【Description】
People usually chant The Earth Store Bodhisattva’s Heart Mantra for their deceased loved ones during the Ullambana Festival and the Qingming Festival. The Earth Store Bodhisattva made a vow not to achieve enlightenment until hell was emptied of souls; as such, chanting The Earth Store Bodhisattva’s Heart Mantra is said to liberate the deceased from the evil realms and help them be reborn in the beautiful realms.
Is The Earth Store Bodhisattva’s Heart Mantra to be used only during liberation rituals to help the deceased find peace?
Is it possible that chanting The Earth Store Bodhisattva’s Heart Mantra could attract evil spirits?
In this teaching, Grandmaster JinBodhi provides the answers.
【Featured aphorisms】
- The evil within attracts evil; if you have the Buddha within you, you will see and attract the light.
【Content】
Let’s look at the next question. “Does chanting The Earth Store Bodhisattva’s Heart Mantra at night attract evil spirits?”
No, only the evil within that attracts evil. If you have buddhas within, you will see light. Everything you chant brings health, joy and auspiciousness, if you are free of evil thoughts.
Earth Store Bodhisattva made a vow: “Only after all sentient beings are saved will I attain buddhahood.” That is his vow. Chanting The Earth Store Bodhisattva’s Heart Mantra won’t attract evil spirits.
Even if it does, you won’t be affected. It is like tuning into channel 110; you won’t receive signals from channel 109, right? That is impossible. You are affected by what you chant. It is like driving along the highway; the places you’ll reach are already set. There’s no conflict. Whenever you chant or play The Earth Store Bodhisattva’s Heart Mantra, you will be blessed with auspiciousness. It does more than just releasing the souls of the deceased. Don’t misunderstand it.
Sending the dead to Western Pure Land isn’t the only purpose of chanting Amitabha’s holy name; we also chant Amitabha’s name to pay respect, or to bless someone. Chanting The Earth Store Bodhisattva’s Heart Mantra could be the same. We also chant to blessing someone with peace, health, joy and auspiciousness.
Thinking of evil will attract darkness; thinking of Buddha will attract light.