“Amitabha!” I, Ayù, pressed my palms together in greeting to the Magistrate. “Magistrate, how does Earth Store Bodhisattva save beings in hell? May I go and see?”
The Magistrate said, “Earth Store Bodhisattva has been tirelessly saving and taking across suffering sentient beings in the hells every moment without cease. There is a Dharma assembly hall in our nether realm known as the Hall of Initial Turning of Nether Radiance. Earth Store Bodhisattva has been constantly expounding the Dharma and offering teachings to the souls of the netherworld.”
Curious, I asked: “Are sentient beings in hell not engulfed in suffering every instant? How can they find time to listen to the Dharma? Those who have finished enduring their karmic punishments should depart the hells immediately to continue transmigration, should they not?”
The Magistrate replied: “The condemned souls in the hells are fundamentally the same as sentient beings in the human world; all have fallen here through transmigration within the six realms. Some descend from the heaven realm, the asura realm and the human realm; others come here from the three lower paths: the ghost path and animal path. They are of the same mind and nature, endowed with the full radiance of the pre-heaven original nature. Yet, deluded by inverted thoughts, they have lost their mind and nature, committing killings and various transgressions that send them falling into the hells. Every soul shall one day return to the radiance of its original nature, yet the span of time required differs vastly. For all beings confined in hell, restoring their innate spirituality and brightness demands an extremely long period. Why? Souls in hell carry heavy defiled habits and grave evil karma. Even if, on rare occasions, a single thought of repentance arises, it is swiftly overpowered by suffering and evil karma. Therefore, Earth Store Bodhisattva uttered this great vow to save and take across living beings: ‘I vow not to attain Buddhahood until the hells are empty. Only when all sentient beings are delivered will I certify Bodhi!’ Out of compassion, the Bodhisattva told the Yama King: ‘Any spirit undergoing punishment in the nether realm who produces even a fleeting instant of repentant thought may come to the Hall of Initial Turning of Nether Radiance to learn the Dharma and be temporarily spared torment.’”
I said: “That is truly wonderful! Does this not mean many beings in hell will attain transcendence?!”
The Magistrate replied: “The number of living beings suffering in hell is boundless. You have visited the hell of sexual misconduct before. Just one subdivision within it, the whip and staff hell, holds an endless multitude of condemned souls, and there are still countless hells you have not seen. Among all these beings undergoing retribution, very few can arouse even a single thought of repentance. Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are endlessly compassionate, always adapting their teachings and devising all kinds of skillful arrangements to rescue and take across living beings. Yet have these beings ever sincerely perceived their compassionate resolve to save the world? Ayù, your mission to the hells is arranged through the Buddha’s compassion. The nether authorities also hope this account can purify human minds and enable beings to firmly believe in the karmic law of causality so they will not create evil karma that leads to the hells.”
We arrived at the Hall of Initial Turning of Nether Radiance in hell. I prostrated to Earth Store Bodhisattva! Tears welled up uncontrollably the moment I saw Earth Store Bodhisattva, and gratitude surged forth spontaneously. Once again I prostrated to Earth Store Bodhisattva on behalf of all beings. May all beings escape suffering and attain bliss! May all beings dwell in joy! May all beings cultivate diligently and swiftly certify Bodhi and Buddha fruit!
At that moment, Earth Store Bodhisattva was expounding the Five Precepts to the assembly. I noticed there were many Dharma masters among the audience in the hall. As soon as this idea arose in my mind, the Magistrate perceived it and hastened to explain the reason to me.
The Magistrate said, “Many of these Dharma masters broke the precepts against sexual misconduct and theft. Those who come here to listen have all undergone punishment in hell, and some are still serving their sentences. They come to listen to the Dharma here simply because they have aroused a single thought of repentance. When a condemned soul arouses a single idea of repentance within its mind, its mind light will undergo a subtle transformation, and the nether wardens will suspend the condemned soul’s punishment and escort it to the Hall of Initial Turning of Nether Radiance to listen to the Dharma. All souls that come to this hall share one common trait: knowing they are temporarily spared suffering here, they cherish the opportunity deeply, and nearly all are embraced by the kindness and compassion of Earth Store Bodhisattva.”
I noticed that most souls bore dull gray auras, alongside dark cyan, dark red and pitch-black hues, their forms floating lightly. Then I saw one soul weeping bitterly, overwhelmed by profound remorse. At that instant, its aura gradually shifted from murky grey to pale ash, and the soul visibly felt lighter.