| Jigong: |
Tonight we are going to the Cave of Xintou Shan. Would you
like to follow me?
|
| Yang Sheng: |
I am much obliged and with to thank you from the bottom of
my heart for giving me the opportunity to visit the Cave.
|
| Jigong: |
Because of your good and charitable works in Sheng Xian
Tang, the Jade Emperor in Heaven, Yu Huang ( 玉
皇
) has chosen you tour Hell so that when you return to Earth you can
write a book on what you have seen, for distribution to human beings so
that they can do good deeds.
|
| Yang Sheng: |
I thank you again for choosing me for the honor. I
understand that souls of the dead visiting Hell ride on heavenly horses
or sit on platforms of lotus flowers.
|
| Jigong: |
Yang Sheng, you are very naive. The road to Hell is not so
pleasant and easy as you imagine. There is no gateway to Hell and so the
souls will have to encounter and overcome many obstacles and hardships
before they can reach there.
|
| Yang Sheng: |
Master, I am afraid you have taken too much wine and have
got drunk to say such things.
|
| Jigong: |
Yes, I have drunk too much because, seeing that humanity
have now committed many sins, I purposely drink a lot in order to forget
their mistakes and evil doings. Now, will you join me to drink some
more?
|
| Yang Sheng: |
Master, I cannot drink and so please do not tease me.
|
| Jigong: |
Well, let us not waste time. We will make the journey. I
will transform a lotus flower into a platform and both of us can travel
init and we will tour Hell.
|
| Yang Sheng: |
I am much surprised. Your magical powers are so great that
by just saying a few prayers you have produced a lotus flower. I dare
not step on the lotus flower platform because my feet are so dirty.
|
| Jigong: |
Do not worry about your feet being dirty. if your heart is
pure and clean, that is what we want. Do you know that the lotus grows
in ponds which are not clean and yet the lotus flower is very clean?
|
| Yang Sheng: |
Well then, I will follow what you say and will sit on the
lotus flower platform; but which direction shall we go?
|
| Jigong: |
There is nothing to worry. Just close your eyes and I will
bring you there.
|
| Yang Sheng: |
I will follow you obediently.
|
| Jigong: |
Now, open your eyes.
|
| Yang Sheng: |
Oh, where is this place? I see a high mountain and at the
side are three shining golden letters: "Xintou Shan"
|
| Jigong: |
You do not know. The name of this mountain is Xintou Shan
and if you climb up to the top you will reach the gate of Tian-tang ( 天
堂
). However, you can also see that on the side of this mountain
there is a cave which is very dark and it is bottomless. This is the
Cave of Hell, Diyu Dong ( 地
獄
洞
). In the olden days, the Saints said that the heart controls a person,
i.e. your heart can tell you to do good or to do evil. If one does good,
the soul will go to Heaven, but if one does evil the soul will surely be
sent to Hell. It all depends upon yourself to do good or to do evil.
|
| Yang Sheng: |
Oh! I see. Therefore, one can choose to go to Heaven or to
Hell according to one's own actions. This then means that we can be
either immortal or ghost.
|
| Jigong: |
Very true, you have said it. Well, well, well, time is
running short for tonight's visit and so we have to climb back onto the
lotus flower platform to bring us back to Earth.
|
| Yang Sheng: |
Master, I will follow your instructions.
|
| Jigong: |
Quickly, close your eyes because the wind here is very
strong.
|
| Yang Sheng: |
Yes, I agree. I cannot stand this strong wind.
|
| Jigong: |
Now, we have reached Earth. Open your eyes and get down
from this lotus flower. Your soul will now return to your body. |
|
|
|
|
