CHAPTER 34THIRD VISIT TO THE PRISON OF HEART-WRENCHING Buddha Tse Kong who manifested on July 3rd, 1977. Year of the Snake In the 7th lunar month, when hell opens its doors.
Buddha
Tse Kong: In the 7th month, the doors of the
prisons are opened wide. Those brothers and sisters have an opportunity
to return to the living world, enthusiastic and happy. For this reason,
the 7th month is customarily called the month of “Pardon for the sins
of the dead”. The living men should be very cautious not to disturb
the demons. If they preserve their respect for the deities, they will
have no fear of offending them. The doors of hell being opened, our
trips will face difficult obstacles. But I can assure you that the
demons of hell will move away quickly at the sight of Buddha Tse Kong,
alias the Mad Monk. Yang
Ts’ien: Demons
are nothing but human beings changing their forms. All we need to do is
to remain calm before their monstrous forms and they will vanish by
themselves. I have no fear at all, Master. TK:
That’s what I call a fine speech, Yang Ts’ien. Now, how about
going? YT:
I am well in place, Master. Let’s go. TK:
Destination! YT:
Before us are the building of the “Portico of Demons” where
the doors are opened. The souls are hustling their way out, all of them
beaming and merry with this chance of inhaling a breath of fresh air. TK:
In the 7th month, the Portico of Demons is widely opened, and all
of the souls living in the popular quarter of hell are permitted to go
out in turn and wander to their hearts’ content. They head toward the
world of the living, as gay and excited as birds leaving their cages. YT:
Why do these souls move away as we approach? TK:
It is because we bring along the Celestial Edict which emanates a
dazzling aureola that frightens them. YT:
Is it true every year, in the 7th month, all of the souls in hell
are released temporarily so they can move around freely? TK:
Not exactly. In the 7th month, the doors of the buildings at the
Portico of Demons are only opened for the souls living in the Popular
Quarter. They are “ordinary souls” who did neither good nor evil in
their lifetime. In principle, they are not allowed to go out of their
quarters, except on the occasion of the 30 days of amnesty in the 7th
month. The regulations prescribe that all of the souls may leave their
cells on the 15th of the 7th month to receive the gifts offered by the
people of the living world. This day is called “Redemption days” by
Buddhism or “Mid-Autumn Relief” by Taoism. Usually, the dignitaries
of hell have a well-established time-table for their activities, but the
length of these is not precise and this is the way they proceed. Yang
Ts’ien, come quickly on the dais. We’re going to the Heart-Wrenching
Prison. YT:
I’m ready, Master. You can start. TK:
We’re arrived. Let’s come down. YT:
The Mandarin-Governor is approaching for our encounter.
Excellency, we are coming again to disturb you, and hope to be further
informed by you. The
Mandarin: No
civility, please. Since it is the 7th month, all of the alleys of hell
are jammed, and moving around must have been difficult for you, I
suppose. TK:
That’s the least of things. We notice that outside the prisons,
the souls are enthusiastic and free. The
Mandarin: Please come inside for better
observation. I will furnish you necessary documents for your book of
moral guidance for mankind. YT:
Thank you very much, Excellency. I see in the cells of the prison
some sinful souls who cry and moan more terribly than they used to. I
wonder why? The
Mandarin: Simply
because in the 7th month, every inculpable soul called “ordinary” is
authorized to go out of his cell, whereas the others are not. That’s
why the latter are so despondent, they cry and groan all the more. When
in life, they did hear of the 7th month as the time when the souls in
hell were set free, but they failed to know that the souls with heavy
sins would not be granted such clemency. The infernal guards, as
impassible as ever, carry out their punishment, which makes the souls
more unhappy than ever. If humans don’t behave honestly, do good acts
and avoid committing sins, they will be condemned in this place. Since
they can’t hide their crimes, they will be punished and will lose
their freedom. Since your time is limited, I shall have some souls come
for the interview. YT:
Thank you, Excellency. The guards of hell are pitiless. They use
sharp edged cutlasses to open the souls’ chests, blood is streaming.
Oh, It’s an atrocious sight! I simply can’t witness it any longer! The
Mandarin: I
have had two souls come. Look
here! You are to declare all that you did in your lifetime so Buddha Tse
Kong and Mr. Yang Ts’ien can take necessary notes for writing a book
on hell. The
soul: I
am really ashamed of myself. I was at a mature age when my wife left the
world. I was obsessed by carnal desires. One day, I met a young girl on
a deserted field near the village. The swine of Epicurus awakened in me.
I seized her in my arms and dragged her into a sugar cane plantation.
The young girl yelled, struggled with all her might and implored me to
let her go. Yet, I had lost all common sense, I intimidated her all the
more and threatened to kill her. Finally, she yielded and let me rape
her. Later on, I felt remorseful for my act. The young girl didn’t
lodge a complaint against me, but I detested myself, and quite often, I
scolded myself. A little while later, I died of a disease, and my soul
came down to hell. The King of Hell was highly infuriated upon seeing
me. Since I didn’t deny my sin and confessed all my wrongdoing, I
didn’t have to stand before the Mirror Revelator of Past Crimes
anymore. I was condemned to ten years of detention in the
Heart-Wrenching Prison. My heart, being so greedy with sensual
voluptuousness and rape, has been cut out. Until now, I have endured
four years of torture. I know it’s too late for repentance. The
Mandarin: To
rape a girl is to ruin her life, and this is a grave sin. Though your
repentance may appear sincere, you can’t be forgiven because you had,
of your own will, jumped into the divine net. You can reproach neither
God nor anybody else. I therefore advise the people who have committed
such crime to repent in time, and confess their sin to the deities, from
a sworn faith, or print and distribute 1000 volumes of this book
“Voyages to Hell” in order to help humans back to the right path.
They will then be granted some clemency and spared the punishment of
hell. I order another soul to narrate his past crime. The
soul: I
suffer so horribly that I can hardly express myself. In my lifetime, I
committed a severe crime. The terrific pains I am undergoing seem
unending. I supplicate Buddha Tse Kong to rescue me. TK:
You were passionately lustful in your life. Now, in your death,
you have to reap the sour fruit of your bad behavior. The law of karma
is strict. I can’t do anything for you. The
soul: I am so
miserable. If the Very Venerable Tse Kong refuses to save me, I am
reduced to continue my sufferings. In life, I was a taxicab-driver. I
often committed foolish acts, because I was rather ill-bred. Being of
lascivious nature, I used to hang pornographic pictures in my car and I
installed a radio set in it. Every time I had a lone woman passenger in
my car, I began to court her. If she insulted me and called me an
impudent monster, I felt more flattered than abashed and sought to rape
her. Late one night, I carried a woman whose great beauty excited my
sexual desires. I switched on my radio loudly, accelerated my speed and
drove my car to a deserted place. There, I took out my jack-knife, and
while menacing her with it, I succeeded to rape her. This stratagem of
mine had been repeated three times in my life. Five years ago,
unfortunately I was killed in a car-accident. I was immediately arrested
by buffalo-headed and horse-faced demons who tethered me with iron
chains and led me to hell. After judgment of the King of Hell, I was
condemned to 30 years of imprisonment in the heart-wrenching prison of
the 5th Palace. At present, I suffer excessively, but it is too late for
me to repent. Mr. Yang Ts’ien, please, I hope that upon your return to
the Temple of the Sages, you will warn humans not to commit the same sin
as mine. If they do, they will not be able to repent in time, and will
endure extremely frightful and unbearable punishment in hell. I have
been reproaching myself for my stupidity in committing such a sin. By no
means can I be freed from its consequences. The
Mandarin: The
past misdeeds of this soul were really damnable. His life was reduced by
10 years. After expiration of his term in this prison, he will be sent
to the Eternal Prison where every hope of release and reincarnation is
cancelled. Humans must be aware of this fact and avoid committing the
sin of sexual greed. This is the gravest sin among thousands of others.
As a rule, rape and illegitimate sexual relations are never forgiven by
the laws of hell, and the sinners have no chance of escape. TK:
Compared with the other punishment, heart-wrenching is the most
painful. May earthly man be aware of it and not be so blinded of
committing lustful sins. If they do, they will suffer this torment after
their death. It’s quite late, Yang Ts’ien. Let’s go back to the
Temple. YT:
Our great thanks to His Excellency, and to the Generals. TK:
Quickly on the dais. YT:
I am on. Let’s set off. |
CONTENTS |
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