佛說觀佛三昧海經

CHAPTER FOUR: CONTEMPLATION OF THE BUDDHA’S MIND

At that time, the Buddha’s heart was like a red lotus blossom. Upon the lotus petals were eighty-four thousand rays of white light. That light illuminated all beings in the five destinies.

When this light shone forth, all beings undergoing suffering appeared. These were the sufferings of the Avici Hell; the eighteen minor hells; the eighteen cold hells; the eighteen dark hells; the eighteen minor heat hells; the eighteen blade-wheel hells; the eighteen sword-wheel hells; the eighteen fiery-cart hells; the eighteen boiling-excrement hells; the eighteen boiling-cauldron hells; the eighteen ash-river hells; the hell of five hundred kotis of sword forests; the hell of five hundred kotis of thorn forests; the hell of five hundred kotis of copper pillars; the hell of five hundred kotis of iron clouds; the hell of five hundred kotis of iron nets; the eighteen iron-cavern hells; the eighteen iron-pellet hells; the eighteen sharp-stone hells; the eighteen molten-copper-drinking hells;

and many other hells such as these.

The Buddha said:

“Ananda! Why is it called the Avici Hell? ‘A’ means no, and ‘vici’ means interval; ‘a’ means no, and ‘vici’ means rescue; ‘a’ means no cessation, and ‘vici’ means no movement; ‘a’ means intensely hot, and ‘vici’ means intensely tormenting; ‘a’ means no respite, and ‘vici’ means no abiding. Having neither respite nor abiding, it is called the Avici Hell. ‘A’ means a great fire, and ‘vici’ means fiercely hot. Fierce fire entering the heart is called the Avici Hell.”

The Buddha said:

“Ananda! The Avici Hell measures eight thousand yojanas in length, breadth, and height. It has seven layers of iron walls and seven layers of iron netting. Below are eighteen compartments, and surrounding it on all sides are seven tiers, all composed of forests of blades. Within the seven layers of walls there are also forests of swords. Beneath them are eighteen compartments, each having eighty-four thousand levels. At the four corners of each compartment are four great copper dogs, whose bodies extend forty yojanas. Their eyes are like flashing lightning, their fangs like swords, their teeth like mountains of blades, and their tongues like sharp iron spikes. Every hair upon their bodies emits fierce fire, and their smoke is foul beyond comparison with any stench in the world.

“There are eighteen prison wardens. Their heads are the heads of rakshasas, their mouths the mouths of yakshas, and they have sixty-four eyes. From their eyes they hurl iron pellets as large as chariots ten leagues across. The dogs’ fangs protrude upward to a height of four yojanas. From the tips of the fangs, fire pours forth, burning the iron carts before them and causing each rim of every iron wheel to transform into a koti of flames. Sharp blades, spikes, swords, halberds, and other weapons all emerge from the fire. Such torrents of flame burn the city of Avici, making it glow red like molten copper.

“Upon the heads of the prison wardens are eight ox heads. Each ox head has eighteen horns, and from the tip of every horn issues a mass of flame. Each mass of flame then transforms into eighteen wheels. Those wheels of fire in turn become rings of fiery blades, like revolving wheels. Ring after ring follows in succession throughout the blazing region, filling the city of Avici.

“The copper dogs open their mouths and stretch their tongues across the ground, and their tongues are like sharp iron spikes. When their tongues extend, they transform into immeasurable numbers of tongues that fill the city of Avici. Within the seven layers of walls stand seven iron banners. From the tops of the banners fire surges forth like boiling springs welling upward. That stream of iron spreads throughout the city of Avici.

“At the four gates of the Avici Hell, above the crossbars of the gates, are eighty copper steamers filled with boiling molten copper. It pours down from the gates and spreads throughout the city of Avici. Within every compartment are eighty-four thousand great iron serpents that spew venom and fire. Their bodies fill the city. These serpents roar like thunder shaking the heavens and rain down great iron pellets that fill the city of Avici.

“The torments of this city number as many as eighty thousand kotis of thousands. The most extreme of all sufferings are gathered together in this city. There are five hundred kotis of worms, each having eighty-four thousand beaks. From the tips of their beaks fire pours forth like rain, filling the city of Avici. When these worms descend, the fierce fires of Avici blaze still more intensely. The red radiance of the burning flames illuminates eighty-four thousand yojanas. It surges upward from the Avici Hell into the great ocean and burns beneath the mountains. Drops of water from the great ocean, each as large as a chariot axle, become great, sharp iron trees that fill the city of Avici.”

The Buddha said:

“Ananda! If there are beings who kill their fathers, harm their mothers, or abuse their six classes of kin, then after those who commit such offenses die, a copper dog opens its mouth and conjures eighteen carts shaped like golden carriages, with jeweled canopies above them. All the blazing flames transform into jeweled maidens. Seeing them from afar, the offenders rejoice and think, ‘I wish to go there! I wish to go there!’ When the blade-wind blows, it is so cold that they cry out in alarm and think, ‘I would rather have the fire blazing upon those carts and let the flames burn me.’ As soon as they give rise to this thought, they die.

“When their consciousness leaves the body, they immediately find themselves seated in a golden cart. As they gaze upon the jeweled maidens, each maiden takes up an iron axe and hacks their bodies apart. Beneath their bodies, fire surges upward like a whirling ring of flame. In the brief time it takes a strong man to bend and extend his arm, they fall straight into the Avici Hell.

“From the uppermost compartment, the offenders are swept downward as though caught in a whirling ring of flame until they reach the edge of the lowest compartment, their bodies extending throughout all the compartments. The copper dogs bark loudly, gnaw their bones, and suck out their marrow. The rakshasa wardens take great iron forks and pierce their heads, causing fire to blaze throughout their bodies and fill the city of Avici. From the iron nets, blades rain down and enter the offenders’ bodies through every pore.

“A conjured King Yama loudly commands: ‘You foolish hell-beings! While you were in the world, you were unfilial toward your parents, held wrong views, were arrogant, and had no virtue! The place into which you have now been born is called the Avici Hell. You knew no gratitude and possessed neither shame nor moral dread. Is it pleasant to undergo this torment?’ After speaking these words, he immediately disappears.

At that time, the wardens of hell again drove the sinners from the lowest compartment upward to the highest, passing through all eighty-four thousand compartments. For the body of each sinner to reach the edge of the iron net required a full day and night there. One day and night in the Avici Hell, reckoned according to the days, months, and years of this Jambudvipa, is equal to sixty minor kalpas.

Sinners who commit the five heinous offenses, having neither shame nor remorse, perpetrate those five heinous deeds. Therefore, when a person guilty of the five heinous offenses is about to die, eighteen bladed winds, like wheels of blazing iron, cut and dismember the body. Oppressed by the scorching heat, that person then says: “Would it not be delightful to dwell beneath great, cool trees and wander among flowers of beautiful colors?” When this thought arises, the eighty-four thousand dreadful forests of swords in the Avici Hell transform into jeweled trees laden with luxuriant flowers and fruits, arrayed in rows and layers before the sinner.

The intensely blazing fires transform into lotus flowers beneath those trees. Seeing this, the sinner says: “Now my wish has been fulfilled.” As soon as these words are spoken, swiftly as pouring rain, the sinner climbs up and sits upon a lotus flower. After sitting there for only a moment, iron-beaked insects arise from the fiery flowers, pierce through the bones into the marrow, penetrate the heart and bore into the brain, and climb upward by clinging to the trees.

The entire forest of swords scrapes away the flesh down to the bones; immeasurable forests of blades descend from above; and blazing carts, furnaces of burning coals, and all eighteen forms of suffering arrive simultaneously. When these signs appear, the sinner is buried beneath the ground. From the lowest compartment upward, the body spreads like a blossoming flower and fills the entire lowest compartment.

Fierce flames arise from below and blaze upward to the highest compartment. Upon reaching the highest compartment, the sinner’s body fills it completely. Tormented by unbearable heat and suffering, the sinner opens the mouth and thrusts out the tongue.

Because of this person’s offenses, tens of thousands of kotis of streams of molten copper and hundreds of thousands of bladed wheels descend from the sky, entering through the head and emerging from the feet. All the sufferings here exceed those described previously by hundreds of thousands of myriads of times. A person who has committed all five heinous offenses undergoes the full punishment for five kalpas.

There are also beings who violate the four grave prohibitions, consume the offerings of the faithful in vain, slander the Dharma, hold wrong views, fail to understand cause and effect, obstruct the study of prajnaparamita, revile the Buddhas of the ten directions, steal the property of the Sangha, engage in lawless sexual misconduct, violate and coerce bhiksunis who observe the pure precepts, or commit incest with their own sisters and female relatives without knowing shame; who dishonor their kin and commit every kind of evil deed.

The karmic retribution of such people is that, when they are about to die, bladed winds dismember their bodies, and they lie there unable to rest, suffering as though being beaten. Their minds become confused and deluded, giving rise to frenzied and foolish perceptions. They see houses, men and women, adults and children—all as impure substances, with foul-smelling feces and urine overflowing and streaming outside.

At that time, the sinner then says: “Why does this place have no beautiful cities, mountains, or forests where I might wander, but instead resembles a place filled with impure substances?” After these words are spoken, the wardens of hell use great iron pitchforks to raise the sinner up. The Avici Hell and its forests of blades transform into jeweled trees and cool ponds; the blazing fires transform into golden-petaled lotus flowers; the iron-beaked insects transform into wild ducks and geese; and the agonized cries of hell sound like songs and chants.

Hearing this, the sinner thinks: “I should enter and wander through such a beautiful place!” Having thought this, the person immediately sits upon a fiery lotus flower. Iron-beaked insects enter through the pores of the body and devour the person’s flesh. Hundreds of thousands of iron wheels enter through the crown of the head.

Iron pitchforks as numerous as the sands of the Ganges hook and tear out the person’s eyes. The copper dogs of hell transform into hundreds of kotis of iron dogs, fighting one another to tear the person apart and eat the heart. In an instant, the person’s body, like a flower that has been cut apart, fills all eighteen compartments.

Each flower has eighty-four thousand petals, and upon every petal appear in full detail the head, body, hands, and other members. Though these occupy a single compartment of hell, the hell does not become larger, nor does this person’s body become smaller; the body fills it entirely, just as it fills this great hell. Those sinners fall into this hell and remain for eighty-four thousand great kalpas.

When this Niraya is destroyed, they again enter the eighteen compartments of hell in the eastern direction and undergo the same sufferings as before. To the south of this Avici Hell there are also eighteen compartments; to the west there are also eighteen compartments; to the north there are also eighteen compartments; and the same is true in the intermediate directions and elsewhere. The person must pass through them all.

Those who commit the five heinous offenses, disrupt the Sangha, defile bhiksunis, sever roots of goodness, and commit every other offense—when such sinners are replete with every transgression, their bodies fill the Avici Hell, while their four limbs also fill its eighteen compartments. This Avici Hell burns only beings belonging to these classes of hell-dwellers. When the kalpa is about to end, the eastern gate suddenly opens, and beyond it the sinners see clear springs flowing with water and forests of trees laden with flowers and fruits, all appearing before them.

Seeing the flames temporarily subside, these sinners twist and crawl on their bellies from the lowest compartment upward, hastening toward the highest compartment. When their hands grasp the bladed wheels, red-hot iron pellets rain down from the sky. The sinners run toward the eastern gate, but when they arrive, the gate is barred and bolted.

The rakshasa wardens, holding iron pitchforks in their hands, thrust them backward into the sinners’ eyes, while iron dogs chew their hearts. Overwhelmed by anguish and despair, they die. After dying, they come back to life and see the southern gate open, exactly as before.

The western and northern gates are likewise the same. This continues for half a kalpa. Dying in the Avici Hell, they are born in a freezing hell.

Dying in the freezing hell, they are born in a place of utter darkness, where for eighty million years their eyes see nothing. They assume the bodies of enormous worms, twisting and crawling on their bellies, their faculties obscured and utterly uncomprehending, while hundreds of thousands of foxes and wolves drag them about and devour their flesh. After dying there, the sinners are born among animals, assuming fifty million bodies as birds and beasts.

When they are reborn among humans, they assume bodies that are deaf, blind, mute, afflicted with sores and cancers, impoverished, destitute, lowly, and despised; every mark of decline and misfortune is borne upon their bodies. They undergo five hundred lives in such wretched forms and are afterward reborn in the realm of hungry ghosts. In the realm of hungry ghosts, they encounter spiritual friends, great bodhisattvas who rebuke them, saying: “Throughout immeasurable lifetimes, in your former existences, you committed boundless offenses.

You slandered the Dharma and refused to believe, fell into hell, and underwent sufferings that cannot be fully described. Today, you must bring forth a mind of loving-kindness and compassion!” After hearing these words, the hungry ghosts proclaim, “Namo Buddha.” Through the blessed power of mindfulness of the Buddha, they immediately die and are reborn in the realm of the Four Heavenly Kings. Having been born there, they repent, reproach themselves, and bring forth the aspiration for bodhi.

The light of the minds of all Buddhas never abandons such beings. Therefore, the Buddhas gather in and accept every one of them, pitying them as they would Rahula and teaching them to avoid hell as carefully as one cherishes the pupils of one’s own eyes.

The Buddha said to the Great King:

– If one wishes to know where the light of the Buddha’s mind and virtues shines, one should understand that the light of the Buddha’s mind constantly illuminates these suffering beings who endure uninterrupted torment and have no one to save them. The objects of the Buddha’s compassionate concern are these extremely evil beings. Because the Buddha adorns himself through the power of his mind, over innumerable kalpas he causes those offenders to arouse the aspiration for bodhi. The Buddha told Ananda:

– What are called the eighteen cold hells? The cold hells are places where mountains of ice stand in the eight directions. Each mountain of ice has eighteen compartments. There are also eighteen smaller mountains of ice, colored like crystal. This freezing ice fills the mountainous region, resembling lotus flowers, and rises eighteen yojanas high. Above it are wheels of ice, each measuring twelve yojanas both lengthwise and crosswise. Like hailstones, they fall from the sky. In the world there are people devoid of compassion who seize things unjustly, steal, exploit, and kill living beings. As the retribution for their offenses, when they are about to die, all the blade-like winds transform into scorching fire. The offender thinks, “Why am I not lying upon ice today?” Tormented by the fire, as soon as this thought arises, rakshasa wardens, holding wheels of ice in their hands, come gliding gently through the sky like white geese. Upon seeing them, the offender is relieved of the heat and becomes cool; attachment immediately arises in his mind. His breath ceases, his life ends, and he is born upon a mountain of ice. After he has been born there, the eighteen mountains of ice act like fans, fanning all the freezing cold through his pores until it fills all eighteen compartments. In every compartment, the offender is dissected, cut, split, and torn apart like a red lotus. From above, wheels of ice descend and completely cover his body. Then the mountains of ice in the eight directions all close together at once. Unable to utter any other words, he cries only, “A-la-la!” At that time, the offender thinks, “When shall I escape this freezing cold and be born amid scorching fire?”

At that time, iron birds in the sky, whose beaks spew fire, descend from the air, smash open his head, peck out his brain, and devour it. The offender then dies. After his death, the wardens strike the ground with iron tridents and shout, “Rise again!

Rise again!” In response to their voices, the offender revives and thinks, “Now great flames blaze upon my body. I pray that I may again obtain freezing cold to extinguish this fire!” The wardens once more receive him with wheels of ice and place him in another hell. In this way, there is not one among the eighteen compartments that the offender does not undergo.

The length of the offender’s life in these cold hells is equivalent to eight hundred million years, reckoned according to the days, months, and years of the Four Heavenly Kings. When his offenses have been exhausted, he is born among the poor, lowly, and despised classes. For five hundred lifetimes he serves others as a male or female slave, without enough clothing to cover his body or enough food to satisfy his hunger.

When this retribution has ended, he encounters a good spiritual friend and arouses the aspiration for bodhi.

The Buddha told Ananda:

– What is called the Hell of Darkness? The Hell of Darkness consists of eighteen layers of black mountains, eighteen layers of black nets, eighteen layers of iron beds, and eighteen layers of iron curtains. Each mountain is eighty-four thousand yojanas high. Each iron curtain is also eighty-four thousand yojanas thick. Each section has eighteen layers of black Cakravada Mountains arrayed densely like a forest, shrouding this mountain in darkness. In the world there are ignorant beings who show contempt for the illuminating lamps of the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha; steal the possessions of their parents, teachers, and masters; slander those who expound the Dharma; and also disparage teachers of secular discourse and debate, and so forth. They have no regard for distinctions between the honored and the lowly and know neither shame nor remorse. Because of these offenses, when such a person is about to die, flashes of lightning flicker incessantly before his eyes. He thinks, “What offense have I committed that I constantly see this fire?” The offender then closes both eyes, unwilling to see it or the light of the sun and moon. When his life is about to end, rakshasa wardens lift up a great iron bed and spread above it a great iron canopy like a vast cloud, then travel through the sky.

At that time, an incorporeal voice speaks from the air, saying, “This place is dark. Do you wish to go there?” Upon hearing the voice, the offender immediately desires to go to that place. When his breath ceases and his life ends, he instantly sits upon the iron bed and, like a king of geese gliding down, descends into that pitch-dark place.

Once he has entered, wheels of blades descend from above and hack and sever his body. Great iron crows, with enormous, long beaks of sharp iron, fly from the mountains and peck at and devour him. In unbearable pain, the offender hastens to flee in search of light but cannot find any, while caltrop thorns beneath his feet pierce through his bones and penetrate his marrow.

The offender undergoes such terror for five million kotis of years, reckoned according to the days, months, and years of the Four Heavenly Kings. His head strikes against the mountains of darkness, causing his brain to flow out and his eyes to protrude. The rakshasa wardens use iron tridents to hook his eyes and set them securely back into their sockets.

Only when his offenses have been exhausted does he emerge and become a poor human being whose eyes are dim, blind, and unable to see. Or he may suffer from ulcerous sores and be driven away by everyone. He undergoes such retribution for five hundred lives.

After passing beyond these sufferings, he later encounters a good spiritual friend and arouses the aspiration for bodhi.

The Buddha told Ananda:

– What are called the eighteen minor hot hells? The eighteen minor hot hells are like the Avici Hell: they likewise have seven walls and seven iron nets and are adorned with immeasurable instruments of evil. There are beings who disobey their teachers’ instructions, give rise to malicious and rebellious thoughts, show no gratitude for their nurturing and instruction, steal their teachers’ possessions, harm their teachers, defile their teachers’ pure food, sit upon their teachers’ beds and seats, take their teachers’ bowls and alms bowls, conceal impure things, and commit five kinds of evil. What are the five? They are reviling their teachers, slandering their teachers, striking their teachers, killing their teachers, and giving their teachers various poisons to drink. If shramanas or brahmins commit unlawful deeds, harm their teachers, and slander their teachers, these evil offenders, devoid of shame and moral dread, strip images, destroy stupas, plunder objects belonging to the precious Dharma, and kill their elder and younger paternal uncles, fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters. When offenders such as these are about to die, the wardens of each of the eighteen levels of the Avici Hell raise aloft with iron pitchforks one compartment of the hell. Each such hell resembles a great jeweled canopy. Then fine rain falls, its drops resembling flowers. The karmic retribution of these people causes heat and anguish to enter their hearts as though fire were burning them. Upon seeing the refreshing rain, they think: “May I sit in the cool shade beneath that jeweled canopy! Would it not be delightful if the refreshing rain bathed my body?” As soon as they have spoken these words, their breath ceases and they die. In the time it takes to toss a ball, they are seated upon a great bed of swords with tens of billions of sharp blades. Every blade emits fire, simultaneously burning and piercing their bodies. In the sky, the jeweled canopy becomes a wheel of fire, descends from above, and cleaves straight through the crowns of their heads. Their bodies are shattered into thousands of pieces. From above, pellets of copper rain down and enter the offenders’ bodies through their pores. The rakshasa wardens use great iron pitchforks to pierce their eyes or shoot iron arrows into their hearts. The offenders lose consciousness and die, but in an instant they revive, seated once more upon the bed of swords. Then an obstructing wind whirls and blows them down into the hell. After they have entered the hell, King Yama and his palace appear in the sky, and he declares: “O spawn of hell! You committed every kind of evil, killing your teacher, slandering your teacher, and so forth. The place into which you have now been born is called the Batsika Avici Hell—the Hell of Tongue-Cutting. You must remain in this hell for three kalpas.” After speaking these words, he vanishes. The sufferings of this hell are as described above.

The Buddha told Ananda:

– What are called the eighteen Hells of Bladed Wheels? The Hell of Bladed Wheels consists of mountains of blades on all four sides. Throughout these mountain regions, blades are laid like bricks. In the sky, eighty billion myriads of immense bladed wheels descend in succession like raindrops. There are beings who delight in tormenting others, killing living beings, and so forth. When their lives are about to end, they are tormented by an illness in which their vital breath flows in reverse. Their minds are filled with distress, and their hearts become as hard as stone. They then wish: “If only I could obtain a sharp blade to cut away these afflictions, would that not be delightful?” At that moment, a hell warden, bearing upon his head a bladed wheel that conceals his demonic body, comes before the offender and says softly, enticing him: “I have a sharp blade capable of cutting away your grave illness.” The offender rejoices and thinks: “Only this will bring swift relief!” As soon as he has had this thought, his breath ceases, he dies, and he is born upon a bladed wheel. Like a maddened elephant running wildly, he falls into the region of the blade mountains. At that time, the four blade mountains close together simultaneously. These four kinds of blade mountains cut his body to pieces. Unable to endure it, he loses consciousness and dies. The rakshasa wardens pursue and force him to run up the blade mountains. Before he reaches the summit, the blades wound him from the soles of his feet all the way to his heart. Terrified of the wardens, he crawls upward on all fours. Once he reaches the summit, the wardens, holding every kind of blade in their hands, strike and kill him. Before he dies, the blades cut into and chew upon his heart, consuming it, and he suffers in hundreds of ways. Iron worms completely devour his flesh, whereupon he revives, with iron wheels fastened to his feet, and descends from the sky. In a single day and night, he is born six billion times and dies six billion times. Many people undergo this, and there are always eighteen kinds of torment, but because of this person’s offenses, they become even more intense. They endure them for eighty million years as reckoned by the lifespan of a king of the Four Heavenly Kings. When their offenses are exhausted and they are born again, they must fall into the animal realm. For five hundred lifetimes, they provide their bodies as food for the mouths of others. For another five hundred lifetimes, they assume lowly forms. Only thereafter do they encounter a great good and wise spiritual friend and arouse the mind of bodhi.

The Buddha told Ananda:

– What is called the Hell of Sword Wheels? The Hell of Sword Wheels measures fifty yojanas both across and lengthwise and is filled with sword-trees. These trees are as numerous as grains of rice, sesame seeds, bamboo stalks, and blades of grass. Each sword-tree is forty yojanas high. Its leaves are eighty-four thousand sword wheels; its flowers are eighty-four thousand sword wheels; its fruits are eighty-four thousand sword wheels; and amid its branches and leaves are eighty-four thousand vessels filled with boiling copper. In the world there are ignorant beings who delight insatiably in killing. When these offenders are about to die, they contract an illness of intense heat and think: “Today my body is alternately hot and cold, and my entire body is rigid like an iron pestle.” They then make this wish: “If only I could obtain a vajra sword to cut away this affliction, the joy would be beyond description!” At that moment, a hell warden transforms himself into the likeness of their parents or friends, appears before them, and says: “I possess a secret method. Whatever you desire, I shall give it to you!” Hearing this, the offenders are greatly delighted and urgently desire to see it. Their breath then ceases and they die. As swiftly as a galloping horse, they are born within sword-flowers, where immeasurable sharp swords scrape their bones, slice their flesh, and pulverize them like bean curd. There are also iron birds that descend from the trees, gouge out their eyes, and peck at them. Great rakshasa demons, holding iron axes, smash open their heads and expose their brains, which iron dogs come and lick up. After dying, the offenders revive and are driven up the trees. Before reaching the treetops, their bodies are already reduced to dust. During the day, their bodies pass through all the trees; during the night, their bodies again pass through all the trees. In a single day and night, their bodies are slain as many times as there are particles of dust; the number cannot be reckoned. Because of the offense of killing people, they must undergo such calamities for eighty trillion years, after which they are born in the animal realm. As animals, their bodies must constantly bear heavy burdens, and after death they are flayed. After five hundred lifetimes, they are born again among human beings, where they assume bodies that are poor, short-lived, sickly, and emaciated. Only after they have passed beyond that kalpa do they later encounter a good and wise spiritual friend and arouse the mind of bodhi.

The Buddha told Ananda:

– What is called the Hell of Fiery Carts? The Hell of Fiery Carts is a place containing bronze cauldrons, each forty yojanas in both length and breadth, filled with fire within. Beneath them are twelve wheels, and above them are ninety-four rings of fire. There are beings who are disciples of the Buddha yet also revere the ninety-six kinds of Brahma gods. Among their communities, monastics and householders alike practice deception and delusion, maintain wrong livelihood, flatter others, and commit evil deeds.... When such offenders are about to die, the wind element, one of the four great elements, is the first to become agitated, causing their bodies to grow as cold as ice. They then think: “When shall I obtain a great blazing fire and sit within it, so that this illness of cold may be forever dispelled?” Once this thought has arisen, the rakshasa wardens of hell transform themselves into a fiery cart resembling a golden lotus. Seated upon it, appearing like young boys and holding white fly-whisks in their hands, the wardens come forward amid music and celebration. On seeing them, the offenders become attached and think: “If the brilliant radiance of this golden flower were to shine upon me and warm me, it would surely dispel this piercing cold. If I could sit upon that cart, the bliss would be beyond description!” After thinking thus, they cease breathing and die. They are carried upon the fiery cart; all their limbs are burned, and they fall into the mass of fire, where their bodies are consumed and dissolved. The wardens cry out: “Come back to life!” In response to the cry, the offenders revive. Again and again, the fiery cart crushes their bodies eighteen times, reducing them to dust. A rain of boiling molten bronze pours over their entire bodies, and they immediately revive. Thus they pass back and forth, rise to the rim of the boiling liquid, fall into the cauldron, and are crushed by the fiery cart.... In a single day and night, they die nine billion times and revive nine billion times. When their offenses have been exhausted, they are born into impoverished households, placed at the command of others, bound in servitude, and deprived of freedom. Only after repaying others for the offerings and provisions they had received are they released. Because of the merit from their wholesome intention in entering the monastic life in a former existence, they encounter a good spiritual friend who teaches them the Dharma. Their minds open, their understanding becomes clear, and they attain arhatship.

The Buddha told Ananda:

– What is called the Hell of Boiling Excrement? The Hell of Boiling Excrement is eighty yojanas across and contains eighteen encircling iron cities. Each iron city has eighteen compartments. Within every compartment, each of the four walls bears hundreds of billions of sword-trees. The ground resembles sharp blades, whose points are three feet thick. Upon those points are hundreds of thousands of caltrop thorns, too numerous to count. From every caltrop thorn and throughout the groves of sword-trees arise immeasurably many iron insects. Each iron insect has hundreds of thousands of heads. Each head has hundreds of thousands of beaks, and at the tip of every beak are hundreds of thousands of worms whose mouths spew excrement, boiling hot like molten bronze, until it fills the iron city. Above the hell are iron nets and iron crows. There are beings in the world who violate the eight fasting precepts, defile the precepts of a shramanera or shramaneri, or defile the precepts of a shikshamana.... They themselves sully the pure precepts, defiling the precepts of a bhikshu or bhikshuni and the precepts of an upasaka or upasika.... Bhikshus, bhikshunis, upasakas, upasikas, shramaneras, shramaneris, and shikshamanas—these seven assemblies—as well as all others who contaminate the Sangha’s pure food, contaminate the food of their parents, steal food and eat it beforehand, or handle it with unclean hands; and Sangha stewards who, relying upon their own authority, contaminate the Sangha’s pure food—all incur this retribution. Members of the fourfold assembly who, with impure bodies, sit upon the Sangha’s beds, commit a sthulatyaya offense and long fail to repent, much less those who eat the Sangha’s food or sit among the Sangha to participate with it in the uposatha.... Such people are immeasurably numerous. When offenders burdened by such evil and impure karma are about to die, their entire bodies emit an unbearable odor like that of a musk deer. They then think: “Where can I go so that I will not smell this odor? If only another current of air, like a violent wind, would come and perfume my mind!” After the offenders think thus, the rakshasa wardens transform their bodies to resemble painted vessels filled with filthy excrement. They approach the offenders and touch them with their hands, causing attachment to arise in their minds. Their breath ceases and they die; as though blown by the wind, they fall into the boiling excrement. Having fallen into it, they putrefy and are devoured by all manner of insects. As they run frantically about, their bones are worn away and their marrow is exposed. Tormented by hunger and thirst, they drink the boiling-hot excrement, while worms and maggots devour their tongues. In a single day and night, they are born nine billion times and die nine billion times. Only after their offenses have been exhausted are they born into lowly and impoverished families, bound in servitude to others and deprived of freedom. Even when born into the human world, they constantly encounter evil kings, become subject to masters who hold wrong views, and suffer all kinds of evil circumstances that press upon their bodies; tumors and malignant sores serve as their clothing. Because of the conditions created by having heard the wholesome Dharma in former lives, they encounter a good spiritual friend, enter the monastic life, study the Way, and attain arhatship, endowed with the three knowledges, the six superknowledges, and all eight liberations.

The Buddha told Ananda:

– What are called the Eighteen Hells of Boiling Cauldrons? The Hells of Boiling Cauldrons are places containing eighteen cauldrons. Each cauldron is forty yojanas in both length and breadth, enclosed by seven layers of iron netting, and filled with boiling molten bronze. Five hundred rakshasa demons heap up great pieces of coal to heat those bronze cauldrons. The coal fires blaze fiercely and continuously for sixty days without being extinguished, equivalent to a full two hundred thousand years measured by the days of Jambudvipa. Atop these boiling cauldrons, the molten bronze bursts upward like stars, then transforms into rings of fire and falls back into the cauldrons.... There are beings in the world who violate the Buddha’s prohibitory precepts, kill living creatures as sacrifices, burn mountains and wildernesses for the sake of eating meat and thereby harm sentient beings, boil living creatures alive, or burn them with fire.... When such offenders are about to die, their bodies and minds become distressed. They lose control of their bowels and bladder, and feel at times as hot as boiling water and at times as cold as ice. They then think: “If I could enter very warm water and bathe, would that not be delightful?” A rakshasa warden transforms into a young servant, holds a basin of boiling water in his hands, and approaches the offender. The offender’s heart fills with joy and delight at the basin of boiling water; then their breath ceases, they die, and they are born within a boiling cauldron. Their bodies rapidly dissolve until only the bones remain. Iron forks rake them out, and iron dogs devour them and then vomit them onto the ground. The offenders immediately revive. The wardens again drive them back into the cauldrons. Fearing the cauldrons’ heat, they grasp the sword-trees and climb upward, but their flesh and bones are sliced apart and fall back into the boiling cauldrons. Because of the offense of killing living beings, in a single day and night they die as many times as there are grains of sand in the Ganges and revive as many times as there are grains of sand in the Ganges. Only after their offenses have been exhausted are they born among animals, as pigs, goats, chickens, or dogs whose lives are short. They undergo such bodies for eighty million years. After dying, the offenders are again born among humans and must undergo two kinds of retribution: first, frequent illness; and second, a short lifespan. For incalculable kalpas, short-lived and sickly beings become their companions. Eventually, they encounter a good spiritual friend, undertake and uphold the five precepts, and practice the six paramitas.

The Buddha told Ananda:

– What is called the Ash River Hell? The Ash River Hell is two hundred yojanas long and twelve yojanas wide. Beneath it are sharp blades, and along its banks are sword-trees. Within it is filled with a raging fire twelve zhang deep. Moreover, a layer of ashes forty zhang deep covers the fire above. In the world there are beings who have no sense of shame or moral dread, who steal from their parents, steal from their teachers and elders, and steal from good friends, brothers, and sisters. Such foolish people have neither shame nor moral dread. They do not recognize the kindness of those who nurtured them, harbor no wish to repay it, greedily seek gain, remain unaware of the calamities their actions will bring, and disobey their teachers’ instructions. As the karmic retribution for their offenses, when their lives are about to end, their hearts and bellies become filled with wind, and their breathing is choked and intermittent. They then think: “My heart feels like mud, and wind fills my chest. If I could obtain a little fire to warm my body, would that not be delightful?” In response to this thought, the rakshasa wardens immediately arrive, transform themselves into the offenders’ wives and children, and approach the offenders carrying braziers of fire lightly covered with ashes. At that moment, the offenders’ hearts are filled with great joy. Because of that joy, their breath ceases and their lives end, and they are born in the Ash River. By the sword-trees stands a rakshasa holding a sharp sword and seeking to harm them. Terrified, they run into the Ash River. Whenever they lift or lower their feet, the blades wound them. The sword-trees rain down blades everywhere, and the blades enter through the pores of their bodies. The rakshasa uses a fork to hook out their hearts. Overcome with pain and anguish, the offenders fall to the ground and die, then immediately come back to life. Because of the causes and conditions of their offenses of stealing from their teachers, elders, and parents, in a single day and night they are born five hundred koṭis of times and die five hundred koṭis of times. Tormented by hunger and thirst, they open their mouths, wishing to eat, whereupon blades rain down from the sword-trees, enter through their tongues, rip open their bellies, and cut out their hearts, causing them to faint and die. Because in a former life they heard the names of the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, after their offenses have been exhausted, they are born among humans, poor, destitute, and lowly. They awaken to the impermanence of the world, leave the household life, and train in the Way. If they live in an age without a Buddha, they become pratyekabuddhas; if they live in an age when a Buddha is present, they become arhats.

The Buddha told Ānanda:

– What is called the Sword Forest Hell? The Sword Forest Hell is eight thousand yojanas wide and is filled with sword-trees whose fruits are red-hot iron balls. Each of these sword-trees is twenty-four yojanas tall. In the world there are beings who are not filial toward their parents, do not respect their teachers and elders, commit the karma of harsh speech, have no loving-kindness, and harm others with knives and clubs. As the karmic retribution for their offenses, when their lives are about to end, their hearts cling to life as firmly as glue or lacquer. They then think: “My heart is fettered and will relinquish nothing it encounters, like one intoxicated by wine and craving sensual pleasures. Although my body meets with suffering, my heart still will not let go. If only I could obtain a sharp blade to cut away this attachment.” In response to these words, the rakshasa wardens immediately arrive, transform themselves into attendants, hold up gleaming swords, and say to the offenders: “Your hearts are filled with many greedy attachments; you may look into this mirror!” When the offenders look into that mirror, they see within it the image of a sharp sword and think: “My body is now frail and weak and cannot endure the pursuit of desire. If I could obtain this sharp sword to cut through my heart, would that not be delightful?” The moment this thought arises, their breath ceases and their lives end. They take on the bodies of hungry ghosts and are suddenly born by transformation from among the sword-trees. As soon as they are born, red-hot iron balls enter through the crowns of their heads and emerge from their mouths, burning their intestines and stomachs black and causing them to disintegrate, whereupon they fall to the ground. The wardens then beat them with iron forks and drive them up the trees. Once they have climbed a tree, insects with iron beaks devour them. Terrified, the offenders leap to another tree. Passing from tree to tree in this manner, they traverse the entire sword forest. In a single day and night, they are born eighty thousand times and die eighty thousand times. After their offenses have been exhausted, they are born in an age of famine and an eon of pestilence. They become lowly people whose mouths constantly emit a foul odor and whom everyone detests on sight. After the requisite number of eons has passed, they encounter a good spiritual friend and bring forth the aspiration for bodhi.

The Buddha told Ānanda:

– What is called the Hell of Five Hundred Koṭis of Thorn Forests? The Thorn Forest Hell is eight thousand yojanas wide and is filled with iron thorns. At the tip of every thorn are twelve sword-blades. Upon the trees are also enormous red-hot iron pincers. In the world there are foolish beings who engage in harsh speech, divisive speech, frivolous speech, unrighteous speech, unrestrained jesting, deceptive lies and contentious talk, who speak of faults in the scriptures, and who slander teachers who expound their meaning and principles. As the karmic retribution for such offenses, when their lives are about to end, their throats become hot and their tongues dry. They then think: “If I could obtain a sharp spike to pierce my throat and draw blood, causing the blood vessels to pour forth cool water, would that not be delightful?” When this thought arises, the rakshasa wardens transform themselves into the offenders’ parents. In their hands they hold moon-jewels, from the tips of which sharp spikes emerge, and they place them into the offenders’ mouths as though about to pour in water. The offenders rejoice and think: “My wish has now been fulfilled.” Having had this thought, their breath ceases and their lives end. As swiftly as a flash of lightning, they are born in the Thorn Forest. After they have been born there, the rakshasa wardens use iron pincers to pull out their tongues. Then eighty iron oxen draw a great iron plow, plowing through and tearing apart the offenders’ tongues. When the wind blows through the trees of the Thorn Forest, they strike and batter the offenders’ bodies. In a single day and night, they are born six hundred times and die six hundred times. After passing beyond that calamitous eon, when they are later born among humans, they have cleft lips, wrinkled faces, and stammering speech. The bodies of such offenders develop wounds from which blood and pus flow profusely, and for five hundred lifetimes all who see them are filled with disgust. After all these retributions have ended, although they may speak, people still will neither believe nor accept their words. Nevertheless, they encounter a good spiritual friend and bring forth the aspiration for bodhi.

The Buddha told Ānanda:

– What is called the hell of five hundred koṭis of copper pillars? The hell of copper pillars is a place where there is a copper pillar resembling a great mountain, six hundred yojanas high. Beneath it is a fierce fire; above the fire is an iron bed; and above the bed are wheels of blades. Beside those wheels of blades are iron-beaked insects and iron crows. In the world there are foolish, greedy, and deluded beings, deeply defiled by sensual attachment and impure, who violate pure conduct through sexual misconduct, performing impure deeds in an improper place or at an improper time. Even if they are bhikshus, bhikshunis, brahmins, and others—people who observe pure conduct—if they commit impure acts at an improper time or in an improper place... up to and including all those who engage in sexual misconduct and perform impure deeds: when such offenders are about to die, their entire bodies twitch and tremble violently, unable to remain still, like a drawn crossbow that they cannot restrain. They then think, “If only I could obtain a great, solid pillar of copper or iron to which this body could be bound so that it would no longer move.” At that very moment, a rakshasa hell-guard arrives, transforms into an attendant, and, holding an iron staff, approaches the offender and says, “Today your body is strong, while everything else is soft and weak. You may grasp this staff!” Joy arises in the offender’s heart, and then the breath ceases and life ends. In the brief instant in which a staff is turned, that person is born atop the copper pillar, where fierce, blazing flames burn the body. Terrified, the offender looks downward and sees a beautiful woman upon the iron bed. If that woman appears beautiful, a man’s mind gives rise to lustful attachment. When the offender attempts to cast himself down from the copper pillar, the pillar pierces entirely through his body, an iron net coils around his neck, and iron-beaked insects peck at and devour his body. Upon falling onto the iron bed, the six sense faculties of both the man and the woman simultaneously burst into flame. Iron insects enter through the eyes and emerge through the male and female organs. If the person has defiled the precepts, there are separately nine koṭis of tiny insects resembling tiếu thư insects (a kind of ulcer appearing on the tips of the toes and fingers), each having twelve beaks. Flames issue from the tips of their beaks as they peck at and devour the person’s body. As the retribution for sexual misconduct, during a single day and night the offender is born nine hundred koṭis of times and dies nine hundred koṭis of times. Only after the retribution has been fully endured does the offender emerge and take birth among cuckoos and pigeons. For five hundred lives the offender assumes the bodies of cuckoos and pigeons, and then is born among dragons for another five hundred lives. Afterward, when born among human beings, the offender must endure for five hundred lives a body that is sexually incapacitated, without sexual organs, possessing both sexual organs, or possessing indeterminate sexual organs. Even if that person obtains human birth, his wife will not be faithful or virtuous, his children will not be loving or filial, and his servants will not be obedient or agreeable. After passing beyond these circumstances, the offender encounters a good spiritual friend and brings forth the aspiration for bodhi.

The Buddha told Ananda:

– What is called the hell of five hundred koṭis of iron mechanisms? The hell of iron mechanisms is a place where there is an iron bed measuring four hundred yojanas equally in length and breadth. Upon it are set platforms, and within each platform are tens of thousands of koṭis of iron crossbows, the sharp heads of which possess hundreds of koṭis of points. In the world there are foolish beings who, because of greed and desire, are unfilial toward their parents, disrespect their teachers and elders, disobey wholesome instruction, kill living beings, and receive emoluments in the service of treacherous people... As the karmic retribution of such persons, when they are about to die, their bodies tremble, and fluids spontaneously flow from the six bodily apertures. Such offenders perceive their own beds as though made of tūla brocade, and then think, “If only I could obtain a firm and cool place where I might rest my body and sleep—would that not be delightful?” When this thought arises, a rakshasa hell-guard uses a fork to lift up a bed and brings a great cushioned couch before the offender. Upon seeing it, joy arises in the offender’s heart. As the offender attempts to lie upon the cushioned couch, the breath ceases and life ends, and the offender is born upon the iron bed. Tens of thousands of koṭis of iron platforms rise from below; the lower iron platforms are raised upward; innumerable iron crossbows are simultaneously drawn; and all their iron arrows shoot into the offender’s heart. In a single day and night, the offender is born six billion times and dies six billion times. When the offender has fully endured this punishment, the offender is born among animals for five hundred lives. Afterward, the offender is born again in the human realm as a poor and lowly person, commanded by others, subjected to many punishments, and constantly beaten. After passing beyond these circumstances, the offender eventually encounters a good spiritual friend and brings forth the aspiration for bodhi.

The Buddha told Ananda:

– What is called the hell of iron nets? The hell of iron nets is a place where there are eighty-nine layers of iron nets. Within each layer of net are hundreds of koṭis of iron needles. Each iron needle extends into five gateway platforms. In the world there are deceitful beings who engage in sexual misconduct, flatter others, and use seductive charms to delude people. Their minds are constantly bewildered; day and night they entertain evil thoughts, and in every kshana after kshana they continually bring evil intentions to completion. As the karmic retribution of such persons, when they are about to die, their bodies itch, and they think, “If only I could obtain a thorn, a needle, or a sharp blade with which to pierce the insects causing these sores—would that not be delightful?” When this thought arises, a rakshasa hell-guard transforms into a skilled physician, holds a precious needle in his hand, and proclaims, “I am here to cure illness!” Hearing this, joy arises in the offender’s heart; then the breath ceases, life ends, and the offender is born within the region of iron nets. When the offender’s body falls, all the platforms are set in motion, and innumerable needles shoot into the pores. Thus the offender twists and turns among the iron nets, dying in every kshana and living again in every kshana. Only when the punishment is exhausted is that person born in a borderland where there is no Buddha-Dharma. There the person does not even hear the wholesome teachings of the world, much less the true Dharma. Although born among human beings, such people remain under the sway of the three evil paths. After passing through that number of kalpas, they encounter a good spiritual friend; yet although they are able to hear the Dharma, their minds do not understand it clearly.

The Buddha told Ananda:

– What is called the Iron Cavern Hell? The Iron Cavern Hell is the most severe form of suffering in the realm of hungry ghosts. There is an iron mountain measuring twenty-five yojanas both lengthwise and crosswise. Upon the mountain are also five million koṭis of great, blazing-hot iron balls. Each iron ball is perfectly round and measures exactly thirteen yojanas. The mountain also has five thousand blades and swords. At that time, the eastern side of that mountain opens, revealing a small hole like the mouth of Magadha, as large as a peck measure, from which only black smoke issues. In the world there are beings bound by miserliness and greed, whose hearts are like vajra. They delight only in seeking and acquiring, never knowing satisfaction. They provide nothing for their parents, wives, or children; they regard their teachers and preceptors as filthy excrement; and they give neither food nor clothing to servants, slaves, relatives, and friends. Such miserly people do not contemplate impermanence but guard their wealth as though it were the pupils of their eyes. As the karmic retribution for their offenses, when their lives are about to end, their faculties become obstructed, their mouths are sealed, and they cannot speak. Silently, they think within their hearts: “After I die, those wicked people will consume my wealth as though swallowing iron balls and dwell in my house as though dwelling in a dark house!”

After they think this, the rakshasa wardens transform themselves into miserly people, pretend to gather up the wealth, bring it before the offenders, and then burn it with fire. The offenders’ hearts fill with joy; their breath ceases, their lives end, and they are born upon the fiery mountain, as though being smelted together with copper inside an iron cavern. Once they have entered the cavern, their bodies are devoured by ant-like insects and blade-like insects.

Smoke fumigates their eyes, preventing them from seeing the blazing fire. Terrified and panic-stricken, they rush about in every direction, their heads striking the iron mountain. Iron balls fall from above, entering through the crowns of their heads and emerging through their feet.

In one thought-moment they die, and in one thought-moment they live again. Only when their offenses have been exhausted are they born among the hungry ghosts. The bodies of these ghosts are as tall as ten yojanas, yet their throats are as narrow as needles and their bellies as large as mountains.

They search everywhere for food, but only molten copper is poured down their throats. After eight thousand years, their suffering finally comes to an end, and they are then born among ghosts that eat spittle, ghosts that eat vomit, and ghosts that drink blood. When those offenses have been exhausted, they are reborn as spirits of pigsties and latrines, or as dogs.

When those offenses have been exhausted, they are reborn as destitute and lowly human beings, without clothing, food, or shelter. They then encounter a good spiritual friend and bring forth the aspiration for bodhi.

The Buddha said to Ānanda:

– What is called the Iron Ball Hell? The Iron Ball Hell is eighty yojanas wide and contains eighty-eight compartments formed of iron walls. In each compartment are five mountains of blades covering it from above, while below are eighteen great and ferocious iron serpents. Every serpent extends its tongue, and from each tongue issue iron swords whose tips blaze with fire. In the world there are foolish beings who disparage and humiliate the practice of giving, claiming that giving brings no karmic result, and who urge others to hoard their possessions. Such foolish people say before kings, great ministers, śramaṇas, brahmins, and everyone else that giving has neither cause nor karmic result. When offenders of this kind are about to die, their necks stiffen, their veins contract, and they writhe about, unable to speak. They dislike seeing anyone, lie facing downward, and think only within their hearts: “I have amassed treasures. If this wealth could remain together with me, the pleasure would be beyond words.”

A rakshasa warden transforms itself into the person’s wife, takes a blazing-hot iron ball and makes it appear to be a precious treasure, then stands before the person and says: “I shall follow you in death. We shall remain together, mutually accompanying one another, and shall never part!” The person’s breath ceases, their life ends, and they are born within the iron city. As they run wildly everywhere, the iron serpents release venom and coil around their bodies.

Fire burns upon their heads, and they immediately think: “May heaven have compassion upon me and send down sweet rain!” In response to this thought, the sky rains down great, blazing-hot iron balls, which enter through the crowns of their heads and emerge through the soles of their feet. Only when their offenses have been exhausted are they able to become destitute, solitary, mute, and speech-impaired human beings. The number of years they must endure this suffering is the same as that of the beings in the Iron Cavern Hell described above.

Later, they encounter a good spiritual friend and bring forth the aspiration for bodhi.

The Buddha said to Ānanda:

– What is called the Sharp Stone Hell? The Sharp Stone Hell is a place containing twenty-five stone mountains. Each stone mountain has eight pools of ice, and each pool of ice contains five venomous dragons. In the world there are foolish beings—bhikshus, bhikshunis, śrāmaṇeras, śrāmaṇerīs, śikṣamāṇās, upāsakas, upāsikās, and adherents of the ninety-five kinds of brahmanical paths, and so forth—who regard the Dharma as non-Dharma and non-Dharma as Dharma. Or they violate minor precepts and fail to repent for a long time, their hearts devoid of shame, like apes and monkeys. As the karmic retribution for their offenses, when their lives are about to end, air gathers beneath their hearts, their bellies swell like drums, and they vomit up food and drink; even water they drink will not go down. They then think: “If only I could obtain a sharp stone to open my throat, would that not be most pleasant?”

When this thought arises, a rakshasa warden transforms itself into a skilled physician, pretends that a sharp stone is a large medicinal pill, places it in the person’s mouth, and says: “Close your mouth!” Joy arises in the person’s heart; their breath ceases, their life ends, and they are born in the region of stone mountains. Countless sharp stones enter through their backs and emerge through their chests. The wardens then use iron forks to stab into their mouths and extract the stones from within. In a single day and night, they die as many as six billion times and are reborn six billion times. This is the immediate retribution. When that life ends, the offender falls into the Black-Rope Hell.

The Black-Rope Hell is a place containing eight hundred iron shackles and eight hundred iron mountains. A great iron standard is erected, with shackles fastened to both ends. The rakshasa wardens drive the offenders onward, forcing them to carry iron mountains on their backs and run upon iron ropes.

Unable to proceed, they fall to the ground and plunge into cauldrons of boiling water. The rakshasas drive them to rise again. Overwhelmed by thirst, they drink molten iron, swallow stones, and continue running.

In a single day and night, they undergo such suffering as many as one hundred thousand times. When their offenses have been exhausted, they are born into the world as servants of others. They encounter a good spiritual friend who teaches them the true Dharma.

Like fine white cloth that readily takes on dye, they attain arhatship, possess the three knowledges and six superknowledges, and perfect the eight liberations.

The Buddha said to Ānanda:

– What is called the eighteenth hell, the Hell of Drinking Molten Copper? The Hell of Drinking Molten Copper is a place containing one thousand two hundred kinds of copper carts of various colors. Upon each copper cart are six thousand copper pellets. There are beings who are miserly, greedy, envious, given to wrong views and evil speech, and who provide nothing for their parents, wives, children, relatives, or anyone else. Their minds give rise to miserliness, greed, and envy; when they see others obtaining benefit, it is as though an arrow has pierced their hearts. When such sinners are about to die, they suffer many illnesses, become emaciated and delirious, speak incoherently, and say that they wish to have fruit to eat. As they utter these words, the rakshasa wardens of hell transform a copper cart into a cart laden with fruit and bring it before the sinners. Upon receiving it, the sinners rejoice and immediately think: “I could eat these delicious fruits without ever growing weary of them; they accord perfectly with my wishes.” Then, leaping for joy, they cease breathing and die. Before long, the sinners are born upon the copper carts, and soon afterward they arrive in the region of the copper mountains. The copper carts clamp their necks, while the rakshasa wardens use pincers to pry open their mouths and force them to drink molten copper—boiling liquid copper. After drinking the molten copper, they become insensible, collapse upon the ground, and cry out: “Hungry! Hungry!” The wardens then force their mouths open and place pellets of copper and iron inside. They swallow eighteen pellets in all, and flames burst forth from every joint of their bodies. The sinners rush frantically in every direction, east and west, and only after the passage of a full day do they die. The wardens proclaim: “In your former lives, you were deceitful and flattering, held perverse and wrong views, and were miserly, greedy, and envious. Because of these causes and conditions, you must undergo the retribution of iron pellets. Or perhaps you once left the household life but violated and disparaged the precepts, remained unrepentant for a long time, and consumed the offerings of the faithful in vain. Because of these causes and conditions, you must eat these iron pellets.” The retribution of such persons continues for hundreds of millions of thousands of myriads of years, during which they know neither drinking water nor grain. When their punishment has ended and they are reborn in the human realm, throughout five hundred lifetimes they stammer and cannot express themselves clearly. Because of the habitual defilements of their former lives, in later lives they must eat pieces of charcoal and clods of earth. After passing beyond these consequences, they encounter a good spiritual friend and bring forth the aspiration for bodhi.

– End of the Fifth Fascicle -