Nearby, another condemned soul sat at a table reading pornographic books. His karmic punishment was equally as severe as the eye‑hooking retribution mentioned earlier, yet the fruition of this suffering came somewhat more slowly. I asked the Magistrate why the timing of punishment differs. He replied: “When people view pornography on computers, they often consume vast quantities over extended periods. In contrast, those who read pornographic books, magazines and novels are limited to a smaller amount of material. If a person viewed only a small amount of such material while alive, yet later awakened to the truth, repented sincerely and never repeated these acts, and further shared these persuasive teachings to dissuade others from viewing pornographic websites, videos and publications; if they even spent their own funds to acquire and destroy obscene materials to atone for past wrongs, they might avoid this hellish retribution.”
The Magistrate spoke sternly: “Most beings who serve their punishment in the Electric Light Eyes Hell must continue receiving torment in other hells for sexual misconduct. Those guilty of masturbation, and improper sexual behavior at improper times, in improper places or through improper sexual organs, will be sent to the Iron Ball Swallowing Hell, Molten Pillar Embrace Hell, Rolling Blaze Hell and various other hells for such transgressions after death.” That was all for today.
I took my leave of the Magistrate. I pressed my palms together, bowed to the Magistrate and thanked him, and returned by white lotus flower.
Pornographic websites and videos bring immense harm to humanity. The thick smell of blood permeating these great hells was almost unbearable for me. Witnessing countless horrific, bloody scenes: condemned souls beheaded, hands severed, flesh cut and feet sliced, screaming in agony, I required significant emotional adjustment before I could regain my peace after returning home.
9 / The Hell of Electric Eyes and Iron Balls — The Brutal Punishment for Those Who Commit Masturbation
Grateful to all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas! I set forth riding upon a white lotus flower.
“Magistrate, Namo Amitabha!” I joined my palms and paid homage to the Magistrate.
Today, the Magistrate led me through the Hell of Electric Eyes and Iron Balls, one of the hells reserved for sexual misconduct. Souls who, in their earthly existence, gave themselves over to pornographic websites, images and printed materials, and who masturbated while viewing such content before their computers, are dispatched here to endure karmic retribution upon death. Their term of torment lasts for eight hundred years. Following this period, the magistrates assess shifts in their spiritual consciousness to determine whether further suffering within this hell is required.
As related before, every time one views pornographic material, one’s blessings and lifespan are reduced by one month. The very first viewing diminishes blessings and longevity by half a month; every subsequent instance incurs a loss of one month’s blessings and lifespan. If one frequently views such material coupled with masturbation, one’s lifetime blessings will quickly be exhausted.
This hell sits adjacent to the Electric Light Eyes Hell, yet the sufferings here are tens of millions of times harsher. Almost all the condemned souls imprisoned here are teenagers. It is heartbreaking to see that they are all so young. When I was at their age, I was just an ordinary school student, ignorant of these things. Why do they forsake their studies only to end up suffering torment in hell? The sight chills my heart to the core. Young boys must preserve their purity. The torments of hell are unspeakably bitter; do not ever come here. Cherish your precious human life, study diligently and cultivate yourselves while dwelling in the mortal world.