An image of Kṣitigarbha that Lama Zopa Rinpoche traveled with and kept with him.

For the benefit of students, Lama Zopa Rinpoche advised the translation of the Kṣitigarbha Ten Wheels Mahāyāna Sūtra from the Great Collection into English, kindly sponsored by Amitabha Buddhist Centre, Singapore. This 292  page translation is now available according to the wishes of Rinpoche!  

In the wide-ranging discourse the Buddha expounds on the “ten wheels” that define a just king’s rule; the knowledge and qualities of a tathagata; the ethics, conduct and practices to be adopted by the Buddha’s ordained followers; the features and qualities of the three vehicles; the practice of confession; the ten virtues and their ripening results; and the ten perfections.

The Tibetan text in the Kangyur is a translation of the Chinese rendition; there is no extant Sanskrit edition. The masterful and uplifting English translation quoted below and available to all was undertaken by Gavin Kilty.

We are so happy to make this precious translation available to all.

Qualities of Kshitigarbha and His Dharani

The bodhisattva Kshitigarbha, for whom the sutra is named, features most prominently in the first two chapters of the sutra. Alongside the inspiring description of his inconceivable qualities is an account of the exceptional benefits of the dharani mantra which he received:

The bodhisattva mahāsattva Kṣitigarbha is adorned with countless, immeasurable, and unimaginable qualities, so much so that the śrāvakas, the pratyekabuddhas, and all those of the world are unable to conceive of them. This bodhisattva is a treasure of supreme qualities. He is a mine of the jewels of liberation. He purifies the eyes of the bodhisattvas. He is the navigator who leads sentient beings to nirvāṇa. Just as a wish-fulfilling jewel brings down all jewels like rain, he fulfills all hopes and desires. He is like a treasure island for many traders.

Often referred to as the Ksitigarbha long mantra, the Buddha said of this amazing dharani:

It was well spoken to cleanse the stains of existence. It was well spoken to pacify the era of troubles. It was well spoken to cleanse nonvirtuous thoughts. It was well spoken to tame the great elements. It was well spoken to purify lower rebirths. It was well spoken to remove the imprints of bad deeds. It was well spoken to fulfill all hopes. It was well spoken to ripen the harvests. This, which was well spoken by all the buddhas, has been blessed by all the tathāgatas. This, which was well spoken, will be blessed by the bodhisattvas. Rejoice! 

Through this dhāraṇī, all virtuous Dharmas are produced and increased. The store of seeds, the roots, the shoots, the branches, the trunks, the leaves, the flowers, the fruit, the plants, and the taste and aroma of the harvests will all be produced and in-creased. The rains and the beneficial aspects of earth, water, fire, and air will all be created and increased. Joy and happiness will be created and increased. Jewels and wealth will be created and increased. Strength and power will be generated and increased. All the necessities of life will be produced and increased.

Venerable Bhagavān, through this dhāraṇī, beings are saved from the four rivers. It brings about an increase in the aims of the bhikṣus, bhikṣuṇīs, male lay practitioners, and female lay practitioners of the entourage of the Bhagavān and so on, up to the production and increase of the necessities of life. Through this mantra, the noble nectar-like teachings of the Bhagavān will grow to completion, will remain for a long time to come, and will bring benefit and happiness to the sentient beings of the three realms.

Prayers Made to Kshitigarbha are Powerful and Wish-Fulfilling

Kṣitigarbha in a monk aspect. Statue at Buddha Amitabha Pure Land, Washington, USA.

Thus Lama Zopa Rinpoche often advises that prayers to Kshitigarbha are much more powerful than those made to other bodhisattvas, emphasizing in the Ksitigarbha Practice: “This dharani mantra is the best one to do for any problems in any situation. Even reciting four or five times, just a few times, is very powerful. [The sutra] talks about so much power, how important the bodhisattva is; even reciting or just thinking of the name of the bodhisattva is very, very powerful.”

It is like this. Son of the family, if some beings for a hundred eons were to go for refuge with single-pointed minds to Maitreya, Mañjuśrī, Avalokiteśvara, Samantabhadra, and bodhisattva mahāsattvas as many in number as grains of sand in the Ganges riverbed, and say the names of these great bodhisattvas, and visualizing them, make offerings to them and prostrate to them with great devotion, and make prayers to fulfill their wishes, and if others for just an instant with single-pointed minds say the name of the bodhisattva mahāsattva Kṣitigarbha, and visualizing him, make offerings to him and prostrate to him with great devotion, all their prayers will be swiftly answered and fulfilled.

Why is that? In order to bring benefit and happiness to every sentient being, this bodhisattva mahāsattva Kṣitigarbha longs to fulfill their prayers, like a treasury of wish-fulfilling jewels. In this way, this great being, in order to thoroughly ripen sentient beings, for a long time made prayers of firm resolve and meditated on great compassion and on extraordinary perseverance. Therefore, he is greater than all other bodhisattvas and you should make offerings to him with great devotion.

Benefits of Upholding Sutra

The sutra culminates with the Buddha entrusting it to Akashagarbha, exhorting him to give protection and work for those who uphold it in any way.

Son of the family, this great instruction, this Dharma gateway known as the Kṣitigarbha Ten Wheels, I entrust to you. Retain and propagate these points of Dharma. Those beings who read it, recite it, contemplate it, teach it widely to others, or practice it purely, you must protect in ten ways, work for their happiness, and guide them for a long time. 

What are these ten? It is like this. Protect their wealth and their ways of obtaining it and do not let it diminish. Guard them from all harm and make them free from harm. Guard them from wrong views and wrong ways, and see that they eradicate the path of the ten nonvirtues. Guard their bodies and speech from all harm, and make such harm nonexistent. Protect them from, and eradicate all criticism and slander. Protect them from weakening their ethics and practice. Eradicate completely all harm from spirits, all disturbance of the elements, all untimely illness, and old age.51 Guard them from untimely events, improper behavior, wrong views, and epidemics. Even if they should die, protect them so that they behold the buddhas, that they are reborn in the higher realms, and that they find happiness and well-being.

Son of the family, those beings who read this Dharma, recite it, contemplate it, teach it widely to others, or practice it purely, protect them in these ten ways, bless them, and by these ten, work for their happiness and guide them for a long time.

You can download the most precious translation of his powerful sutra as well as the Ksitigarbha practice booklet compiled by Lama Zopa Rinpoche. 

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