Let us first look at the condemned souls on the left. Inside her transparent glass chamber, a female condemned soul had just regained her normal, healthy human shape and rose to her feet. She was drawn toward the faint green glow radiating from the fiery‑red crystal computer, together with ringing, chirping sounds: “Ding‑ding‑jiu‑jiu‑ling‑ling”. As she drew close to the computer, a small red thorny snake with a pointed mouth instantly darted out of the crystal computer’s screen and sank its fangs into the condemned soul’s tongue. The condemned soul shrieked in fright! Once her tongue was caught, the little red snake coiled its thorny body around the soul’s tongue until the tongue was torn free and dropped onto the ground, leaving the soul’s mouth filled with blood. At that moment, the crystal computer suddenly shattered completely with the sharp crash of breaking glass. All its shattered fragments struck the condemned soul. She tried to dodge in panic, yet the glass chamber was far too cramped; there was nowhere for her to escape. Helpless and in agony, the condemned soul endured this punishment on endless repeat. As for the black computers on the right that I beheld, they cast a dusky‑grey light. Black centipedes darted out from them. The rest of the torment was identical, save that everything unfolded at a somewhat slower pace.
The Magistrate bade the yaksha bring the female condemned soul over for my interview. Weeping, the female condemned soul recounted how in her earthly life she habitually told specious bawdy jokes before her colleagues and friends, deliberately seeking others’ admiration for her fine figure.
She said, “Mirrors lined every wall inside my home. I beheld my own body from every angle. I also had the habit of walking about my house completely naked. Sometimes I invited close female friends to gather at my home so they might admire my naked form. In daily life, I loved to exaggerate and embellish all manner of events. Matters that were not truly terrifying became wildly sensational and frightening once they passed my lips. When I saw others grow alarmed, I told them I was only joking with them, chiding them for being overly timid and no fun at all.
I delighted in using my wits to tease and amuse those around me. When my earthly life ended, Ox‑Head and Horse‑Face dragged me down to hell. The Yama King flew into great wrath. He declared that my bawdy jokes and conduct at work shook the resolve of young people fresh out of school, leading some of them to commit grave sexual misconduct. He ruled that I had committed frivolous speech in my lifetime, and sentenced me to five hundred years of punishment within this Frivolous Speech Hell — Glass‑Computer Hell. Wu wu wu! I only sought to make everyone merry back then. I never imagined the karmic consequences were so severe that I would have to fall into hell to suffer retribution. Since you write books, please tell all living beings never to utter bawdy jokes, never to speak exaggerated and embellished words, and above all never to tease or toy with others. Wu wu wu! I dare not ever do such things again. I beg the Magistrate to save me and set me free; I wish to depart from this place.”
The Magistrate said: “One reaps hellish retribution corresponding to the evil deeds one commits in mortal life. Reflect well upon all your thoughts and deeds. For the sake of time, we conclude our visit for today.”
I asked the Magistrate, “Why do the computers on the right side of this hell make the condemned souls suffer at a slower pace?”
The Magistrate explained, “Among those who commit frivolous speech, some words harm sentient beings swiftly, while others gradually shake their innate mind‑nature of goodness. All things abide by the law of cause and effect. Therefore we must pay close attention to our words and deeds in daily life. Especially when we are alone, we ought all the more to observe the precepts guarding our mind and nature, and must never transgress the nether laws. A great assembly is to be held in the nether realm today. Ayù, you are welcome to return another day.”
“Amitabha!” Having pressed my palms together and given thanks to the Magistrate, I departed riding a white lotus flower for home.
16 / Flying‑Nail Tongue‑Cutting — A Preliminary Glimpse of the Torments within the Double Tongue Hell
Grateful for the empowerment of the Buddha, I departed riding a white lotus flower.