We reached the great judgment hall in the Hell of Licentiousness. It was immense, sombre and icy cold. The hell‑wardens were hideous to behold, fierce and grotesque, with green‑faced, fang‑bared countenances. Some shed a dim cyan glow, others a dull crimson, while still others emanated murky grey or deep black. They bore infernal implements: spears, swords, great cleavers, spiked cudgels, iron fans and the like. The hall’s floor, seemingly hewn from marble, bit with bitter cold. I observed that every soul who entered hell went bare‑foot, shivering atop that frigid stone surface. All sentient beings appeared small and abject within this place. A terrible magistrate sat enthroned at the centre, and three middle‑school boys knelt before him for trial.
My heart ached for them. Two were thirteen years old, the other fourteen. Their offences consisted of indulging themselves in pornographic websites and masturbation, inciting under‑age schoolmates to view obscene sites and practise masturbation, and distributing pornographic images via mobile phones. The fourteen‑year‑old boy stood arguing his case before the Magistrate. “We only viewed these things and tended to our own physical urges,” he protested. “We harmed no women. Where lies our guilt?”
The judge struck his marble table violently with a red wooden tablet, producing a thunderous crash. His features contorted with rage as he roared, “Presumptuous condemned soul! At so tender an age you neglected your studies in the mortal world. Brought before this infernal tribunal, you show no trace of remorse, yet you utter such insolent words. As the saying goes: ‘The body, hair and skin are received from one’s parents.’ Before you could repay your parents’ kindness in raising you, sexual misconduct exhausted your store of blessings and good fortune, sending your soul down to hell and inflicting the agony of bereavement upon your father and mother above. That is your first great offence — gross unfiliality. Second, you incited under‑age classmates to view pornography and indulge in masturbation, gravely corrupting public morals. Third, you disseminated obscene images by mobile phone, unsettling men’s upright minds. Fourth, you yourself committed sexual transgression. For these manifold crimes, the nether laws decree severe retribution. Guards! Drag them away at once to the Bell‑Ringing and Pill‑Swallowing Hell for torment; no pardon shall be granted!”
Overawed by the judge’s authority, the boy fell to his knees begging for mercy, yet it was already too late. Two ferocious hell‑wardens seized him with pronged implements and dragged him off toward the Bell‑Ringing and Pill‑Swallowing Hell to suffer punishment. The other two boys received the same fate.
Visiting the hell‑realms each day drained much of my vital energy. Horrific bloody visions of tormented hell‑beings kept rising unbidden in my mind, and weariness weighed upon me. Upon returning, I had to recite mantras to replenish my strength. Were I to write down every sight I witnessed in those realms, I should never finish, and volumes upon volumes would be required. Still, I gladly offered my modest efforts, so that the world might learn of hell’s realities.
Human beings dwell amid thoughts. I kept reciting mantras, using mental power to dissolve those dreadful images. Every incident and every passing moment stores itself within the eighth consciousness, the ālaya‑vijñāna. Those who frequently browse pornographic websites or read obscene publications have such material imprinted deep within their minds.
The Avatamsaka Sutra states: “If one wishes to fully understand all Buddhas of the three periods of time, one should contemplate the nature of the Dharma realm: Everything is created by the mind only.” The mind and the thoughts it produces hold tremendous power. I hope all fellow practitioners entangled in sexual misconduct will purge obscene images from their minds. If they sincerely resolve to turn away from evil and return to the virtuous path, they may constantly recite “Namo Moon‑Light Buddha”. This Buddha can eradicate karmic hindrances stemming from lust. Sincere resolution for reform, joined with the compassionate power of the Buddha’s name, will surely lessen the risk of hell‑torment after death; in favorable cases, one might even escape infernal punishment entirely.
I earnestly beseech all people to keep themselves pure, uphold the Five Precepts, abide by human ethics, and treasure this precious human body. May everyone cultivate pure conduct and achieve rebirth through a lotus flower.
Dedication Verse
May we, with these meritorious virtues, eliminate past and present evil karmas, increase and grow all blessings and wisdom, to perfectly complete supreme good roots.