The powerful vows of Earth Store Bodhisattva are beyond our imagination and are acknowledged by almost everyone in the Chinese-speaking community. However, due to many misconceptions spread among people, there’s a belief that Earth Store Bodhisattva only manages the underworld and therefore, out of fear, people tend to distance themselves from the Earth Store Bodhisattva’s teachings.
In fact, the Earth Store Bodhisattva became widely known after the Buddha expounded his achievements in the Trayastrimsa Heaven for his mother, and vowed to help future sentient beings find the most suitable ways to be liberated from their difficulties in life. [Can you check the translation of this sentence. Not sure if it is correct.]Later, people become aware that chanting the holy name of Earth Store Bodhisattva, the Earth Store Bodhisattva Sutra, or the Earth Store Bodhisattva Heart Mantra, brought many benefits. Questions arise such as “When can we pray for Earth Store Bodhisattva’s help?” or “Will chanting the Earth Store Bodhisattva Heart Mantra attract evil?” These questions are answered here.
What do you get from Earth Store Bodhisattva?
According to the Earth Store Bodhisattva Sutra, the Buddha entrusted the responsibility of enlightening all sentient beings to Earth Store Bodhisattva, which explains why Earth Store Bodhisattva also looks after worldly problems. With that said, at what event or occasion can we pray and worship Earth Store Bodhisattva?
As we all know, we pray to Earth Store Bodhisattva for our dying loved ones to be liberated from suffering and avoid hell; for expectant mothers to have a safe delivery and give birth to healthy babies with good fortune and wisdom; for those who have passed away unexpectedly or are haunted by unjust ghosts, we chant the Earth Store Bodhisattva Sutra for their deliverance and help the living turn bad luck into good; we chant the Earth Store Bodhisattva Sutra for our karmic creditors to eliminate the negative karma of past lives, allowing them to be reborn in the Pure Land without suffering in hell, and to reduce obstacles in our present life, binging us a smooth life path. Sincerely worshiping Earth Store Bodhisattva can also enhance our wisdom, eliminate ignorance accumulated over many lifetimes, and accumulate blessings. Lastly, those who frequently dream of Earth Store Bodhisattva are believed to have a special affinity with him and can worship him regularly.
With that said, Earth Store Bodhisattva does not only manage the underworld. People can pray to him for help with problems including safety, job seeking, and wisdom, and he will listen to your wishes. Sincerely worshipping Earth Store Bodhisattva will surely bring you good luck, peace, and fulfillment of your wishes.
The 28 benefits of chanting and paying respect to the Earth Store Bodhisattva Sutra
《The Earth Store Bodhisattva Sutra states that if one can respectfully worship the Earth Store Bodhisattva and recite the Earth Store Bodhisattva Sutra, one can attain great wisdom, increase blessings and longevity, and obtain 28 kinds of special benefits and merits that are difficult to come by. Additionally, if one recites the content of the sutra for their deceased loved ones with sincerity, then the Buddha and bodhisattvas shall eliminate their negative karma, keep them from the evil realm, and guide them towards rebirth in a better realm.
What are the 28 benefits? First and foremost, attain the protection and blessings of the gods and dragons, allowing freedom from afflictions, disasters, and illness, and granting abundance in clothing, food, health and longevity, intelligence, wisdom, and the realization of our aspirations. The blessings can also let deceased ancestors, parents, and loved ones be reborn in the Pure Land. The earned merits also help us and our loved ones to be reborn into wealthy and noble families such as kings and high-ranking officials. Most importantly, it helps to strengthen our foundation to attain Buddhahood in the future.
About Chanting the Earth Store Bodhisattva Heart Mantra
In order to better help sentient beings reach paradise, the powerful Earth Store Bodhisattva provided a secret method, the Earth Store Bodhisattva Heart Mantra (Om Ha Ha Ha Wei San Mo Ye So Ha). This mantra allows chanters to instantly connect with Earth Store Bodhisattva to obtain the auspicious blessings of Buddha light. Below are some questions and answers about the Earth Store Bodhisattva Heart Mantra:
Does chanting the Earth Store Bodhisattva Heart Mantra at night attract evil?
More questions on the Earth Store Bodhisattva Heart Mantra
- 「When can we chant it?」
Grandmaster JinBodhi said, “Many people believe that Earth Store Bodhisattva comes to rescue sentient beings from suffering. And the hell mentioned here is not just the hell mentioned in existing religions. Where then is hell? In fact, hell exists in the human world. If we are confused and always make mistakes, causing ourselves and others to suffer, and causing others’ heartache, it is like living in hell. The hell in the human world happens to most everyone. Therefore, at any time, you can chant the Earth Store Bodhisattva Heart Mantra and pray for blessings.”
- 「How long should we chant? 」
Grandmaster JinBodhi said, “If the deceased passed away within three years, it is recommended to chant the mantra for at least one hour per day. If it is within the same year of passing, for the first seven days, chant for two hours per day, and for the rest of the time, chant for at least one hour per day. The chanting time depends on one’s own intention and convenience.”
More questions on the Earth Store Bodhisattva Heart Mantra
Stories about Connecting with Earth Store Bodhisattva
In Taiwan, a couple was originally living peacefully and happily. One day, the wife suddenly had chest pain and a splitting headache. She went to the hospital for various tests, but no cause was found. Painkillers did not relieve the symptoms, but instead made them worse. At its worst, she did not sleep for seven days and seven nights. This condition troubled her for 14 years.
It wasn’t until the couple encountered Earth Store Bodhisattva that they began to sincerely chant the Earth Store Bodhisattva Heart Mantra every day. About a week later, the wife had a dream. In the dream, a child with a broken body came to her, with his head shattered and a large hole in his chest. He said in great pain, “Why did you abandon me? You killed me in such a cruel way.” The wife was frightened; she woke up in cold sweat and trembled uncontrollably. She remembered that she and her husband had aborted a child before they got married, and that child had come back to haunt her.
The next day, the couple arranged a light offering and performed good deeds. They also chanted Earth Store Bodhisattva and the content of the Earth Store Bodhisattva Sutra without interruption every day, dedicating the merit to the child with the hope that he could attain liberation. Several weeks later, the wife’s body gradually recovered and her symptoms of headaches and chest pain were relieved. After several months of continuous chanting, her 14-year-long illness finally ceased. (Source: Online)
This shows the remarkable effect of chanting the Earth Store Bodhisattva Heart Mantra. When Grandmaster JinBodhi introduced the mantra in early 2020, he received many positive responses. Not only has it improved health and made families happier and more harmonious, but some have also dreamt of their deceased relatives being led by Buddha to paradise and receiving auspicious liberation.
Conclusion
The vows of Earth Store Bodhisattva are beyond imagination as they carry the heavy responsibility entrusted by the Buddha. Not only does Earth Store Bodhisattva save beings in hell, but also all sentient beings living in the human realm. Just like all buddhas and bodhisattvas, the Earth Store Bodhisattva aims to liberate all beings from suffering, bless them with good health, help them avoid disasters, bless them with sufficient food and clothing, and help fulfill all their wishes. He wants to liberate all deceased sentient beings from the evil path, to be reborn in the Pure Land, and to enjoy immeasurable blessings.
