Can anyone explain chapter 4 of this sutra? On why, despite
Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha's powers, he remains unable to fulfil his
vows? Can't really understand Buddha's explanation in the
sutra.
Then the Devarajas from the
four directions rose from their seats and, with palms joined,
respectfully addressed the Buddha, saying, "O World Honored One,
since Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha took such grand vows vast long kalpas
ago, how is it that he has not yet completed his work of
deliverance and that he is now, even again, taking extensive,
immense vows? It is our sole hope that you, O World Honored One,
will explain this to us."
The Buddha responded to the
four Devarajas, "Excellent, excellent! Now I am going to tell you
and the present and future devas and human beings about the
expedient things which Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha is doing on the
paths of birth and death in Jambudvipa of the Saha World to render
merciful and compassionate deliverance and liberation to all sinful
and suffering beings."
The four Devarajas said, "
Yes, indeed, O World Honored One, we will be delighted to
listen."
The Buddha said to the four
Devarajas, "From vast, long kalpas ago until the present time,
Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha has been delivering and liberating sentient
beings, but he has not yet completely fulfilled his vows. Since he
has mercy and pity on all sinful suffering beings in this world and
sees that their entanglement will not be cut off for countless
kalpas in the future, he again has taken further colossal vows to
encourage all the Bodhisattvas to resort to hundreds of thousands
of myriads of millions of expediencies in Jambudvipa of the Saha
World in order to teach and convert them.
Excerpted from http://www.sinc.sunysb.edu/clubs/buddhism/ksitigarbha/chap4.html