If they encounter wise persons, they are aided to carry half of the load or all. Owing to the superior energy of the wise, they not only are able to give aid, but also to counsel the erring ones to stand firm, determined to err no more once out of the Slough of evil, thereafter avoiding all evil ways."
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva again said to the Buddha, "Honoured of the World, the bad habits of those people often originate in something as small as a mote but they gradually increase. Their parents, family and friends ought to perform some benevolence on their behalf when the erring ones are about to depart from this life.
They can either hang banners bearing sacred texts, or burn oil lamps, or chant the Sutras. Or they may make offerings before one or more Buddha images, or images of Bodhisattvas. It is meritorious for the relatives to chant the names of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Pacceka Buddhas or even to chant one name or one title of the above sacred ones in front of the dying person within his or her hearing. Their sins which may cause them to be cast into the evil realms for suffering will be expiated solely because their families are doing these afore-described pious actions on their behalf.
When dying persons have passed away and their relatives continue to perform meritorious acts on their behalf within forty-nine days immediately after their death, it is assured that the departed ones will never be reborn in an evil state, but will go into a Heaven or be reborn to the human world to enjoy longevity and felicity.
The living relatives of the departed one, because of their pious acts, will themselves receive inconceivable benefits.
I hope the Honoured of the World, devas, dragons, asuras, pretas, maharajas, humans and sub-humans will all endeavour to persuade the dwellers in Jambudvipa not to commit sin by killing or any other deed of evil, such offering living sacrifices to spirits or gods on behalf of their departed ones.
Why should you not kill ?
Because your deed of offering blood-sacrifice will not give even the smallest benefit to the deceased, but will actually increase their sufferings. Their future woe will be more severe as the result of this bloodshed.
If the deceased have done some good deeds during life that would help them to a heavenly rebirth, or again as a human, but the evil acts performed on their behalf by relatives will act against their welfare and delay their progress towards liberation.
If those dying beings have no good deeds to their credit and, according to their personal karma, they merit evil births, why should their families be so ill-advised as to do the sin of killing on their behalf ?
Just as if a person who had suffered hunger for three days and travelled from afar carrying a heavy load of more than a hundred katis, and some neighbour suddenly added to the load, the total weight would become unbearable.
Honoured of the World, it is visible to me that if inhabitants of Jambudvipa can follow the Buddha's Doctrines to do good even as the size of a hair, a drop of water, a grain of sand, one dustmote, they, themselves, will get benefits personally, according to their own Karma."
Just at that time, an honourable elder known as the Elder of Eloquence, who had attained the state of never-returned, joined the assemblage. He had converted beings in the ten quarters of space. In the form of a transformation with clasped hands, he inquired of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva reverently, "Bodhisattva, if relatives of erring deceased beings, whether adult or juvenile, do pious deeds on their behalf, will great benefit or Salvation come to them?"
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva replied, "My elderly One, under the supernatural power of the Shakyamuni Buddha, for the benefit of all beings of the present and the generations yet to come, may I answer you in brief. Any sentient being now and hereafter, who hears the name of but one Buddha or Bodhisattva, or one Pacceka Buddha at his dying moment, no matter whether this being be sinful or virtuous, he shall be led eventually to Salvation.
If anyone, male or female, fails during his life-time to do meritorious actions, but lives sinfully, then his relatives, whether young or old, ought to do good deeds on his behalf and practise pious observances for him, after his death.
The departed ones gain one seventh of the merits of such good and pious acts, and the remaining six sevenths rebound to the benefit of the living ones who practise these acts of piety.
That is why beings of the present and the future should practise meritorious deeds during their life-time when they are still strong and healthy.
The whole merit of offering such good deeds will be achieved by themselves personally. Time is transient, and death will come to one at any moment.
Within the forty-nine days after one's death, one is ignorant of his or her Karma. During the period of judgement of one's past deeds, he or she is unable to know what will be the consequences of the future, and thereby is extremely worried. If one has done some evil deeds during one's life-time, one will certainly be cast into the evil state of suffering.
Within the period of forty-nine days of one's death, he or she is expecting one's own children or relatives to do good deeds on his or her behalf, and thus be relieved of suffering. After the forty-nine days of one's death, one is bound to receive whatever Karma one should deserve.
If one has done evil deeds during one's life-time, one is subjected to endure sufferings without any hope of freedom for thousands of years. One's Karma is able to induce one to be cast into one of the five Avici Hells, or in one of the great Hells, and one will continue to suffer for millions of kalpas forever.
Again, my elderly One, if relatives and children of the sinful one make offerings of vegetarian food to the Buddha, as well as to monks, after his death, such good deeds will help the sinful to be relieved out of his suffering.
Before the meal time of monks, while vegetarian food is under preparation, no edible things should be thrown on the floor and be wasted.
The living children and relatives of the deceased should not eat before offering such food to the images of the Buddha and the Venerable monks.
If the living ones are not following the above advice earnestly, the deceased will not be benefited at all.
If they follow the advice piously and energetically they will get one-seventh of the merit.
That is why, my elderly One, if beings of the Jampudvipa world can offer vegetarian food, both to the images of the Buddha and the monks with respect, not only their deceased parents or relatives will receive the benefit but they themselves, the living ones, will also be greatly benefited."
After what Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva had said, millions and millions of spirits and ghosts who had assembled at the thirty-three Heavens from the Jampudivipa world decided to follow the Noble Teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha, (in order) to guide beings to abstain from bad deeds and to practise meritorious ones.
Then the elderly Person retreated with full respect.
Ksitigarbha Sutra 8
The Praises of Yamaraja and Others
At that time, Emperor Yama of the Hells came to Tusita Heaven from Mahachakravala with an innumerable number of his followers, as listed below, to pay respect to the Shakyamuni Buddha —
1. Devil-king who possesses a resolute attitude towards the poisonous group of Evildoers, for evils committed through actions, words and thoughts are classed as poison. This King of devils leads erring beings to abstain from bad deeds and to practise a good life by showing them the poisonous result of committing sins.
2. Devil-king of violent anger. The outer appearance of this King of devils is frightfully fierce, but his thoughts are compassionate. He tries to convert stubborn and erring beings from committing bad deeds by way of being stern although greatly compassionate inwardly. Thus, he leads the erring to righteousness gradually.
3. Devil-king of Quarrels. Love and hatred, greed and jealousy are the sources of quarrels. This King of devils shows the harmful result of quarrels. As a result, he leads the erring to the happy path of harmony.
4. Devil-king who applies the attitude of a roaring tiger. Tigers are fierce and harmful animals. Evil deeds induce people to commit sins as harmful as tigers.
5. Devil-king of Disaster. This King of devils illustrates the misery of being disobedient to elders and the disastrous result that is to follow later. Therefore, he endeavours to lead such beings to righteousness
6. Devil-king who possesses the power to fly. The flying Yaksas are led to the Path of Righteousness by this King of devils.
7. Devil-king who possesses a pair of strikingly electrical-form eyes. This King of devils judges skilfully the right from the wrongs. He punishes the wicked with misery, but he bestows upon the meritorious ones with happiness.
8. Devil-king with Fox-like teeth. Foxes are sly animals. This King of devils shows the harmful results of being sly and perseveringly reforms sinful beings to practise good deeds.
9. Devil-king who possesses one thousand Eyes and one thousand Hands. This King of devils seizes every opportunity to convert de-meritorious beings and to bring happiness and benefit upon them.
10. Devil-king who swallows fierce animals which cause harm to people.
11. Devil-king who carries stone and sand to fill up seas and rivers, when necessary, to bring benefit to people.
12. Devil-king who brings poverty and suffering to sinners so as to see that they suffer and repent. But he bestows upon the good treasure and happiness as soon as they start to practise benevolent deeds.
13. Devil-king who distributes food to the good. Fault for the wicked, he makes them suffer hunger.
14. Devil-king who is responsible for punishing all misers who, though rich, never practise benevolence.
15. Devil-king who controls wicked animals.
16. Devil-king who controls births of beings as well as their length of staying alive.
17. Devil-king who brings sickness to sinners.
18. Devil-king who is in charge of all kinds of danger. To bring danger to sinners for punishment. To relieve the good from danger.
19. Devil-king with three Eyes, four Eyes or five Eyes.
20. Devil-king who punishes all devils for criminal acts like theft of property or robbery during their life-time. But for the good, he helps them to accomplish all their wishes.
All the above-named great Kings of Devils, together with numerous inferior Devil kings, arrived at Tusita Heaven with Emperor Yama to pay respects to the Buddha. These Kings of Devils, as well as those of the inferior group, have different duties to perform, either to punish those who commit sins, or to bring happiness and benefit to those who do good deeds.
It is natural through the ubiquitous supernatural powers of the Shakyamuni Buddha, the Honoured of the World, and the Ksitgiarbha Bodhisattva that these Kings could be well received in Tusita Heaven, and they all assembled in a row respectfully.
Just at that time, the Emperor Yama knelt before the Buddha and said, "Honoured of the World, we are immensely indebted to your supernatural powers and valuable assistance of the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva to enable all of us to be here to pay homage and respect at this great assembly. We are exceedingly happy to be blessed with this golden opportunity to gather here and to have your valuable advice. May your attention be drawn to a little problem which is puzzling us? May I have the honour to request you to be kind enough to supply us with a compassionate explanation?''
The Buddha then told Emperor Yama, "You are at liberty to ask any question freely, and I shall provide you with a proper and detailed answer."
Emperor Yama paid full respect to Shakyamuni Buddha, turned with a look at Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and said, "Honoured of the World, it is indeed a wonderful gesture by Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva to venture unremittingly, through various ways and means, to relieve the beings from the six Directions of reincarnation.
But, I wish to know why beings, who have just been relieved from punishment, commit sins again which caused them to be cast into the state of suffering once more?
Honoured of the World, since the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is so wonderfully compassionate towards erring beings, why must they ignore following his way to lead a virtuous life and gain Salvation forever? If you please, my Buddha, kindly furnish me with the necessary solution."
The Honoured of the World then told Emperor Yama, "It is extremely difficult to control and convert the erring beings of the Samsara world. There is no doubt that the compassionate Bodhisattva is striving his utmost to bring erring beings to Salvation through kalpas and kalpas.
Even though sinful beings have been cast into the great Hells for punishment, the Bodhisattva is trying his best to lead them to live a virtuous life, and to bestow upon them the power of remembering their past deeds. Because erring beings of the Samsara world are prone to commit sins, that is why, shortly after they are relieved from their sufferings, they will commit sins again and thus receive punishment once more.
It is, in fact, a great pity for the compassionate Bodhisattva to be working so earnestly through kalpas and kalpas to relieve erring beings from their sufferings. One example of which is:
A man, having lost his way while returning home, found himself in the dangerous situation where the surroundings were full of Yaksas, fierce animals and poisonous insects. By chance, he met a wise man who happened to know the way of calming Yaksas, beasts and insects.
The wise man, upon seeing the danger, asked anxiously, "My man, why do you come this way? Do you have any means of controlling these fierce animals?"
Upon hearing such words, the man realised that he was at that moment walking along a dangerous road. The wise man then caught hold of his hand and led him out of that dangerous road by showing him the way to the path of Peace and happiness.
Once again, he addressed the man, "Oh, my man, be wise now and never tread this road again as once you get into this way, it is very difficult for you to get out of it and you will surely perish within."
The erring man was so grateful and rejoiced at being led out of danger. Before his departure, the wise man again said to him, "Whenever you meet any of your friends or strangers, either male or female, tell them that this road is full of danger. If they come to this road by mistake, they will lose their lives. Tell them not to be foolish and not face the danger unnecessarily.''
The compassionate Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva relieved erring beings from their sufferings and directed them either to Heaven or to the human world to enjoy great happiness.
These beings were then made to realise how one must suffer according to one's misdeeds, and how one could enjoy according to one's good actions. Then, they would never again commit sins and be cast into the Hell anymore.
It is very similar to one who had lost his way home, and by mistake found himself on the dangerous road, and was finally taken out of danger by a wise man. He too must remember never to tread such a dangerous road again.
Whenever he met a friend or a stranger, he advised them not to tread that dangerous path. When one is free from danger, he should have the wisdom of not touching such a risk again. If one enters such a dangerous path once more by mistake, it reveals that he does not have sufficient understanding, and may lose his or her life therein. It is similar to one being cast into the evil realms for suffering.
The compassionate Bodhisattva tries his best to lead beings out of the Hells and directs them on the way to Salvation, or to be reborn as human beings. They might be ignorant of the results of sins and commit evil again; and according to the Karma, they would be cast into Hell to suffer without any hope of being released."
At that time, the Devil-king of Poison, the Poison of evil actions, words and thoughts, said to the Shakyamuni Buddha respectfully with clasped hands, "Honoured of the World, we innumerable Kings of devils from every corner of the Samsara world are either to bring benefit and happiness to human beings or cause them sufferings according to their deeds.
We have travelled to all corners of the Universe, and we are convinced that there are more evil than good human beings. We promise you that whenever or wherever we come across a male or female in any part of the world who, though seen practising only a small fraction of good, or making any kind of offerings to the images of Buddhas or Bodhisattvas, or be heard chanting a sentence or poem of the Sutras, my followers and I shall treat such persons respectfully, as if we pay homage to the Buddhas of the present, past and the future.
We shall instruct our followers and the spirits from different places to protect such virtuous beings. We shall never allow any unhappy occasions, disease or any undesirable events to happen, not only to their homes, but also in places close to their residences."
Shakyamuni Buddha was highly delighted and said, "Well, well, since Emperor Yama and your followers are ready to protect such virtuous beings, I shall also instruct the Ruler of Brahmaloka and the Emperor of the thirty-three Heavens to protect you all."
