Scripture by Ksitigarbha Ancient Buddha 地藏古佛慈訓

Image of Ksitigarbha Ancient Buddha from Shutterstock

I love this scripture so much that I had to redo it. If you read it from beginning to end, it will feel as if you’ve made a sacred pact with Kṣitigarbha Ancient Buddha. I definitely feel more secure and confident walking this path, especially with his words of assurance at the very end. I genuinely believe it.

Here is a video to read along.

地湧蓮花之姿  本自具足

藏經萬卷之聞  本具有之

古典文章之詩  本具有之

佛倡宗廟之奧  本具有之

Like a lotus gracefully rising from the earth,

this noble spirit lives within—whole from the start.

The treasury of sacred scriptures, rich with timeless wisdom,

is stored deep in the heart.

The essence of ancient poems and teachings is part of our true nature,

and the deeper meaning of honoring ancestors,

upheld by the Buddha, has always been within the true path.

雖窮盡滿腹之詞章　 好似那一毫置太虛　

縱畢生世之唇舌 譬如取一滴投巨壑　

Even with a lifetime of learning, all that knowledge

is still like placing a single strand of hair into the vastness of space.

And even with a lifetime of true words, they are

but a single drop of water falling into a deep and endless canyon.

性海浩大　淵淵涓涓　無窮無盡

取之無禁　用之不竭　

Each person’s true nature is great like the ocean—deep and still, yet steady like a stream that flows without end. It holds boundless wisdom and virtue. This inner potential can be freely drawn upon and will never run dry.

故而以爾等之所行　爾等之所學

故而以爾等如此之學　如此之行

怎能臻達究竟　怎能替諸佛還愿

So then, with the way you carry yourself and

the little you have learned and practiced,

how can you truly reach a perfect and complete state?

And how will you fulfill the great vows of the Buddhas?

俺老衲　地藏古佛是也　特領

母命　趨入靈隱　借個相身　與諸位賢士

I am but an old monk—none other than Ksitigarbha Ancient Buddha. By

Mother’s will, I have come to Lingyin. For a time, I take on this human form

to meet with you—the noble ones.

咱們來叩叩何為真　何為愿

　敢不敢跟俺老納叩真誠的愿呢　俺老衲　叩參

母座　 再問諸位賢士心驚不驚

Let us explore together:

What makes something genuine?

What is a vow made with the heart?

Do you have the courage

to make such a vow—with true sincerity—beside me?

I have already bowed before

Mother's seat. Now I ask you, noble ones

—are you afraid?

　語云

　人生在塵蒙　恰似盆中蟲

　終日行繞繞　不離其盆中

　所求皆不得　煩惱計無窮

　歲月如流水　須臾作老翁

It has been said:

Life in this world is clouded by desire and ignorance

—like insects trapped in a basin, circling endlessly in the dark.

They never break free—like people caught in worldly affairs, busy but confused.

What people seek often escapes them, while troubles never stop.

Time flows like water—youth fades,

and before they know it, they have grown old.

　有道是　昨夜星辰昨夜風

今日天下已不同

As the poem says, “The stars of last night, the winds of last night”—

yet the world today is no longer what it once was.

故而修辦之士

　得應知時　察時　觀時　識時　又不失時

So those who walk the path must learn to understand Heaven’s timing, watch the changes of the world with care, know what is happening around them, act at the right moment, and never let a good chance pass by.

　古德云

　蚊蟲運翅振飛終日　不能越廊廡

　若依附鳳尾　霎時可遍遊四方

The sages once said:

A small insect may flap its wings all day,

but it cannot fly beyond the eaves and corridors.

Yet if it clings to the tail of a phoenix, it can cross the world in a single breath.

故機不可錯　機不可失　騏驥奔馳　瞬時千里可至

　若遭羈絆　則經年不能移寸步

That is why opportunity must not be missed.

 A fine horse may run a thousand miles in a day,

 but if it is tied down, it cannot take even one step—even in a year.

　故志不可沉　意不可喪　愿不可枯

　當效天下一完人　文武才情忠義膽

　且懷節操配古今　英雄面目聖賢心

So let your purpose never fade,

your will never waver, and your vows never run dry.

Be a person of true greatness—wise, strong, and loyal,

with courage and a heart that stands for what is right.

Hold your honor high, like the noble ones of ages past,

with the boldness of a hero and the heart of a saint.

　俺老納

　自信能弭地曹幽冥鬼魂之冤　故鍥而不捨

　自信能回人曹白陽修士之愿　故鍥而不捨

　自信能動天曹氣天諸神之誠　故鍥而不捨

I, this old monk, believe with all my heart

that I can calm the cries of suffering spirits in the underworld

—so I do not give up.

I believe I can help the faithful of this age fulfill their sacred vows

—so I press on.

I believe I can move the hearts of those in Heaven with true sincerity

—so I walk without turning back.

路看似遙遠卻很近　物看似模糊卻清明

　千里之行　始於足下

The road may seem far, but it is near.

What looks unclear is, in truth, bright and clear.

Even a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

三曹普渡完成　非遙不可及

　復興真儒運　非遙不可及

　萬家生佛　非遙不可及

　聖人成就三曹聖業　非遙不可及

The great rescue of all beings in the three realms

is not a distant dream.

Restoring the true spirit of Confucian teaching

to guide the world is within reach.

The hope that each family can give rise

to the power to become a buddha is not far.

Saints can fulfill the sacred task of the three realms

—this too is possible.

　凡人修回自性本身佛　非遙不可及

　此世修此世成　非遙不可及

　一子成道九玄七祖皆超生　非遙不可及

　道德重整　非遙不可及

　人心挽化　非遙不可及

With practice, anyone can return to their true nature

and realize the Buddha within—it is not beyond reach.

To practice and awaken in this life is truly possible.

When one person reaches enlightenment,

sixteen generations of their family line will be lifted from rebirth.

Restoring moral order and guiding the world back to virtue is not too great a task.

Turning hearts back to goodness is not a dream too far to fulfill.

　爾等可有此之大自信　大膽識與大擔當

　走過昨日爛漫繽紛的路　知曉從中取得領悟

　烙印在修辦生命中的銘心刻骨　懂得歇下坦舒

Do you carry true confidence, clear vision,

and the courage to take on great responsibility with a faithful heart?

As you walked the bright yet uncertain roads of the past,

did you find the lessons that shaped your soul?

Have you carved those truths into your life of cultivation and service?

Have you learned to let go, to quiet the heart, and to rest in peace and clarity?

　護三曹兮　愿海漫漫　豪情泝泝　穿越業降束縛

　唯愿是輔　唯愿是路

Protect the beings of the three realms.

This vow is deep and wide like the sea—without limit.

From it flows a strong and noble feeling, rising like a river

—steady, bold, and never fading.

It breaks through the weight of karma and frees you from the chains of fate.

Only the power of a true vow can give such strength.

Only vows can show the way.

　走天涯兮　啟動自家性靈　鬱乎蒼蒼　轉圜自如　矢志松柏長青

Step onto the long road of your journey.

Awaken your true nature.

When the inner spirit awakens, it becomes like the sky

—vast, high, and full of grace.

With a clear spirit, you can face all things with calm,

act with wisdom, and move with dignity.

Then your resolve will be firm, like the evergreen that never withers.

可以是惆悵的慈悲　如泣如訴

　可以是溫柔的慈悲　如縷如絲

　可以是至情的慈悲　如卷如舒

　可以是剛毅的慈悲　如鐘如鼓

Compassion can carry quiet sorrow,

like soft weeping or a heartfelt cry.

It can be gentle and light, like threads of silk.

It can be full of true feeling, rising and falling like waves.

It can also be strong and steady,

like the solemn sound of a bell or drum.

　飛行吧　人間天使　白陽修士

　懷一顆與蒼生共存亡的決心　繼往聖前進開闢

　抱一分與天道共普渡的毅力　始至終誓死如歸

Spread your wings and soar—

O angels on Earth, cultivators of the White Sun.

Hold a heart united with all beings, ready to live and die as one.

Follow the sacred path of the sages,

and carry their spirit forward to open a road of light and virtue.

With unwavering will, embrace Heaven’s Tao to rescue all souls.

From beginning to end, stand firm in faith—

facing death as if returning home.

　來吧　諸位修士　啜這一口集諸佛愿力的丹露

　期許自己 永不絕望　永不灰心　永不怕累　永不怕苦

Come, cultivators!

Accept this sacred drop of nectar, filled with the vows of all Buddhas.

Promise yourself: no matter what lies ahead—

never give up hope, never lose heart,

never fear giving your all, and never run from hardship.

　有決心者

　不信習氣去不掉

　不信劣根性化不掉

　不信冤仇解不了

　不信瓶頸突破不了

One with true determination—

does not believe bad habits cannot change,

does not believe deep faults cannot be corrected,

does not believe even great hatred cannot be mended,

does not believe trials on the path cannot be overcome.

　不信關卡過不了

　不信困難解決不了

　不信真心喚不醒

　不信大愿發不了

does not believe obstacles cannot be passed,

does not believe hardships cannot be solved,

does not believe a true heart cannot awaken others,

does not believe great vows cannot be made,

　不信眾生不回頭

　不信三曹普渡完成不了

　不信至誠上天感動不了

　不信至誠冤親債主感化不了

does not believe people will refuse to return to the good,

does not believe the saving of those in the three realms cannot be fulfilled,

does not believe true sincerity cannot move Heaven,

does not believe sincere hearts cannot soften vengeful spirits.

　不信人間淨土成就不了

　不信道路開不了

　不信災劫挽化不了

　句句皆是愿

does not believe this world cannot made pure and peaceful,

does not believe the path of truth cannot be opened,

does not believe disasters cannot be turned away.

Each word is a vow—spoken with faith, sealed with heart.

恆以永不絕望的濟世救人之心

恆以永不失望的背負職責使命

恆以永不熄滅對眾生的愛心

恆以永不休息的菩薩愿行

Always carry a heart that never gives up, with a vow to help and save others.

Always keep a heart that never loses hope, and fulfill your sacred duty with faith.

Always hold a heart of love that never fades, to protect all beings.

Always keep a spirit that never rests, and live the bodhisattva vow to save all.

絕對的改變　有絕對的力量

絕對的相信　有絕對的生機

When a person truly chooses to change, that choice brings great strength.

With firm faith in the path, your vows, and yourself,

that belief brings new life and opens the way to hope.

　藉著臨畢班之際　懷著一顆不忍之心　懷著一份不捨之情

　雖然辭句淺　雖言語嚴又厲　實乃不得已

As this session comes to a close,

my heart holds both sorrow and deep reluctance to part.

Though the words are plain and the tone may sound harsh,

they were spoken only because there was no other way.

　受爾等冤親債主之託　九玄七祖之望

　故而下來演此道與義　淺言俚語之中　莫不處處出於寸衷

Your karmic creditors and sixteen generations of your family line

have asked me to share their hopes and pleas with you.

That is why I have come—to speak the truth and share what is right.

My words are plain, but each one is spoken with deep sincerity.

　一字一叩的語重心長　皆出於俺老納肺腑之衷言

　誠邀諸位白陽修士發大愿　大膽游於諸佛愿海之中

 Each word is offered with care and respect

—from a heart full of truth and compassion.

       I call on all White Era cultivators to make great vows

—step boldly into the sea of the buddhas’ mercy.

　覺己覺人　報恩了愿　達至圓滿　以期不辜負

皇母開道之恩　不失望於九玄七祖之盼

Awaken yourself, then help others awaken.

Repay kindness, fulfill your vows, and walk toward true completion.

May we never fail our Heavenly Mother’s grace

or the hopes of sixteen generations of your family line.

　期望諸位修士　做什麼像什麼

　人人秉著戰戰兢兢之心　不怕眾生感動不了

　本著沒有厭倦的慈悲心　哪怕愿力還不了　俺就叩辭

母駕　繼續俺之職責

　諸位修士　記住跟俺所講過的每一句話

　重在實行　爾等有心　俺老衲一定助到底

I hope each cultivator does everything with a sincere heart—

skillfully and properly—so others see they are fit for the task.

With a heart that is both respectful and cautious,

why fear that sentient beings will not be moved?

With compassion that does not fade,

and vows grounded in truth

—what, then, cannot be fulfilled? I will bow to

Heavenly Mother and ask to return to my duties.

Remember every word I have shared.

Above all, live it with your whole heart.

If your heart remains true,

I will walk with you, all the way to the end.

Note: This draft is a humble attempt at translation and will be updated at a later date. In fact, this is the second revision of the scripture. May the merit of this work be dedicated to those suffering in the realm of hungry ghosts.