I spotted the spirit of a male middle school student who looked strangely familiar. Where had I seen him? It came to me: roughly half a year ago, I saw his portrait at a funeral parlour. I was dealing with my relative’s funeral back then, and his mourning hall was right next to ours. Our mourning hall was packed with relatives and kids, and we felt warm and bustling. In contrast, his was deserted, with only his parents and two or three other family members around. My relatives were discussing this poor young boy, wondering what had happened to him, and how heartbroken his parents—especially his mother—were. I recited Amitabha several times in front of his portrait to dedicate merits to him. I never expected to encounter his soul in hell. Human life is truly fleeting and unpredictable.
As the Magistrate told me, the boy was his parents’ only child. When he was alive, he became addicted to browsing pornographic websites and publications, developed the habit of masturbation and also used self-made devices for sexual gratification. He began masturbating at the age of six, and suffered severe vitality depletion by the age of ten. His mother sought treatment from many renowned physicians for him, and he took numerous herbal medicines. Yet he walked like an elderly man and needed a cane. He failed to cherish his life and health; he continued to masturbate even while receiving treatment. As a result, all his blessings and longevity were exhausted by the age of twelve, and he was sent to the Hell of Electric Eyes and Iron Balls to endure punishment for 800 years.
Beside the boy, I saw a computer-shaped torture instrument, and fire serpents coiled around his body. Red glowing hooks extended from the computer to gouge out his eyes, sending blood splashing everywhere. Then the fire serpents wound themselves around him. At first they seemed to brush against his genitals, but upon contact, the serpents bit them off, leaving pools of blood on the ground. Before the boy could comprehend what was happening, two ferocious giant wolves lunged at him and tore his hands apart. The scene was utterly horrific. This is torment beyond torment, unbearable suffering.
I asked the Magistrate, “Why must he endure multiple punishments simultaneously? Why not let his eyes heal before he suffers torment from the fire serpents and wolves?”
The Magistrate replied: “These punishments cannot be separated into stages. While alive, he viewed content on a computer and immediately engaged in masturbation beside it. Afterwards, he again committed sexual misconduct using self-made lewd devices. That was why he arrived swiftly in the hells to receive retribution. Once he finishes serving his sentence in this hell, he will be transferred to the Howling Hell to undergo further punishment. His habitual masturbation prematurely exhausted all his blessings, bringing immense grief to his parents. They endured the sorrow of burying their child in their old age, making him an unfilial son. For this reason, he suffers such torment. Many young people in the human world today disregard rites and righteousness. They talk back to their parents, insult them, and in extreme cases resort to violence. Their conduct is worse than some lowly animals. Those who are profoundly unfilial under heaven must come here after death to receive punishment, refining their consciousness and purifying their original spirit until they truly repent and reform from the bottom of their hearts.
“We shall end here for today. I still have official duties to attend to. You may return another day.”
I bowed to take leave of the Magistrate. “Thank you, Magistrate.”
10 / Snatching the Three Souls Before Mortal Life Ends!!!
Grateful for the empowerment of the Buddha! I set forth riding upon a white lotus flower.
“Amitabha!” I, Ayù, pressed my palms together in greeting to the Magistrate.