Ksitigarbha Pure Land
Land of Medicine Buddha has created a Ksitigarbha Pure Land where we can make offerings, practice, rejoice, and pray to Ksitigarbha. The nine-foot Ksitigarbha statue has been a focal point of Land of Medicine Buddha since 2008 and the site of our annual Ksitigarbha Festival Day.
There is also a Ksitigarbha Temple, which houses 108 beautiful 18-inch Ksitigarbha statues, and a large Namgyalma Bell inscribed with the Namgyalma long mantra.
Who is Ksitigarbha
Ksitigarbha is widely venerated in all traditions of Buddhism.
In the Chinese Mahayana tradition, he is known as Di Zang Wang Pu Sa (地藏王菩薩), Earth-Store bodhisattva or Earth Treasure Bodhisattva. Also known as the “King of Great Vow,” he famously made the great vow, “Util hell is empty, I shall not attain buddhahood.” His great vows are recorded in the popular sutra, Original Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra, a Mahayana sutra spoken by Shakyamuni Buddha in the Trayastrimsa Heaven, where the Buddha went towards the end of his life and taught the Dharma in order to repay the kindness of his mother, Queen Maya. The sutra illustrates how Ksitigarbha became a bodhisattva and recounts his efforts when he was a brahma woman in a previous existence, who sought the buddha’s help in freeing her mother from a suffering rebirth.
In Japan, he is known as Jizo, relied upon by those who have lost their children, born or unborn. His name in Tibetan, Sa yi nying po (ས་ཡི་སྙིང་པོ), translates as “Essence of Earth.” He is one of the eight great bodhisattvas in the entourage of Shakyamuni Buddha.
Benefits of Ksitigarbha Practice
Lama Zopa Rinpoche explains the benefits of relying on Ksitigarbha:
“This practice is especially beneficial for those who have insurmountable problems, serious health problems, difficulties in big projects and financial difficulties. I suggest they should recite either the long or the short mantra every day for protection, or at least four or five times or more, depending on the magnitude of the problems.
“This practice is also effective for people who want a good yield of their crops, and protection of their harvest and land. In the sutra of the bodhisattva Kshitigarbha are explained the extensive benefits that can definitely fill up the sky.
“By making offerings to bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, whatever prayers you make become most unbelievably powerful—a hundred million times more powerful for success, and it is much more powerful than praying to other bodhisattvas. It is the most unbelievable for great success to happen as quickly as possible.”
Lama Zopa Rinpoche also recommends reciting the Kṣitigarbha mantra and doing his practice to improve health and financial problems and also to avert disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and fires.
Ksitigarbha Practices
Holy Name
- 南無地藏王菩薩
- Na mo da di zang wang pu sa
- Homage to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva
Mantras, Practices, and Sutra
- Short Mantra: OṂ ĀḤ KŚITIGARBHA THLIṂ HŪṂ
- Ksitigarbha Mantras – the long and medium length mantra.
- Ksitigarbha Practice – compiled by Lama Zopa Rinpoche
- 108 Names of Arya Ksitigarbha and the Dharani Mantra
Sponsor a Ksitigarbha Statue
Here is a unique opportunity to support the Ksitigarbha Pure Land, as well as Land of Medicine Buddha.
Adopt a 18-inch Ksitigarbha statues for an offering of $1080*
- For a living person, someone sick, or for yourself – the name will be placed on a card in the Ksitigarbha Temple.
Prayers from our daily Medicine Buddha puja will be dedicated for the person’s good health, long life, success in life, and for the person’s life and wishes to be fulfilled in accordance with the Dharma.
Join us!
- Adopt a Ksitigarbha Statue – Contact: 108ksitigarbha at medicinebuddha dot org
- Support and maintain Ksitigarbha Pure Land – Donate here!
- Take part in our month-long Celebrate Ksitigarbha program
Join us in creating and maintaining the Ksitigarbha Pure Land to ensure the success of Land of Medicine Buddha and Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s holy wishes, and dedicating to the good health, safety, and success of all beings.