Yuli the Holy Book

At that time, Buddha Sakyamuni asked Bodhisattva Manjushri, Mahasattva, “Do you know how many Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, heavenly beings, dragons, ghosts and gods from other lands and worlds are here in the Trayastrimsa Heaven for this instruction?” 

 

Manjushri answered, “World Honored One, even using my divine power for thousands of aeons, I still would not be able to calculate how many are here.”  Buddha Sakyamuni said to Manjushri, “Even if I use my Buddha eye, I too cannot calculate them.  These multitudes include all whom Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha has released, is releasing, and will release from suffering.  That is, these multitudes include all living beings who live in the past, present and future!”

 

Manjushri said to Buddha, “World Honored One, I have long cultivated good roots and have acquired extensive and profound wisdom.  So, as soon as I hear anything the Buddha says, I understand and believe it immediately. However, other living beings may doubt Buddha’s sincere words.  They might believe them temporarily but they cannot hold the words in their hearts, and will begin to doubt them and then criticize them, I hope the World Honored One can provide more detailed information about Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, Mahasattva, and tell us what this Bodhisattva did.”  ~ Ksitigarbha Great Vows sutra

 

From Yuli the Holy Book:

Feng Du Da Di said: `Lord Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva wants to deliver all the ghosts residing in the nether world. He does not want to see all human beings who have done bad deeds to descend to the nether world and suffer all kinds of punishment.  Therefore, he has given all of us the permission to condone and reduce the sentences as the case may be, for those who really repented on what they had done while they were alive.

All the implementation guidelines have been submitted by the nether gods to the Jade Emperor.  Jade Emperor has also given consent that they should be recorded in Yuli – The Holy Book and be circulated and implemented in the mortal world at once.

However, to-date, the book is still not released to the mortal world, as nobody of great virtue has been found.  Today, I have found the right person – Dan Chi, who is standing over there.  I am going to entrust him with the task.  Kindly compile all the quotations and copy them into Yuli – The Holy Book at once.′

It was rather difficult to find this text translated properly into English.  So I took it upon myself to correct the typos, edit the grammatical errors, and reformat the text for an easier read.  It is 18 pages as an Adobe .pdf file.   If you wish to read the whole book composed by Dan Chi, a poor but virtuous Chinese cultivator from the 11th century then click on the link:  Yuli – the Holy Book

 

UPDATE:  This version is ideal for reprinting purposes:  Yuli – print version

 

Here is a short video (3:46) I created to inspire everyone to increase their positive virtues and meritorious actions:

Why Buddha praises Ksitigarbha

From the Ksitigarbha Great Vows sutra:

When Buddha spoke these words in the meeting, a Bodhisattva, Mahasattva, name Self-Existent King asked, “World Honored One, what vow makes the Buddha praise Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha so much?  Please World Honored One tell us.”

Buddha answered Bodhisattva Self-Existent King, “Listen, listen, and think of what I am about to say.  Many aeons ago, there was a Buddha name `All-Knowledge-Accomplished One′.  This Buddha is worshipped by heavenly beings and people.  He has wisdom and is perfect in clarity and conduct.  He can be released from life and death.  He is omniscient and acts as an advocate and mediator.  He is the highest sage and the greatest instructor of heaven and people.  That is why this Buddha is respected by heavens and people.

The lifespan of this Buddha is sixty thousand aeons.  He was a king of a small country before he became a monk.  While he was a king, he had a good friend who was also a king of a neighbouring country.  They both cultivated themselves by doing ten good deeds to help others.  The citizens of their countries used to commit many evil acts, so the two kings decided to set up possible ways to help people to give up evil and return to virtue.  One king made a vow that he may soon become a Buddha to help all beings.  The other king made a different vow, saying that he would never become Buddha unless all beings suffering from their criminal acts were saved and gained peace and happiness, attained Bodhi.”

Buddha Shakyamuni told Bodhisattva Self-Existent King, “The king who wished to become a Buddha first is Buddha All-Knowledge Accomplished.  The other king who wished to help people but refused to become a Buddha first is the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha.”

Futhermore the Buddha gave an analogy of how long Ksitigarbha has not attained the fruition of Buddhahood.

Buddha told Manjushri, “As an analogy, it is as if in the thousands of worlds, all the grasses, trees, bushes, straw, hemp, bamboo, reeds, mountains, stones, dust and every object is made into the Ganges River.  And each grain of sand in the Ganges River becomes a great world.  And each speck of dust in the each world is compared to an aeon.  And within those aeons the specks of dust that would accumulate would also become aeons.  Increase this amount a thousand times and this is how long Ksitigarbha has maintained the position of the Ten Ground – the highest ground or position that a Bodhisattva can reach.  Manjushri, the power from [this] Bodhisattva’s vow is unimaginable.”

UPDATE:

From the Sutra of Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha’s Fundamental Vows:

The Buddha told Samantavipula, “If a good man or a good woman in the future should, on hearing the name of Bodhisattva-Mahasattva Ksitigarbha, join his palms, give praise and pay obeisance or give admiration to him-such a person will be exonerated from all his sins committed and karmic blemishes contracted during thirty kalpas.”

Feel free to visit our yahoo group to read more inspirational stories about the Buddhist sutras.

Light,
Neo