ksitigarbha kx21 A_point_in_time: Ksitigarbha Sutra This Sutra describes the past lives of Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, his great vow made to that effect by him and the benefit accruing from that vow. The vow is that "if the hell is not yet empty, I vow not to become a Buddha." iLink:- Di_Zang / Earth_Store_Bodhisattva 040912 ... . Ksitigarbha_Sutra http://www.buddhistdoor.com/resources/sutras/intro_ksitigarbha.htm 040912 ... . CHAPTER 7 Benefitting The Living And The Dead At that time, the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Ksitigarbha addressed the Buddha... "O World Honored One, I see that if the sentient beings in Jambudvipa are able to perform some good deeds as Buddhadharma— even though such deeds be only as small as the point of a hair, a mote, a grain of sand or a droplet—they will be able to gain benefit for themselves." 040912 ... a "Point" "The_Buddha’s_majestic_power" 'I am going to talk briefly on this matter for the benefit of all sentient beings of the present and future generations.' "O, Your Excellency, if any sentient being in the future or at present should be able, at the end of his life, to hear the name of a Buddha or of a Bodhisattva or of a Pratyekabuddha, he will gain deliverance and liberation, whether he is sinful or innocent. Should some men or women not cultivate good karmic causes and commit many sins while living, but should their relatives—whether junior or senior— perform, on their behalf, all the blissfu l, beneficial sacraments, then one out of every seven parts of the meritorious virtue thus gained will go to the dead person, while six parts will go to the living themselves. For this reason, good men and good women of the future and the present should cultivate themselves while they are still healthy so that they may gain every part of such meritorious virtue. 040912 ... :) The_Buddha's_majestic_power Amen. 040912 what's it to you? who go blather from