释迦牟尼佛成佛后，知道母亲摩耶夫人已往生到忉利天（欲界第二层天），为了报答母亲的生育与养育之恩，特意带领弟子升到忉利天，专门为母亲说法。

说法当天，十方世界所有的佛、大菩萨、天龙八部（天神、龙神、鬼神等各类护法），都纷纷赶来集会，场面盛大庄严。地藏菩萨也带着无数化身，从各个世界前来，恭敬地围绕在佛身边。

佛当场赞叹地藏菩萨：“你从很久以前，经历了数不清的漫长时间，就发下这样的大愿，不断救度罪苦众生，从来没有懈怠过。今天我特意请你到这里，就是要把救度众生的方法托付给你，让你为大家宣说这最殊胜的法门。”

The Buddha knew his mother Queen Maya had been reborn in Trayastrimsa Heaven (Second Heaven of Desire Realm). To repay her love and care, he ascended there to teach the Dharma especially for her.

Beings from all ten directions—Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, gods, dragons, spirit protectors—gathered in vast assembly. Ksitigarbha appeared in countless transformed bodies, respectfully surrounding the Buddha.

The Buddha praised him: "Through immeasurable eons, you have tirelessly vowed to liberate suffering beings without rest. Today I invite you to teach this supreme path and entrust the salvation of all beings to you."

地藏菩萨以天眼通，清清楚楚看到一切众生的行为与果报：“世间的苦与乐、祸与福，没有一样是凭空来的，全是自己身、口、意三方面造作的‘业’所带来的，就像种下什么种子，必然结什么果。

十恶业的具体内容与后果：

* 身体造的恶（身三业）：

✖️ 杀生：伤害、杀害一切有生命的众生，将来多病、短命、遭怨

✖️ 偷盗：偷、骗、强占别人或公家财物，将来贫穷、财物被夺、遇盗贼

✖️ 邪淫：违背伦理的性行为、不当关系，将来配偶不贞、家庭不和、眷属争斗

* 言语造的恶（口四业）：

✖️ 妄语：说谎、骗人、作假见证，将来常被欺骗、声音不清、遭人诽谤

✖️ 两舌：搬弄是非、挑拨离间，将来眷属分离、亲友不和、人缘差

✖️ 恶口：骂人、说粗话、讽刺伤人，将来常闻恶言、说话遭恨、口舌是非多

✖️ 绮语：花言巧语、轻浮挑逗、无聊废话，将来言语无人信、说话无分量、生在边地

* 心念造的恶（意三业）：

✖️ 贪：贪财、贪色、贪名、贪利、贪享受，将来所求难遂、贪得无厌反成苦、生饿鬼道

✖️ 嗔：生气、发火、怨恨、想报复、嫉妒，将来常遇不如意事、被人伤害、生地狱道

✖️ 痴：糊涂、不信因果、不懂道理、执迷不悟，将来生邪见、智慧暗、生畜生道

这十件恶事，做多了、做重了，就会把人直接带进地狱、饿鬼、畜生三恶道去受无量痛苦。”

With divine vision, Ksitigarbha saw clearly: *"All suffering and happiness come only from your own karma—body, speech, mind. Like seeds, you reap exactly what you plant.

Ten Evil Karmas & Their Consequences:

* Body:

✖️ Killing → illness, short life, grudges

✖️ Stealing → poverty, loss, robbery

✖️ Sexual misconduct → unfaithful spouse, family strife

* Speech:

✖️ Lying → deception, unclear speech, slander

✖️ Sowing discord → separation, broken relationships

✖️ Harsh speech → harsh words in return, enmity

✖️ Frivolous talk → untrusted speech, obscure birth

* Mind:

✖️ Greed → unfulfilled desires, suffering, rebirth as hungry ghost

✖️ Hatred/anger → constant trouble, injury, rebirth in hell

✖️ Delusion → wrong views, dull wisdom, rebirth as animal

Heavy practice of these ten evils leads inevitably to the Three Evil Paths: Hell, Hungry Ghosts, Animals."*

地藏菩萨接着说：“我们居住的这个世界叫‘阎浮提’（就是地球人间），这里的众生有个特点：心性刚强、固执难调，不容易听进善言，也不容易改过，总觉得自己对、别人错。平常一举一动、起心动念，大多是顺着贪、嗔、痴走，所以造业特别快、特别重。

而人死的时候，并不是一了百了，而是自己一生的善恶会全部现前——就像放电影一样，一幕幕清清楚楚出现在眼前：善事是光明安稳的景象，恶事就是黑暗恐怖的境界。这时会有‘业力所现的使者’来引导你，然后见到类似阎罗王审案的场面——但这不是真有一个法官在审判你，而是你自己的善恶业力幻化出来的，完全是自作自受。

审察之后，就按你生前造业的轻重，决定你下一世去哪里：善多的升天或做人享福，恶多的就按轻重堕入不同的恶道。这就是‘业感’——自己造什么业，就会感应、招感什么果报，一丝一毫都不会错。”

Ksitigarbha continued: *"Our world is Jambudvipa (human earth). People here are stubborn, hard to teach: always thinking they are right, others wrong. Most thoughts and actions follow greed, anger, delusion—creating karma quickly and heavily.

When one dies, life does not end: all good and evil reappear like a movie—bright/peaceful for good deeds, dark/terrifying for evil. Then messengers appear, and a scene like a judgment by King Yama unfolds—but no external judge exists. This is all a manifestation of your own karma: you judge and suffer by your own actions.

Afterward, rebirth is determined by karma: much good → heaven/human happiness; much evil → evil paths according to weight. This is Karmic Retribution: exactly what you create, you receive—never a mistake."*

普贤菩萨代表大众请问：“仁者，请为我们讲讲地狱的情况吧，让大家知道后果，不敢再造恶。”地藏菩萨回答：“地狱都在大海之外、铁围山里面，幽暗不见天日，种类非常多，主要的大地狱有八个：

🔥 等活地狱：罪人互相残杀，死了又被冷风一吹活过来，反复被杀、反复受苦，多因嗔恨、争斗、杀生而来

🔥 黑绳地狱：狱卒用黑绳把罪人身体量好，再锯、劈、烧、打，多因杀生、偷盗、邪淫三业而来

🔥 众合地狱：许多罪人被赶到一起，受山压、石砸、车碾等集体刑罚，多因聚众作恶、伤害生灵而来

🔥 叫唤地狱：罪人受火烧、汤煮等苦，痛得大声叫唤，多因欺诈、侵害、贪赃枉法而来

🔥 大叫唤地狱：痛苦比上一层更重，呼号之声震彻远近，多因重罪欺瞒、害人谋利而来

🔥 焦热地狱：整个地狱都是烈火，罪人身体被烧得焦烂，多因邪见、毁谤、放火、害命而来

🔥 大焦热地狱：火势更猛，内外俱烧，骨肉皆焦，多因五逆重罪（杀父、杀母、杀阿罗汉、破和合僧、出佛身血）的前四项而来

🔥 无间地狱/阿鼻地狱：最大最重的地狱，周围一万八千里，墙高一千里，全是铁做的，上下火焰对烧，铁蛇铁狗吐着火追逐罪人。这里的罪人没有一刻休息、没有间断、没有空间能躲开、没有时间能终止、连痛苦也没有间隙——专门犯：杀父母、出佛身血、毁谤佛法、破坏寺院、盗用僧物、伪作沙门等极重罪的人，才会堕这里，受苦时间长到要用“亿劫”来算，罪业不尽，永远不能出来。

除了这八大狱，还有无数小地狱，每个地狱的刑罚、时间都不一样——但地狱不是永恒的，罪业消完了，还是会转生别的道，只是那个时间实在太漫长了。”

Universal Worthy Bodhisattva asked: "Kind One, please explain the hells so we may know the consequences and avoid evil."Ksitigarbha answered: *"Hells lie beyond the ocean, within the Iron Ring Mountains—dark, sunless. Eight major hells:

🔥 Reviving Hell: beings kill each other, revive, suffer repeatedly—from hatred, fighting, killing

🔥 Black Rope Hell: measured with ropes then cut, split, burned—from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct

🔥 Crushing Hell: crushed together by mountains/stones/carts—from mass harm, cruelty to life

🔥 Screaming Hell: burned/scalded, cry out in pain—from fraud, injury, corruption

🔥 Loud Screaming Hell: far greater agony, cries echo far—from grave deception, murder for gain

🔥 Scorching Hell: all in flames, bodies charred—from wrong views, slander, arson, murder

🔥 Great Scorching Hell: fire within and without, bones/marrow burned—from first four of Five Grave Offenses

🔥 Uninterrupted/Avici Hell: largest, heaviest—18,000 li around, 1,000 li iron walls, fire burns top to bottom, iron snakes/dogs chase spewing fire. Suffering without pause, no escape, no end, no break in pain—for killing parents, wounding Buddha, destroying Dharma, ruining temples, stealing monastic property, pretending to be holy. Suffering lasts incalculable eons—no release until karma is exhausted.

Countless smaller hells exist—each with unique torments and durations. Hells are not eternal: when karma is exhausted, rebirth comes—though the wait is unimaginably long."*

这时，十方一切诸佛同声赞叹地藏菩萨：“真是太了不起了！从我们成佛以来，见过无数菩萨，可像你这样在极浊极苦的末法时代，还能以如此广大、如此勇猛的愿力，救度一切罪苦众生的，实在太少了！”

佛又说：“地藏菩萨的功德，说上百千万劫也说不完。他在十方世界，能随顺众生的需要，现出不同的身形来度化：该以国王身得度，就现国王；该以平民身得度，就现平民；甚至现畜生、鬼神身——应以何身得度者，即现何身而为说法，完全没有局限。

如果有人能在地藏菩萨的画像、塑像前，至诚恳切地称念‘南无地藏王菩萨’，一句接一句，不夹杂杂念——这个人：

✅ 现世：平安健康、无病无灾、家庭和睦、衣食丰足、所求如意、善神守护、噩梦不生、水火盗贼不侵

✅ 后世：命终之后，不会堕恶道，随其善根，或生天上，或生人间享福，甚至能生到佛国净土。

这不是菩萨偏心，而是诚心称名时，心与菩萨的愿力相应，自然就得到护佑与加持。”

All Buddhas from ten directions praised together: "Truly supreme! Since our enlightenment, we have seen countless Bodhisattvas—but few possess such vast, fearless vows to save suffering beings in these troubled, defiled ages."

The Buddha added: *"Ksitigarbha's virtues cannot be told in millions of eons. Throughout all worlds, he appears in whatever form can liberate each being: king, commoner, animal, spirit—teaching in ways they can understand. No limits bind him.

If one recites 'Namo Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva' sincerely and continuously before his image—this person:

✅ This life: health, peace, harmony, plenty, success, divine protection, no nightmares, safe from flood/fire/robbers

✅ Next life: no evil rebirth—heavens, happy human life, or even a Pure Land.

This is not favoritism: sincere recitation aligns your mind with his vows—blessings and protection follow naturally."*

地藏菩萨又说：“除了称我的名号，还有一个极方便的方法，能快速消业积福——就是称念十方诸佛的名号。因为佛的名号，就是佛无量功德与愿力的结晶，就像拿着一盏明灯，走到哪里黑暗就被照到哪里，罪障也就消除到哪里。

现在为大家说一些佛的名字：

✅ 过去七佛中的后四佛：拘留孙佛、拘那含牟尼佛、迦叶佛、释迦牟尼佛（就是我们这个世界的本师佛）

✅ 表特殊功德的佛：

* 无边身如来：佛的法身遍满虚空，无有边际，称念能破狭隘、获广大心

* 宝性如来：佛性如珍宝，一切众生本具，称念能识自本心

* 波头摩胜如来：如莲花出污泥而不染，称念能离染污、得清净行

* 狮子吼如来：说法无畏，能伏一切邪见烦恼，称念能得正见、无所畏惧

* 等等，还有无量诸佛，名号功德皆是如此。

重点：不只是口里念，更要心里‘受持’——相信、记住、不忘、照着去做。 哪怕只是在无意中，听到别人念一声佛号，能生一念欢喜、恭敬，也能消除无量劫来的重罪，种下将来成佛的种子。”

Ksitigarbha continued: *"Besides reciting my name, another easy way to dissolve karma and gain merit: recite the names of Buddhas. Each name embodies that Buddha's infinite virtues and vows—like a lamp dispels darkness, the name dispels obstacles.

Some examples:

✅ Last four of Seven Past Buddhas: Krakucchanda, Kanakamuni, Kassapa, Shakyamuni (our world's Buddha)

✅ Special Virtues:

* Immeasurable Body Tathagata: presence fills all space—brings vast, open mind

* Jewel Nature Tathagata: essence like precious gem—reveals your pure nature

* Supreme Lotus Tathagata: pure amidst impurity—gives clean, noble conduct

* Lion's Roar Tathagata: fearless teaching—overcomes wrong views, gives courage

Countless others—all names carry such power.

Key: not just lip-service—RECEIVE and HOLD: believe, remember, practice. Even hearing a name by chance and feeling joy/respect can dissolve heavy karma from eons ago, planting the seed of future Buddhahood."*

佛让地藏菩萨为大家仔细说明：布施的功德，到底是大是小、是多是少？关键在哪里？

地藏菩萨说：“布施功德的大小，不在财物的贵贱、多少，而在‘发心’——看你用什么心来布施。

* 最下等的布施：为了求名、求利、求回报、求福报而布施；或者布施之后又后悔、心疼；或是勉强布施、心里不情愿——这种福报很薄，很快就会消掉。

* 中等的布施：没有什么功利心，只是单纯觉得‘他需要帮助，我应该帮他’；布施之后，心里很平静、欢喜，不觉得自己做了什么了不起的事——这样能得到人天福报，受用长久。

* 最上等的布施：发大慈悲心，把布施当作‘破贪执、利众生’的修行，不执着‘我是能布施的人、他是受施的人、东西是我给的’这三样；甚至布施之后，像没做过一样，不放在心上——这就是‘三轮体空’，其功德像虚空一样广大，是成就佛果的资粮。

布施主要有三种，第一种最基本，第三种最殊胜：

1️⃣ 财施：用钱财、食物、衣服、医药、房屋等帮助他人，解决生活困难——得富足、健康、人缘好的果报

2️⃣ 无畏施：在人恐惧、危难、痛苦时，给他安慰、保护、勇气，帮他脱离恐怖——得安稳、受人信赖、无有怖畏的果报

3️⃣ 法施：用正法、道理、知识、技能、修行方法来教人、助人、开解人——能令众生开启智慧、改变命运、走向解脱，功德最大、最久、最圆满。

哪怕只是给路边乞丐一个饭团、给口渴的人一杯水、给迷路的人指个路、给烦恼的人一句好话——只要是真心想帮人，功德就不可轻视。”

The Buddha asked Ksitigarbha to clarify: what determines the size of merit from giving?

Ksitigarbha said: *"Merit depends not on the gift's value, but on your INTENTION.

* Lowest: give for fame, gain, reward; regret afterward; give unwillingly → thin blessing, fades fast

* Middle: simply help because they need it; feel calm/joy, no pride → lasting happiness in heaven/human life

* Highest: give with great compassion, to overcome greed and help others; no attachment to "giver, receiver, gift" → merit vast like space—builds Buddhahood

Three main types—last is supreme:

1️⃣ Material Giving: money, food, clothes, medicine, shelter → wealth, health, good relationships

2️⃣ Fearlessness Giving: comfort/protect the afraid/distraught → safety, trust, no fear

3️⃣ Dharma Giving: teach truth, wisdom, skills, practice—guides to liberation, greatest, longest, most perfect merit

Even a meal to a beggar, water to the thirsty, directions to the lost, kind words to the troubled—done sincerely—merit is beyond measure."*

主管大地的“坚牢地神”站起来，恭敬地对佛说：“世尊，我掌管大地，也护持一切众生。在所有菩萨当中，地藏菩萨与我们这个世界的众生缘分最深、最特别——就像大地和万物的关系一样，密不可分。

如果世间上，有人能恭敬地藏菩萨、称扬赞叹他的名号、礼拜他的形象、供养他的形像，哪怕只是在心里起一念恭敬——我作为地神，一定会用我的神力来护佑他：

✅ 让他的田地肥沃、五谷丰登

✅ 让他的家宅安宁、眷属和睦

✅ 让他的事业顺利、所求如意

✅ 让他的土地、房屋、财物都安稳，不遭灾损

✅ 让他衣食丰足、无有匮乏

反过来，如果有人轻慢、侮辱地藏菩萨，甚至毁谤、伤害恭敬菩萨的人——我也会先让他遇到一些小挫折、小麻烦，提醒他反省；如果还不改，就会让他受更多苦，直到他觉悟回头为止。因为大地是承载善法、生长善物的，与善相应则安，与恶相应则损，这也是大地的法则啊。”

The Earth Spirit named Firm and Solid stood and said respectfully: *"World-honored One, I govern the earth and protect all beings. Among all Bodhisattvas, Ksitigarbha has the deepest, most special bond with beings in our world—like earth to all life.

If anyone respects, praises, bows to, or offers to Ksitigarbha—even just one thought of respect—I shall protect them with my power:

✅ Fertile land, good harvests

✅ Peaceful home, harmonious family

✅ Successful work, fulfilled wishes

✅ Safe property, free from damage

✅ Abundant food and clothing, no lack

If one disrespects, insults, or slanders him—or harms those who honor him—I first send small troubles to wake them up; if unrepentant, greater hardship until they turn to goodness. The earth bears and nurtures goodness: peace aligns with good, loss with evil—this is the law of the earth."*

佛说完上面这些法要之后，知道自己即将入涅槃（证入不生不灭的境界，不再来世间受生），就举起金色的手臂，摩地藏菩萨的顶，用最恳切、最郑重的语气，把十方一切世界、天上人间的所有众生，全部托付给地藏菩萨：

“地藏啊地藏！你看现在与未来的一切众生，他们的善根常常被烦恼覆盖，又贪、又嗔、又痴，造作种种恶业，命终之后多堕恶道，受无量苦。我今天把这些人，全部郑重地交托给你——在未来漫长的时代里，就靠你以大愿、大悲、大力，好好护持他们，引导他们，让他们都能渐渐走上善道，千万不要让他们再堕入恶道里去受苦了！ 这是我最后的嘱托，也是对众生最大的慈悲。”

地藏菩萨听完，立刻从座位上站起来，向佛顶礼，泪流满面，无比坚定地说：

“世尊！请您千万放心！我一定承担起这个重任！ 只要还有一个众生在恶道里受苦，我就绝不放弃，绝不先取涅槃。我会用无量的方便法门，随他们的根性去教化、救度，让他们都能脱离苦海、究竟解脱。您的嘱托，我永远记在心上，永远不会违背！”

这时，大会上所有的佛、菩萨、天、人、阿修罗、鬼神等，听到佛与地藏菩萨的对话，都感动得流下泪来，大家异口同声地说：“我们也都愿意在地藏菩萨的大愿之下，各尽所能，护持佛法，救度众生！”

结经：释迦牟尼佛说完《地藏菩萨本愿经》后，从忉利天回到人间。一切与会大众，无不法喜充满，大家信受奉行，依照佛与菩萨的教导去做，去修行，去救度众生。

Having finished the teachings, knowing his approaching Nirvana, the Buddha stretched forth his golden arm to place his hand on Ksitigarbha's head. With utmost gravity and compassion, he entrusted all beings in all worlds—heaven and earth—to Ksitigarbha:

"Ksitigarbha! Beings now and future are often clouded by greed, anger, delusion—creating evil, falling into suffering at death. Today I solemnly entrust them all to you! In the long ages to come—by your great vow, compassion, and power—guide and protect them. Lead them step by step to goodness; never let them fall back into hellish suffering! This is my final charge—my deepest compassion for all beings."

Ksitigarbha rose immediately, bowed, tears in his eyes, and spoke with unshakable resolve:

"World-honored One! REST ASSURED—I SHALL BEAR THIS BURDEN! While even one being suffers in evil paths, I shall never rest or enter Nirvana. With infinite skillful means, I shall teach and liberate according to their capacity—until all are free and fully awakened. Your trust I hold forever, and never shall I fail you!"

All Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, gods, humans, asuras, and spirits were moved to tears. As one voice: "We too vow to serve under Ksitigarbha's great vow—uphold the Dharma and save all beings!"

Conclusion: The Buddha returned from Trayastrimsa Heaven to earth. All present were filled with joy. They believed, accepted, and practiced faithfully—living out these teachings to help all beings.