| Jigong: |
Yang Sheng, are you prepared to
tour the Underworld?
|
| Yang Sheng: |
I will follow you, Master. I have
now climbed up the platform of the lotus flower and have also closed my
eyes.
|
| Jigong: |
Proceed.....WE have arrived; you
can alight now.
|
| Yang Sheng: |
Why are there so many people on
the road and in such confusion? I see they are human beings and are
crying. Why are they here?
|
| Jigong: |
This place is Ying Yang Jie ( 陰
陽
界
). All these people are the souls of those human beings who have just
died; the souls have to come here to account for their actions on Earth.
Please do not ask me so many questions. I will bring you to the
Registration Officer and you can ask him as many questions as you like
and he will reply. (Jigong and Yang Sheng on entering the Registration
Office went to see the Registrar.)
|
| Registrar: |
Welcome, Jigong and Yang Sheng.
On your previous visit you were running out of time and had to leave in
a hurry and so I could not entertain you. I now extend to you both a
very warm welcome and I will be only too pleased to answer any question
Yang Sheng wishes to ask.
|
| Yang Sheng: |
Thank you, Registrar. Can I ask
what kind of place is this Ying Yang Jie?
|
| Registrar: |
Ying Yang Jie is the sorting out
place of Ying and Yang where the souls of all dead human beings must
come first to report their arrival. When a human being dies his earthly
record of actions and deeds is transferred to the Underworld
Registration Office for immediate inspection. If, during his lifetime on
Earth he did more good deeds than evil deeds his souls would be sent to
an Officer-in-Charge of the good souls department to tour Heaven, but if
he did more evil deeds than good deeds to his soul would be taken care
of by an Officer-in-Charge of the evil souls department to undergo
appropriate punishment at Hell's First Stage.
|
| Note: |
See Journey No. 1 when Yang Sheng
was introduced to the Cave of Hell - Diyu Dong ( 地
獄
洞
). |
| Yang Sheng: |
To come to another question.
Actually, how many stages of existence has a human being?
|
| Registrar: |
Human beings actually have three
original forms of existence. The first one in Heaven, the second one on
Earth and the third in Hell. On Earth, he goes through the process of
living his life doing good or veil as the case may be. Therefore, in his
lifetime on Earth if he did many good deeds, his soul will go to the
Heaven but if he led an evil and sinful life, his soul will be sent to
Hell, which, is like a prison and he will be punished for all his sins
committed when alive.
|
| Yang Sheng: |
Another question please. When a
human being on Earth dies, his relatives burn silver joss paper (called
"feet paper") and light oil lamps (called "feet
lamps"). What is the actual meaning of these kinds of practice?
|
| Registrar: |
When a human being dies, his
soul is much confused so his relatives burn silver joss paper in the
hope that his soul can use the silver joss paper as money to
"buy" his way about; and they light the lamps in the hope that
the soul's path may be brightened. In fact, there is no need for the
silver joss paper or the oil lamps because if the dead person in his
lifetime did good deeds, his soul would be sent to the Heavenly path and
if he did evil deeds, his soul would be sent to the path that leads to
Hell.
|
| Yang Sheng: |
In this present world, there are
so many modern and science equipment available to human beings. When a
person dies, his relatives make paper houses, motor cars, radio and TV
sets, sofas, spring mattresses and beds and many other modern implements
to burn for him. Does the dead person's soul actually receive such
things and are these of any use in the Underworld?
|
| Registrar: |
Human beings living on Earth are
very simple minded and stupid and are like small children. just think,
firstly, does the soul have a license to drive a car in the Underworld?
Secondly, the roads there are narrow and rugged and are not safe for
driving. Thirdly, there are no petrol or gas stations. Regarding
electric fans, spring mattresses and beds, although these are useful on
Earth, they are not required in the Underworld because platforms and
wooden bunks are already provided. Their soul should be thankful if
there is some orderliness in the place and should not expect to be
comfortable and enjoyable. If a person had led an evil and sinful life
on Earth, how can he expect to use such articles in the Underworld when
he will surely be sent to Hell to undergo punishment for his sins? Human
beings on earth do not understand the conditions here and are just
dreaming that what is useful on Earth is also useful in the Underworld.
|
| Yang Sheng: |
Master, during the first visit to
the Underworld, I saw Xintou Shan and now, here is Ying Yang Jie. I am
very confused.
|
| Jigong: |
All right. I will not bring you to
Xintou Shan. Registrar, we are leaving and so, goodbye.
|
| Registrar: |
In case I failed to entertain you
properly, I beg your pardon.
|
| Jigong: |
Please do not stand on ceremony.
|
| Yang Sheng: |
Registrar, on my part, I thank
you very much for answering so fully may various questions. I now take
leave of you. Master, just now, you mentioned about Xintou Shan and Ying
Yang Je, please gibe some more information about them.
|
| Jigong: |
The first journey, we went to
Xintou Shan, and we are going there now.
|
| Yang Sheng: |
Wah! The words Xintou Shan are
clearly in front of me. Why is it that the words "Ying Yang Jie"
has suddenly disappeared?
|
| Jigong: |
Because human beings on Earth do
more evil deeds than good deeds, Xintou Shan is really Ying Yang Jie.
When a human being dies, the soul is brought here by the fierce devils
of the Underworld. The soul is in a dirty condition and when the eyes
are dazed by the brightness of the top of Xintou Shan, where there is a
dark and bottomless cave, which is called Wu Di Dong ( 無
底
洞
), connected by a road to Ying Yang Jie. If a very righteous and good
soul arrives at Xintou Shan, the top of the mountain changes into a bi
road and there are guardian angels waiting to receive him. Or if, the
dead person had been an average and had done a fair amount of good
deeds, a guardian spirit will lead his soul to Ying Yang Jie by means of
a 20 foot road on the side of the mountain. At Ying Yang Jie, the
guiding spirit will bring the soul to report to Ming Wang ( 冥
王
) who will inspect the records of his good as well as his evil
deeds whilst on Earth.
After the records have been inspected and weighed, Ming Wang will
issue either the following awards: -
- If the dead person was generally a good person whilst on Earth,
Ming Wang will direct a Heavenly Spirit to conduct the soul to Ju
Shan Suo ( 聚
善
所
), where the soul is left tot rain himself to perfection.
- If the dead person was average, neither too good nor evil whilst
on Earth, the soul will be placed under charge a Heavenly Spirit to
undergo further training and improvement.
Well, Yang Sheng, there is not much time left so we must return to
Sheng Xian Tang.
|
| Yang Sheng: |
As you have ordered, Master. I
have already climbed up the lotus flower platform and closed my
eyes.....
|
| Jigong: |
We have now arrived at Sheng Xian
Tang. Yang Sheng, quick, open your eyes and get out. Your soul will not
re-enter your body. |
|
|
