I am grateful for all the compassionate expedients employed by the Buddha to guide and take across living beings, which create many opportunities for everyone to cultivate. Progress in cultivation knows no standstill; to cease advancing is to regress. I truly felt remorseful. I had planned to journey to the hell realm last night yet postponed the trip due to exhaustion. I came before the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to pray and repent. In many sutras, the Buddha teaches us all how to strive diligently and uphold the precepts. How ashamed I am!
In the Avatamsaka Sutra, the Buddha proclaimed: “Sons of the Buddha! Bodhisattva Mahasattvas possess ten kinds of diligent vigour. What are the ten? The diligent vigour to teach and transform all sentient beings; the diligent vigour to deeply penetrate all dharmas; the diligent vigour to purify and adorn all worlds; the diligent vigour to cultivate all studies of the Bodhisattvas; the diligent vigour to eradicate all evils of sentient beings; the diligent vigour to quell sufferings within the three evil realms; the diligent vigour to vanquish all hordes of demons; the diligent vigour to vow to become a pure eye for all sentient beings; the diligent vigour to make offerings to all Buddhas; the diligent vigour to gladden all Tathagatas. These are the ten. If Bodhisattvas abide in these practices, they will attain the perfect unsurpassed vigour Paramita of the Tathagatas.” I perceive I still have shortcomings in cultivating diligent vigour, so I must redouble my efforts.
Next, in the Maharatnakuṭa Sutra • Assembly of the Bodhisattva Piṭaka, the Buddha stated: “Do not be fearful, alarmed, terrified or intimidated. Arouse the four kinds of steadfast and valiant resolve. Redouble your diligence toward the subtle Dharma door of the Bodhisattva Piṭaka; never abandon, relinquish, distance yourself from or depart from them. Fully attain acute understanding rooted in firm faith, unwavering faith, steadfast patience, and steadfast upright diligence. Shariputra, I shall explain to you expedient parables of steadfast patience and steadfast upright diligence, so that Bodhisattvas can attain these virtues and walk the Bodhisattva path without clinging to their bodies and lives.” I was overwhelmed with remorse. I grew weary after only a few successive trips to the netherworld, and I was truly unworthy of the profound grace bestowed through the teachings of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. I must persist in strictly upholding the precepts and cultivating diligently to repay their boundless kindness. I also wish that all beings could attain boundless spiritual power, advance bravely and diligently, practise upright diligent vigour, and guard the precepts as one guards a luminous pearl.
Before setting off, I noticed an extra lotus blossom beneath my feet. My gratitude went to the Dharma protectors! The Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are forever compassionate! Thanks to this additional lotus, I travelled far more swiftly. I arrived at the hell realms in an instant. The Magistrate was already waiting for me, and I stepped forward to bow respectfully to him.
Today I hoped to consult the Magistrate regarding the karmic retribution incurred by those who write, print and sell erotic books, the proprietors who produce pornographic films and manufacture pornographic discs, the actors who star in pornographic films, and those who sell items that incite lust, such as aphrodisiacs.
The Magistrate immediately led me to view a realm named the Rolling Blaze Hell. As we conversed, we began to perceive a peculiar, oppressive aura — a profoundly negative energy, best described as lustful vapour. All hells are permeated by boundless yin qi, yet in this particular hell, the lustful vapour far overwhelms the yin qi; desire-laden fumes dominate everything. A thick, rank stench also hung heavy in the air. Were it not for the mission of sharing these truths with the public, I would have no wish to behold this sight.
We arrived at the Rolling Blaze Hell. All we could hear were deafening wails and agonized groans. Countless condemned souls, men and women, dwelt here. None spoke or communicated with one another — no greetings, no words of comfort. Not even a simple utterance such as “Do you suffer?” passed between them, for every condemned soul endured unceasing hellish torment without respite.
I saw one condemned soul perched upon a tiny chair, pressing his hands against it to hold himself upside down, head lowered and feet raised in an exaggerated posture. Presently he crashed to the ground, only to revive and repeat the torture again and again. The Magistrate explained that this is the karmic retribution for those who, while alive, delighted in writing lewd depictions of sexual misconduct, such as positions where the woman stands inverted and the man upright.
Another soul supported himself on a single palm, trembling and sweating from exhaustion. The moment his strength failed, giant birds swooped down to devour him. Once reborn, he endured the same punishment anew. This soul had, in his lifetime, revelled in describing wildly exaggerated sexual acts, including flagellation and pursuits of extreme sensual stimulation.
One soul spun round and round upon the ground without cease. Should he halt, massive wolves would rush forward to tear him limb from limb. Such is the requital for those who concocted aphrodisiac and hallucinogenic potions to arouse lust.