Earth Store Bodhisattva, one of the Four Great Bodhisattvas in Buddhism, is the Bodhisattva with the greatest vow. His vow is:
"If Hell is not empty
I will not attain Buddhahood"
Ksitigarbha has a deep relationship with beings of the earth – humans, and especially with the hungry ghosts and hell beings. Because these are the most difficult to raise into a more fortunate condition due to their previous unwholesome actions, and because of his past vow to save them all, Ksitigarbha has been known as the Teacher of the Dark Regions.
"If I do not go to hell to help them, who else will go?"
- is the famous declaration popularly crime or the karma, he is willing to have a connection with any being, and to help free them from suffering. After he had practiced the perfections of the bodhisattva for many lifetimes, he was ready for the attainment of Buddhahood. However, he chose to remain among sentient beings in this period before the coming of Maitreya Buddha because of his compassion for all suffering beings. According to his vow, he will not become a Buddha unless all the sentient beings in the hells are relieved of their suffering. Ksitigarbha's patient support of sentient beings in the realms of hells is similar to the earth's support of all forms of life. Based on this comparison, he bears the name Ksitigarbha which means "treasure of the earth".
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva - "He who encompasses the earth"
Ksitigarbha (Sanskrit, "womb of the earth" ) Ksitigarbha assists beings in the six realms and is an emanation of the Dhyani-Buddha Ratnasambhava - one of the Five Dhyani Buddhas. He is particularly well known and venerated for assisting beings in the realms of hell. Holding a jewel, the symbol of the Ratna family, a jewel, he is sometimes called the Jewel Bearer.
Samsara (Sanskrit, "running around" ) Comprised of the six realms wherein dwell Devas(Gods), Asuras (Jealous Nature Spirits), Humans, Animals, Hungry Ghosts and beings in Hell. These beings continue to revolve in the six realms until they attain Enlightenment and realize that the realms are merely states of consciousness, thus freeing them of the need to be reborn in one of these realms.
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva (a Mahayana Buddhist Bodhisattva), is also known as - Earth-Store Bodhisattva or Great Vow Bodhisattva; known in India from the 4th Century BC then he became popular in China and Japan. In Japan he is called Jizo. In China he is known as Di Zang Wang Pu Sa or Ti Tsang Wang Pu Sa. In Tibetan he is addressed as Sai Nyingpo - (jewel) & in Korean he is known as Jijang-bosal.
In many Chinese Buddhist places, he is depicted wearing the robe of a Northern Buddhist monk and is seated on a lotus throne. His hands hold a precious flaming pearl with unimaginable powers. On his head is a five-lobed crown with an image on each of the leaves - the Five primordial Dhyani Buddhas. He is depicted with a benevolent expression, either sitting or standing. His attributes are a Wish-fulfilling Jewel, often described as a pearl and a staff with a khakhara (rattle) at its top. He is also known by his mendicant's staff with 6 rings that jangle as he goes on his way. The sound of its six jangling rings was intended as a warning to any tiny animals so that they could get out of the way and avoid being trod upon. It is also sometimes called the alarm-staff.
(Tiantai Platform at Mt Jiuhua - Qingyang County in Anhui Province, China)
In Japan, he is especially venerated by those who have lost children or babies, born or not - stillborn, miscarried and aborted fetuses who, in Japanese tradition, receive divine punishment for bringing grief to their parents. Statues of Ksitigarbha can be found throughout Japan, especially in cemeteries, since he is believed to be the protector of people condemned to hell. He also protects travellers thus, common sights of statues of Jizo on roadsides can be seen in Japan. He is usually depicted in standing posture which symbolizes the readiness of Jizo to respond immediately to those who have faith in his power of salvation. He stands on a lotus, holding in his left hand the flaming jewel that can overcome even the most profound darkness while in his right he holds the ringed staff with which he is able to even force open the gates of hell.
(Ksitigarbha statue at Mt. Osore, Japan)
Misconceptions:
it should be made clear that Ksitigarbha is not the judge of hell, Yama, which many uninformed Buddhists, other practitioners and those who believe in Chinese folk religion, see Ksitigarbha as.
Ksitigarbha has also often been mistaken by many uninformed Buddhists to be Xuanzang, the famous Tripitaka master of the Tang Dynasty who made the hazardous journey to the west to seek the Buddhist scriptures, and the basis for the fictional character from the Chinese novel Journey to the West. this is mainly due to the robe and the Five Buddhas crown which both are seen to wear.
An enlightened Monk, Patron Saint, and stalwart protector of travellers, children, firemen, and those unable to cross into the afterlife, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is kind, selfless, willing to suffer for others, and promises to deliver all to Heaven. He seeks out evil spirits and labors to bring them to redemption, all the while, keeping the less fortunate out of harm's way of the yet unredeemed evil-doers; saving many from great pain and suffering in hell–both earthly and nether world hells. Rather than go to heaven himself Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva promised/vowed, "Not until the hells are emptied will I become a Buddha; Not until all beings are saved will I certify to Bodhi".
Seed Syllable "Ha" - omnipotent seed-syllable character exclusively & inspirationally reserved for meditation
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is embodied in his seed-syllable "Ha" as such, writing, speaking, reading, or meditation on his sacred syllable "Ha" is a direct encounter with the Bodhisattva.
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva deeply interacts with humans, has close and direct dealings with evil spirits and demon beings, and acts as an intercessor or protector of all–even those of utter darkness and with bad Karma. Known as "The Teacher of the Dark Regions"; "Ha" goes into the deep dark depths of hell, and the nether world, to save souls, and is considered a kindest, most selfless sentient being known, who suffers great pain to free all from suffering. In addition, "Ha" helps humans on earth by freeing those who's minds are obscured, the unenlightened from suffering, giving happiness and enlightening the world we live in. "Ha" is considered by many cultures as the most loved for all for his continued love of all.
The history of Ksitigarbha is well described in the Sutra of The Great Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva also known as The Filiel Piety Sutra; Ksitigarbha's Fundamental Vows; Ksitigarbha's Fundamental Practices; Ksitigarbha's Fundamental Determination, one of the most popular Mahayana Buddhist sutras. This sutra is said to have been spoken by Shakyamuni Buddha towards the end of his life to the beings of the Trayastrimsa Heaven as a mark of gratitude and remembrance for his beloved mother, Mayadevi. It stated that Ksitigarbha practiced filial piety as a mortal, which eventually led to making great vows to save all sentient beings. Hence, the sutra also deals with filial responsibility - not only that between oneself and one's parents, but also in an ultimate sense of a universal code of duty or responsibility for all living beings, all of whom a Bodhisattva regards with the same kindness, consideration and respect that one should accord to one's own parents.
~~ Namo Amituofuo ~~Four Noble Truths
The Noble Eightfold Path