Today I wished to ask the Magistrate: “How should pornographic materials be dealt with, and what merit is gained by destroying them?”
The Magistrate said: “Pornographic materials must be destroyed. Such things must not remain in the mortal world, and they must be thoroughly eradicated. So long as these materials exist, mankind’s innate spiritual nature will be contaminated. This pollution directly and swiftly extinguishes the radiance of one’s innate spiritual nature.”
“The pre-heaven original yang born with every being is of supreme purity, yang and brightness. Once the radiance of one’s spiritual nature fades, dims, or vanishes, this present lifetime draws to an end. Some people believe casually viewing these materials brings no harm, as long as they do not act upon their urges, regarding such viewing merely as sexual knowledge or sex education. This notion is erroneous.
“One must never view pornographic materials, not even once. Even a single viewing sullies the radiance of the innate spiritual nature. What is more, it plants a seed of lust within one’s mind. When unfavorable karmic conditions arise in the future, it will become exceedingly difficult to keep one’s mind from wavering.
“When adolescents, who still possess the constitution of pure yang, encounter pornographic content, their minds are certain to be stirred, though the degree of disturbance varies from person to person. Especially in this modern age of high‑technology computing, pornographic websites run rampant without restraint. Multitudes lose full mastery over their minds, falling into habits such as masturbation, and their pure original yang essence dissipates forthwith. Even if it is not completely depleted, portions slip away imperceptibly. As time passes, this culminates in the commission of sexual misconduct.
“Pornographic materials gravely undermine chastity and morality, stripping sentient beings of all sense of shame and decency and triggering moral collapse. In this lifetime, those consumed by such materials suffer diminished blessings and shortened lifespans, dishonor their ancestors, sever their family lineages, and accrue severe karmic debts of sexual misconduct that condemn them to excruciating torments in hell.
“We have previously elaborated extensively on the boundless retributions awaiting wrongdoers in the various Hells of Sexual Misconduct. Once wrongdoers are trapped within these hells, there is no release date in sight. Countless tragedies of broken families stem directly from sexual misconduct, and pornographic materials stand as the primary culprit that lures people into this vice. These works poison hearts, subvert cosmic principles, and corrupt human ethics. Far more destructive than mortal poisons, they ravage one’s spiritual nature and wisdom-life. Ordinary poisons end only a single mortal lifetime, yet pornography ravages one’s pure original yang essence, cutting lives short and condemning souls to endure boundless suffering in hell. Even if one eventually escapes the hells after immense hardship, countless residual karmic consequences of sexual misconduct remain to be repaid. These include various illnesses linked to sexual misconduct, alongside manifold spiritual afflictions; the list stretches on without end.
“Sentient beings who possess financial means may do what they can to buy pornographic materials and destroy them. Publishers and bookstores should refrain from distributing or selling such materials. Directors, performers, actors and actresses must not participate in or produce pornographic films. Writers, painters and all creators of publications ought not compose lustful texts or draw obscene imagery. Corporate leaders, regional rulers, kings, and all persons of substantial influence should completely prohibit and eradicate pornographic materials. Upon discovering such materials, they ought to issue immediate orders for their thorough destruction. Those lacking both financial resources and any of the above capacities may still act according to circumstances and conditions, striving to persuade relevant parties to destroy pornographic materials.
“Any sentient being who endeavours to destroy pornographic materials by any of the above means shall gain increased blessings and lifespan, win the respect of others, preserve their wealth, and develop greater wisdom within this lifetime. For practitioners who properly seek transcendental aspirations, their wishes shall gradually be fulfilled, and they shall progress steadily forward. A great meritorious virtue will be recorded in their personal Register of Good and Evil, Life and Death within the underground world. This substantial meritorious virtue can serve to mitigate the hellish karmic seeds planted in past lives. The final verdict for each individual case rests with the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and senior officials of the underground world.
“Ayù, let us end our discussion here today. Hasten back and write an account for everyone.”