“The moment a person engages in sexual intercourse for the first time before marriage, that is, the moment one loses one’s virginity, the inner spiritual radiance within oneself begins to dim. This dimming brings about declines in many aspects of life, including the depletion of blessings, financial fortune and lifespan. Therefore everyone must take heed of this matter. Do not act on momentary romantic desire and impulse casually, squandering the precious human body obtained through rebirth. Many worthwhile undertakings need to be accomplished while one is young.
“Our mental energy and vitality ought to be devoted to meaningful endeavours, instead of being consumed by obsessive romantic attachments. Such indulgence is utterly meaningless, and furthermore sows negative karmic causes that lead to torment in the hells in future retribution.”
“Very well! Ayù, let us end here for today. You may return now, and come again another time.”
“Amitabha! I am grateful for the Magistrate’s teachings!”
After joining my palms and bowing to express gratitude, I returned by white lotus flower.
26 / The Mystery of Mortals Struck Dead by Lightning Under Netherworld Laws
“Amitabha!” I, Ayù, pressed my palms together in greeting to the Magistrate. Today I wished to ask: “In ancient times there were cases of people being struck dead by lightning for sexual misconduct. Why did this happen, rather than retribution in some other form, such as severe illness?”
The Magistrate explained: “There are two reasons why those committing sexual misconduct were struck dead by lightning in ancient times. First, the netherworld employs lightning as punishment for such offenders to make mortals witness that sexual misconduct can bring a miserable death within one’s lifetime. Visible lightning strikes serve as tangible warnings to all sentient beings, urging mutual vigilance against vice. Second, such wrongdoers harbor overwhelming malicious thoughts and refuse to repent. Their accumulated sexual transgressions and other grave evil karmas draw the retribution of being struck by lightning. After their sudden death, they are condemned to hell to endure torments spanning tens of thousands of kalpas with no release date in sight.
“The God of Thunder is an upright celestial deity tasked with unleashing thunder and lightning during rainfall or foul weather. The number of thunderclaps permitted each time follows precise celestial regulations. No lightning strike death occurs by chance. The God of Thunder always acts upon official written orders from the netherworld, which specify the exact date, time, address, household and individual marked for execution by open-air lightning strike. Generally, before delivering the fatal blow, the God of Thunder first releases peals of thunder, then precisely extracts the sinful soul and executes it out in the open. Lightning generates blazing fire, so the deity moves the wrongdoer outdoors deliberately to avoid harming innocent bystanders during punishment.
“Many instances of people being struck by lightning in ancient times were carried out as such punishments. In ancient eras, fewer people committed sexual misconduct compared to modern times. A single lightning execution could shake numerous sentient beings, prompting them to engage in self-cultivation and purify their minds. Yet the hearts of people today no longer possess the unsophisticated purity found among humanity in ancient times.