The
Vows Ksitigarbha Sutra
Translated by Pitt Chin Hui
---o0o---
Preface
In making this translation of the
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra from Chinese into English, I do not at all set myself up as
a scholar in this particular field. However, with the great mass of the Buddhist canonical
literature as yet untranslated from Chinese into any Western language, someone must come
forward to make a start on the task. If some recognised scholar will take this translation
as a basis and improve upon it, I shall be happy.
I wish to acknowledge with gratitude my
indebtedness to the late Venerable Sumangalo for the considerable help he had given me in
rendering Chinese and English nomenclature into Sanskrit and aiding with the English
version in many difficult passages. The Venerable Susiddhi has also been of great
assistance in phrasing the English version. Again, Venerable Sumangalo has been most
helpful with numerous suggestions for improving the English version and has given long
hours to the task of polishing the English.
There have been some curious circumstances
in connection with the translation of this Sutra. Perhaps, it is well to go back some five
years, to a night in 1959 when Madam Tan Gek Neo, the caretaker of Poh Ern Si, the temple
where the translation took place, saw a manifestation of Tay Chong Phorsat (Ksitigarbha
Bodhisattva). The temple is dedicated to this Bodhisattva, and no other image is enshrined
within the temple. Madam Tan Gek Neo came into the shrine hall one night, and was startled
to see what appeared to be the Bodhisattva in human flesh. The vision was in triplicate,
there being three identical figures. The vision lasted for but a few moments, and then
vanished into the thin air. Madam Tan is not known as an imaginative person, and this has
been her sole experience of a nature unheard of in the five years she has been in charge
of the temple. According to her account, the vision was lifelike, and bore the pilgrim's
staff, which is always in Ksitigarbha's right hand.
On the l4th of November, 1959, the
Venerable Sumangalo of Penang, who was honorary abbot of this temple, came to take up a
two-months period of residence. With him was another American monk, the Venerable
Susiddhi. Mr. Yap Kim Fatt and Mr. Saw Hock Seng also took up residence at Poh Ern Si at
the same time. All four were busily engaged until late each evening at the task of
preparing material for use in Buddhist Sunday Schools.
On the evening of the 20th December, 1958,
these four gentlemen completed their day's labour at ten o'clock and immediately retired
to their beds. After they had extinguished all lights, they were amazed to catch sight of
a dazzling light of electric blue in the locked shrine hall. All four instantly stepped
forward to the windows of the shrine hall, and endeavoured to investigate for some
rational explanation of the phenomenon. The light was of human shape and size. Despite the
transparent appearance of the figure, it was very similar to the marble figure of
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva on the shrine platform. A staff was in the right hand. The
luminous figure moved about the shrine, and lasted for perhaps half an hour at full
brilliance, then gradually the light diminished, but had not entirely vanished when the
above-named gentlemen finally went to sleep. A diligent investigation was made to
determine if reflections from motor-car lights were responsible for the phenomenon. In as
much as Poh Ern Si is on a hilltop, the only possibility of headlight reflections is from
cars actually ascending the hill to the monastery, and there was no such car. The
surrounding hills showed only darkness. Yet the strange manifestation in the shrine
continued.
It was on the day following this vision,
which I had not then heard about, that I travelled to Poh Ern Si to begin the translation
of this Sutra. From the beginning of the task, all went well and help was offered from
several quarters. Any major difficulties seemed to vanish. It is my firm and entire belief
that this work is under the blessing of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.
Another strange occurrence must be
recorded. On numerous occasions, both by day and by night, chanting was heard in the
shrine hall. This was in the rhythm common to Mahayana chanting, and in a low pitch. When
investigation was made of the main shrine, the chanting seemed to come from the rear
shrine and, on investigating the rear shrine, the chanting appeared to come from the main
shrine. It was certain no human agency was responsible for this phenomenon.
It is traditional that Ksitigarbha
Bodhisattva has six main manifestations (transformations). Sometimes, those
transformations are referred to as "Ksitigarbhas helpers". On the night of
26th December, 1959, the Venerable Sumangalo and the Venerable Susiddhi, prior
to retiring for the night, made a round of inspection of the temple premises. The shrine
was already locked for the night, and it was certain that no one was inside. At about
eleven oclock, they saw six luminous figures seated before the main altar. These
lights were not in human formbut merely uniform areas of light, vertical and of
about the height of men seated in the lotus posture of meditation. This phenomenon
persisted for perhaps half an hour before fading. Again, investigation revealed no
possible material source of the strange lights of bluish radiance. Be it remembered that
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattvas colour is a jewel blueof the shade referred to in
modern times as "electric blue".
Strange acoustical effects are to be noted
at morning and evening devotions when mantras are chanted. There is very little
reverberation when the devotions to Amitabha, Bhaisajyaguru and others are chanted, but
the Mantra to the patron Bodhisattva of the templeKsitigarbha, even though intoned
in the same rhythm and pitch as the other prayers, is the only one that reverberates. It
is difficult to avoid the feeling that the sound waves rebound from the altar and actually
strike those present with a tangible, yet gentle, force. Until such time as a rational
explanation can be offered for these strange occurrences, in terms of our tri-dimensional
world, we shall have to believe the phenomena to be manifestations of Divine Grace.
In conclusion, I wish to offer my profound
gratitude to my Buddhist friends who have encouraged the translation of this Ksitigarbha
Sutra, and for their pious generosity in defraying the cost of issuing same for free
distribution, with the understanding of their desire to remain anonymous. Whatever merit
may have accrued to my humble self, I devote to the welfare of all sentient beings in all
worlds.
May all be well and happy.
Pitt Chin Hui
---o0o---
| Content - The Vows Ksitigarbha Sutra |
---o0o---
Update: 01-12-2001