Weeping sorrowfully, the female condemned soul replied, “In my earthly life I had an extremely bad temper. I used harsh speech to curse others every day, and no one escaped my reviling. Whenever people or things went even slightly against my wishes, I would shout and hurl bitter, cutting insults at them. Even bad weather, such as rain disrupting my plans, would make me curse heaven for sending such wretched, ill‑omened rain. It was simply unbearable. My mother-in-law and my daughters, in particular, bore my curses day after day. When you lived in our hometown, I had only just married into the family. My mother‑in‑law was still in her prime, yet I bit through her fingers. Later, as I could bear no more children, my mood and temper grew far worse. When I shouted at her, she was no match for me. Every day I called her an old woman who would not die. Whenever she prepared to go out, I would hurl insults calling her an old whore and an old hag, accusing her of going out to seek men and saying that if she died out there, I would not collect her body. Enraged, she would shout a few retorts before leaving. In every quarrel she lost to me; I always won. At times I beat her until her head streamed with blood. Biting through her fingers was my warning to her shortly after I wed into the household.
I died of hepatitis at home. Ox‑Head and Horse‑Face dragged me off to hell. Upon seeing me, Yama King flew into great wrath. He said that in life I wounded others with harsh speech, beat and scolded my mother‑in‑law, and cursed heaven and earth. I had committed offences against filial piety, righteousness, integrity, shame, propriety and reverence. He sentenced me to undergo punishments within the Venomous‑Snake Gut‑Piercing Hell for four hundred years. It already feels like an immensely long time here. The suffering is beyond measure! While alive I thought that loud ferocity could overpower those around me. Now I finally know I was wrong. Wu wu wu…, the agony is unbearable!
Xiao Yuzi! How is it that you have come to hell? I beg you, rescue me from this place!”
At that moment a yaksha boomed fiercely, “Cease your idle talk! Return to your punishments at once. Ayù is busy touring hell to write books that transform mortal beings. She has no time for your ramblings. Begone!” The yaksha swung his fork to strike her.
A wave of distress rose within me. Noticing my sorrowful countenance, the Magistrate called out to the yaksha and allowed the condemned soul to speak a little longer, to hear what more she had to say.
Trembling in agony and weeping bitterly, the female condemned soul said, “Xiao Yuzi! Can you let me take part in your writing? Everyone in our hometown knows that under your grandmother’s influence you grew up with a heart inclined toward helping others. I believe you will save me. You will not stand by and let me perish. Though our contact was scant, we were once neighbors. Let me join your work to exhort people against harsh speech. I shall bear witness to how I fell into hell and suffer for my harsh‑speech offences. I will help you warn all beings. I implore you, deliver me!”
“Auntie, Amitabha! My heart grieves deeply to see you fall into hell. I wish I could set you free, yet I possess no power to take you out. I come to tour hell and compile The Inexorable Nether Laws by virtue of the Buddha’s empowerment. The Buddha appoints who shall take part in the writing; I have no authority to arrange this privately. I am a Buddhist disciple who observes the Five Precepts, recites the Buddha’s name and keeps a pure vegetarian diet. Auntie, arouse your resolve to recite the Buddha’s name and repent your karmic offences. I shall dedicate the meritorious virtues from this writing to you, so that you may soon escape suffering, attain bliss, be reborn in the Pure Land and be born from a lotus flower by transformation. I shall try to plead your case before this Magistrate and hope it may bring you some relief.”
Then the female condemned soul cried out, “I beseech you, Magistrate! I kowtow before you! I deserve this! I deserve this! I performed no good deeds while alive. Now I long to do good for others just as Xiao Yuzi does. I beg you, I truly recognize my wrong‑doings!”
The Magistrate said, “During your earthly life, you wounded others with harsh speech and beat and insulted your mother‑in‑law, committing grave filial impiety under the Nether Laws. The Nether Laws serve to punish the wicked and malicious. Once you commit the evil karmas that cause you to fall into hell, the Nether Laws of Hell will lay firm hold on you. You can only escape from hell after all your evil karmas have been completely worn away. The Nether Laws will not reduce your punishments out of personal favor merely because you know any of its officers. Even fathers and sons, closest kin, can expect no special consideration here. All who transgress the Nether Laws must undergo punishments. Even if those you harmed choose to forgive you, even if your mother‑in‑law lets go of all grievances and pardons your unfilial conduct, the impartial justice of the Nether Laws will still not spare you. According to the karmic principles of the netherworld, once your mortal lifespan and blessings are exhausted, Ox‑Head and Horse‑Face will ruthlessly bring you to hell to undergo punishments. I perceive that remorse has stirred within you for the moment. Considering your cooperation today, I shall instruct the yakshas to record one instance of your cooperative repentance, equivalent to one session of listening to the Dharma in the netherworld. Due to your lack of filial piety in life, none of your descendants perform meritorious deeds and dedicate meritorious virtues to you in accordance with the Dharma. Your brief encounter with Ayù arises from the ripening of karmic ties as distant relatives in past lives. Cherish this favorable karmic condition of impermanence well.
The netherworld does grant opportunities for genuinely remorseful condemned souls to hear the Dharma and attain liberation. Yet the prerequisite rests entirely upon your own repentant mind. When your repentance generates a certain degree of inner radiance, yakshas will naturally lead you to listen to Earth Store Bodhisattva preach the Dharma. This sublime opportunity to hear the Dharma is available equally to all. When you sincerely repent over a period of time, yakshas will come to suspend your punishments and escort you to the Dharma assembly. Yakshas of the netherworld keep records for each session. Every time you listen to the teaching, your spiritual nature is purified, transformed and blessed by Earth Store Bodhisattva’s compassionate Dharma voice. At present, the radiance of your repentant mind is insufficient. Return now and let your karma wear away.”