Amitabha! If any inaccuracies appear in this record, all faults rest solely with this novice, and are unrelated to the teachings imparted by the Magistrate. I am deeply grateful for the empowerment of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, which enabled me to tour the hells and compose this writing to share with all. If any meritorious virtue arises from this work, I dedicate it to all sentient beings throughout the Dharma Realm of empty space. May they all transcend desire, uphold pure precepts, and together attain Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.
4 / The Magistrate Declares: “Repentance after Death Comes Far Too Late!”
Grateful for the immense empowerment of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, I once again journeyed to the hells to witness and learn. The hells are perpetually steeped in suffering and gloom, permeated with negative magnetic fields. I hope no one will arrive here on account of creating evil karma; the agony is truly beyond description.
Presently I arrived at the Seventh Hall, where a male soul stood awaiting judgment. He appeared refined and gentle, and I wondered what transgression he had committed. The Magistrate sentenced him to five hundred years of torment in the Hell of Swallowing Copper Balls. It turned out that while alive, this spirit had one lawful wife and two steady partners. He was fond of sexual misconduct at improper times, in improper places and using improper parts of the body, and these three partners catered to his desires. Throughout his lifetime, he had only these three companions.
Then I heard the male soul pleading in his own defence. He asked why his lawful wife was spared five hundred years of retribution in the Hell of Embracing Copper Pillars, yet he could not escape five hundred years of punishment in the Hell of Swallowing Copper Balls. The Magistrate commanded: “Watch the recording!” In mortal life, when the male soul urged his wife to engage in sexual acts through improper sexual organs, she refused and persuaded him not to do so, explaining it violated propriety. The wife only engaged in misconduct with him at improper times and places. Furthermore, she possessed weak lustful cravings. Hence her karmic retribution was lighter; she merely suffered diminished blessings. By refusing illicit acts through improper sexual organs and exhorting her husband to refrain from such conduct, she accrued some blessings in return.
Though the male soul did not force his legal wife into unchastity, both of his two outside lovers joined him in committing all three forms of sexual misconduct. The Magistrate said: “In consideration of your repentant heart, filial piety, loyalty to duty, and lawful conduct in public affairs, and given that your sole offenses are these three acts of sexual misconduct, you are hereby pardoned from five hundred years of torment in the Hell of Embracing Copper Pillars.” The male soul had no further words to speak. Ghost enforcers led him away to the Hell of Swallowing Copper Balls. As the wardens pushed him inside, the spirit beheld the apparition of his lover and hastened toward her. In truth, it was a giant flying bird. Its enormous beak enclosed the male soul’s genital organ and tore it clean away with one pull. The spirit screamed in overwhelming agony. The scene grew far too gory for me to endure any longer.
After stepping out of the hall, I consulted the Magistrate regarding punishments for sexual misconduct. The Magistrate instructed that one must uphold right understanding and right mindfulness, always remaining vigilant to preserve purity and self-respect. If a person harbors thoughts of sexual misconduct yet does not act upon them, their blessings shall be reduced for one week. Simply viewing pornographic publications diminishes blessings and lifespan by one week. If the thought evolves into action, blessings and lifespan are reduced by one month. A second act of sexual misconduct diminishes blessings and lifespan by two months, and the penalty increases in this progressive manner.
All men and women who engage in premarital sexual relations suffer diminished blessings and shortened lifespans. Outcomes vary for each individual, yet they may be broadly divided into three categories.
First category: It refers to those who have only one partner in life, whose partner has low sexual desire, and who later marry that partner. Provided they do not transgress the prohibitions against sexual misconduct at improper times, in improper places and using improper parts of the body, only their blessings will be depleted. Such people may eliminate karmic retribution through sincere repentance at an early time.
Second category: It refers to those who maintain one partner before and after marriage yet commit sexual acts at improper times, in improper places or using improper parts of the body, and are driven by strong lust. Such persons lose blessings and shorten their lifespans both before and after marriage. Upon death, they will endure five hundred years in the Hell of Embracing Copper Pillars and another five hundred years in the Hell of Swallowing Copper Balls. If they practise genuine repentance while alive, they will possess greater power to dissolve their karma. Should they furthermore earnestly exhort others to refrain from sexual misconduct, they may offset their faults with meritorious deeds and possibly escape hellish retribution.