..续本文上一页dies to take across those in the Six Paths, but their vows have an end.

　　Earth Store Bodhisattva has made these vows to teach and transform beings in the Six Paths throughout eons as many as the number of sand grains in hundreds of thousands of millions of Ganges Rivers.

　　是地藏菩萨摩诃萨，於阎浮提有大因缘。如文殊、普贤、观音、弥勒，亦化身百千身形，度於六道，其愿尚有毕竟。是地藏菩萨教化六道一切众生，所发誓愿劫数，如千百亿恒河沙。』

　　"World Honored One, as I regard beings of the present and future, I see those who make shrines of clay, stone, bamboo, or wood and set them on pure ground in the southern part of their dwellings. They place within the shrines images of Earth Store Bodhisattva, either sculpted, painted, or made of gold, silver, copper, or iron. They then light incense, make offerings, behold, worship, and praise him.

　　 『世尊，我观未来及现在众生，於所住处，於南方清洁之地，以土石竹木作其龛室，是中能塑画，乃至金银铜铁，作地藏形像，烧香供养，瞻礼赞叹，是人居处，

　　By doing those things, such people will receive ten kinds of benefits.

　　即得十种利益。何等为十？』

　　"What are those ten

　　First, their lands will be fertile.

　　Second, their families and homes will always be peaceful.

　　Third, their ancestors will be born in the heavens.

　　Fourth, those of the current generation will enjoy benefits and long lives.

　　Fifth, they will easily obtain what they want.

　　一者、土地丰壤； 二者、家宅永安； 三者、先亡生天； 四者、现存益寿； 五者、所求遂意；

　　Sixth, they will not encounter disasters of water and fire.

　　Seventh, they will avoid unforeseen calamities.

　　Eighth, they will never have nightmares.

　　Ninth, they will be protected by spirits in their daily comings and goings.

　　Tenth, they will encounter many causes that pertain to Sagehood.

　　 六者、无水火灾； 七者、虚耗辟除； 八者、杜绝恶梦； 九者、出入神护； 十者、多遇圣因。

　　World Honored One, beings of the present and future who make offerings in their homes in the prescribed manner will attain benefits like those."

　　 『世尊，未来世中，及现在众生，若能於所住方面，作如是供养，得如是利益。』

　　He further said to the Buddha, "World Honored One, good men or good women in the future may keep this Sutra and an image of the Bodhisattva where they live. Further, they may recite the Sutra and make offerings to the Bodhisattva.

　　For those who do that, I shall constantly use my own spiritual powers to guard and protect them day and night so that nothing bad happens to them, including floods, fire, robbery and theft, major disasters, and minor accidents."

　　 复白佛言：『世尊，未来世中，若有善男子善女人，於所住处，有此经典及菩萨像，是人更能转读经典，供养菩萨。我常日夜以本神力，卫护是人，乃至水火盗贼，大横小横，一切恶事，悉皆消灭。』

　　The Buddha told the Earth Spirit Firm and Stable, "There are few spirits who can match your great spiritual power. Why do I say that

　　"All the lands in Jambudvipa receive your protection. All the grasses, woods, sands, stones, paddy fields, hemp, bamboo, reeds, grains, rice, and gems come forth from the earth because of your power.

　　 佛告坚牢地神：『汝大神力，诸神少及。何以故。阎浮土地，悉蒙汝护，乃至草木沙石，稻麻竹苇，谷米宝贝，从地而有，皆因汝力。

　　Moreover, your constant praising of the beneficial deeds of Earth Store Bodhisattva makes your meritorious virtues and spiritual penetrations hundreds of thousands of times those of ordinary earth spirits.

　　"If good men or good women in the future make offerings to this Bodhisattva, or recite the Sutra of the Past Vows of Earth Store Bodhisattva and rely upon even a single aspect of it in their cultivation, you should use your own spiritual powers to protect them. Do not allow any disasters or unwelcome events even to be heard, much less undergone, by them.

　　又常称扬地藏菩萨利益之事。汝之功德，及以神通，百倍於常分地神。若未来世中，有善男子善女人，供养菩萨，及转读是经，但依地藏本愿经一事修行者。汝以本神力而拥护之，勿令一切灾害及不如意事，辄闻於耳，何况令受。

　　Not only will those people be protected by you, they will also be protected by the followers of Shakra, Brahma, and other gods. Why will they receive protection from sages and worthies such as those

　　It will be due to their having beheld and worshipped an image of Earth Store Bodhisattva an…

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