘，使其罪业更加深重。假设亡者来世，或者今生，能够获得圣人的果位，转生到人道或天道中，却因为临终时被眷属造作这些恶因，也会导致亡者在阴间受到牵连辩论，从而延迟转生到善处的时间。更何况临终之人，生前没有丝毫的善根，各自根据自己所造的业力，承受恶道的果报，怎么忍心让眷属再为他增加罪业呢？这就好比一个人，从遥远的地方来，断粮三天，所背负的物品，已经超过百斤。忽然遇到邻居，又给他加上一点东西，因此，反而更加困苦沉重。世尊！我观察阎浮提（Jambudvipa，指我们所居住的这个世界）的众生，只要能在诸佛的教法中，哪怕是做一件善事，像一毛、一滴、一沙、一尘那样微小的利益，都能完全自己获得。 当说这些话的时候，会中有一位长者，名叫大辩（Mahamati，意为大智慧），这位长者，早已证得无生法忍（Anutpattika-dharma-kshanti，指对诸法不生不灭的真理的领悟），为了教化十方众生，而示现长者之身。他合掌恭敬地问地藏菩萨（Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva）说：‘大士！南阎浮提（Jambudvipa）的众生，命终之后，无论大小眷属，为他修功德，乃至设斋供养，造作各种善因，这个命终之人，能够得到大利益和解脱吗？’ 地藏菩萨回答说：‘长者！我现在为未来和现在的一切众生，承蒙佛的威神之力，简略地说这件事。长者，未来和现在的一切众生，在临命终的时候，如果能够听到一佛的名号、一菩萨的名号、一辟支佛（Pratyekabuddha，指独自觉悟的修行者）的名号，不论他是否有罪，都能够得到解脱。 ‘如果有男子女人，在生前不修善因，造作许多罪业，命终之后，眷属无论大小，为他造作福利和各种圣事，亡者只能得到其中的七分之一，其余六分的功德，由生者自己获得。因此，未来和现在的善男子善女人，应当趁着身体健康的时候自己修行，这样才能完全获得功德。无常大鬼，不期而至，亡者的神识在冥冥之中游荡，不知道自己所造的罪业和福报，在七七四十九天之内，就像痴呆和耳聋一样。或者'
English
English version: There is no power whatsoever to benefit the deceased, but rather it creates karmic connections of sin, making their offenses even more profound. Suppose that in the next life, or in this present life, they were to attain the status of a sage, and be reborn in the human or heavenly realms, yet because their family members create these evil causes at the time of their death, it would also cause the deceased to be implicated in disputes in the underworld, thus delaying their rebirth in a good place. How much more so if the person who is about to die has not cultivated even the slightest root of goodness in their lifetime, and each is subject to the retribution of their own karma, receiving the consequences of the evil realms. How can their family members bear to further increase their karmic burden? It is like a person who comes from a distant land, having gone without food for three days, and the load they carry already exceeds a hundred pounds. Suddenly, a neighbor adds a small item, and because of this, they become even more burdened and distressed. World Honored One! I observe the sentient beings of Jambudvipa (the world we inhabit), who, if they are able to perform even the smallest good deed within the teachings of the Buddhas, such as a hair, a drop, a grain of sand, or a speck of dust, will fully receive the benefit themselves. While these words were being spoken, there was an elder in the assembly named Mahamati (Great Wisdom) – this elder had long ago attained the realization of non-arising (Anutpattika-dharma-kshanti, the acceptance of the non-arising of all dharmas), and manifested the form of an elder to guide beings in the ten directions – who, with palms joined respectfully, asked the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva: ‘Great Bodhisattva! When the sentient beings of Jambudvipa pass away, if their family members, whether small or large, cultivate merit for them, even to the extent of offering vegetarian meals and creating various good causes, will the deceased receive great benefit and liberation?’ Ksitigarbha replied: ‘Elder! I will now, for the sake of all sentient beings of the future and present, relying on the Buddha's majestic power, briefly speak about this matter. Elder, if all sentient beings of the future and present, on the day of their death, are able to hear the name of one Buddha, one Bodhisattva, or one Pratyekabuddha (a self-enlightened one), regardless of whether they have committed sins or not, they will all attain liberation. ‘If there are men or women who, during their lifetime, do not cultivate good causes and create many sins, and after their death, their family members, whether small or large, create blessings and various sacred deeds for them, the deceased will only receive one-seventh of the merit, while the remaining six-sevenths of the merit will be received by the living. Therefore, good men and women of the future and present should cultivate themselves while they are healthy, so that they may fully receive the merit. The great ghost of impermanence arrives unexpectedly, and the consciousness of the deceased wanders in the darkness, not knowing the sins and merits they have created. Within the forty-nine days, they are like the foolish and the deaf. Or’ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------