The benefits of Ksitigarbha Practice 修持《地藏经》的种种利益

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Myth: Ksitigarbha practice is only beneficial for the deceased.
Fact: Lord Ksitigarbha is a great savior and protector who liberates all sentient beings (including humans). Reciting the Ksitigarbha Sutra can help us create immeasurable benefits for the great cause of and until the ultimate enlightenment.

Twenty-eight Benefits of Reciting Ksitigarbha Sutra: Here is an excerpt from Chapter 13 (Last Chapter) of Ksitigarbha Sutra, expounded by Lord Shakyamuni stating: “In future life, any virtuous man or woman who sees picture and statue of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and listen to this sutra, up to reciting, using incense and flowers, food and drink, clothing, precious things to give and offer, to praise, to behold and bow, then this person will receive the twenty-eight benefits.”

The twenty-eight benefits are as follow:
1. The Gods and the Dragons often protect and support.
2. The fruition of good causes will increase continuously, day by day.
3. Gather the causes to achieve enlightenment.
4. Forever will not degenerate in Bodhisattva Vows.
5. Food, drink and clothing are plentiful.
6. Diseases and illness will not befall
7. Avoid fire and water calamities
8. Will not suffer from thieves and robbers
9. Be respected and well-received by others upon being seeing
10. Gods and spirits will not cause harm, but will instead protect and support one's Dharma cultivation.
11. Females will be reborn as a male in the next life
12. Have nice and beautiful body and appearance
13. Will become daughter of the kings, ministers in the next life
14. Create great cause to be reborn in the heavens
15. Or become Kings and Rulers
16. Have bright wisdom and have clear understanding of previous lives
17. Have all wishes fulfilled
18. Relatives are peaceful and happy
19. Cease occurrence of tragic, disasters and unfavorable deaths.
20. Karma that leads to unfavorable rebirths in the three lower realms are eradicated
21. No obstacles to whichever heaven or pure land one wishes to go.
22. Have peaceful and serene dreams at night
23. Deceased relatives who have sinned will be liberated from sufferings
24. Continue the accumulation of virtuous and merits from previous lives and get rebirth in fortunate realms
25. Praised by the sages 26. Intelligent and wise nature
27. Rich in kindness and compassion
28. Ultimately, become the Buddha

修持《地藏经》的种种利益

听闻读诵《地藏经》的二十八种利益 在《地藏菩萨本愿经》第十三品中,佛陀释迦牟尼告诉虚空藏菩萨:“若未来世。有善男子。善女人。见地藏形像。及闻此经。乃至读诵。香华饮食。衣服珍宝。布施供养。赞叹瞻礼。得二十八种利益。”

这二十八种利益解释如下:
1)“天龙护念”:一切天龙护法善神都会发心来保护诚心念《地藏经》的人。
2)“善果日增”:善的果报会日日增长。
3)“集圣上因”:能积累无上佛道的胜因种子,如印经、修缮建寺、塑画佛像、刻录佛经、修路补桥、放生利生之功德,善因胜缘多成就。
4)“菩提不退”:由此真心诚意恭敬礼念《地藏经》功德,将会使得我等于成佛的道路不退转,而向前进步。
5)“衣食丰足”:衣食丰足,善根(无贪、无瞋、无痴)具足,五戒十善逐渐圆满,衣食无缺,积极向善向上。
6)“疾疫不临”:恶疾、瘟疫不临近。
7)“离水火灾”:远离水火灾难,即使面临,至诚恳切念《地藏菩萨本愿功德经》,罪灭福生,有惊无险。
8)“无盗贼厄”:礼拜忏悔,身心清净,罪灭福生,无杀盗心,不遇盗贼难。
9)“人见钦敬”:德、行为人钦佩敬服,受人尊重。
10)“神鬼助持”:一切鬼神皆会帮助扶持,早成道业,不会有鬼神惊吓之事,因为一切鬼神皆受地藏菩萨的行愿加持。
11)“女转男身”:若至诚恳切的善女人愿意转变女人态的不方便,成男人大丈夫气概,那她将今生具足无畏勇气,来生成大丈夫。
12)“为王臣女”:若此善女不愿成男,那她来生也会生在社会地位如王侯的书香门第中,成为有福德又端庄,有智慧具足亲和力、慈悲心、受人尊敬的大家闺秀。
13)“端正相好”:无论是男是女皆在今生改变气质,都有修养、有德行,来生成为端正相好的容貌。
14)“多生天上”:就是去世了也可生在天上享用天上的福乐,不用下恶道。
15)“或为帝王”:或者投生人间为国主首领。因为具足智慧慈悲德行,堪能领众为民故。
16)“宿智命通”:能通达前世的禀赋,过去的智慧、善业能在今生天分现前。
17)“有求皆从”:凡所合情合理的意愿皆能遂心。过分非分例外。
18)“眷属欢乐”:善心福业感召家亲眷属和睦相处。
19)“诸横消灭”:由此真心善念至诚恳切心,一切意外的伤身伤物之灾殃会消灭。
20)“业道永除”:由此真心断恶修善的礼念地藏菩萨功德将会远离地狱、饿鬼、畜生三罪业报,来生不受诸恶苦。
21)“去处尽通”:凡所去的天上或发愿往生净土的目标都非常顺利,没有障碍。
22)“夜梦安乐”:晚上睡觉安稳,即使做梦也是安乐,不会做恐怖惊吓之恶梦的。
23)“先亡离苦”:已亡故的先人,承这种血肉相连、心灵相应的功德力量的加持感应,也会离苦得乐。
24)“宿富受生”:凡过去的一切福德、善根种下的功德,承这真心诚意的持诵本经,在地藏王菩萨的福力加持下,将会投生天上或人间,更得享如意自在的福报安乐。
25)“诸圣赞叹”:这种至诚恳切的善心,利己利人的礼念地藏菩萨之行为将会受到一切佛菩萨的称扬和赞叹。
26)“聪明利根”:善男子善女子如此经常性诚挚真心的礼拜诵念,将会越来越智慧聪明,身心清净舒畅。
27)“饶慈愍心”:善男子、善女人会越来越具足慈悲的心肠,越来越有宽恕心、同情心、利益众生心,怜悯有情,越来越象菩萨的伟大。
28)“毕竟成佛”:至诚真心,断恶修善的善男子善女人以此至诚恳切的不断持诵《地藏经》,恭敬礼拜地藏菩萨的功德利益,将会让他(她)毕竟在将来成就无上的佛果。