| Jigong: |
At the beginning of the 7th Moon (or month of the lunar
calendar) the Gates of Hades are opened wide for the souls of the
departed to visit Earth again to enjoy themselves. That is why the 7th
month is often called the "Ghosts' Month". It is advisable
that during this month human beings should be more careful about going
outside the house, especially at night time, in order to avoid crossing
the path of the souls of the dead. Now that the Gates of Hades are wide
open, our journey to Hades for the purpose of writing the Book, is bound
to be impeded somewhat because we may cross the path of devils; but
because I am Jigong the Monk, who will escort you, there will be less
obstacles; therefore, Yang Sheng you need no fear.
|
| Yang Sheng: |
Devil are the souls of dead human beings taking another
form. It seems strange and yet fearful to most people but I am not
afraid.
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| Jigong: |
If that is so, it is quite O.K. Quickly get up on the
lotus flower platform and we can start.
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| Yang Sheng: |
I am safely seated, dear Master, we can now start. .....
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| Jigong: |
We have arrived, quickly get down.
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| Yang Sheng: |
Before us is 'Gui Men Guan' ( 鬼門關
) and the side door is open. Many souls are rushing to get out
through the open door, their faces are so cheerful and happy to breathe
the fresh air outside.
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| Jigong: |
The side door of Gui Men Guan will be open only during the
7th month when the souls of the 'common' people are allowed to get out
through this side door in batches and when they are out they behave like
birds being set free from their cages - so happy and free.
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| Yang Sheng: |
Why is it that this group of souls which are now coming
out tries to avoid us?
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| Jigong: |
It is because in our body there is Yu Huang's Order which
emits a flashing light. That is why they avoid and make way for us.
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| Yang Sheng: |
Is it a fact that during ht 7th month all the souls in
Hades are set free?
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| Jigong: |
Not so. During the 7th month only the souls of the
'common' people are allowed to go out through the side door because when
they were alive, the were more or less average, i.e. they were not
famous or had earned merit; neither were they very sinful. So, in
ordinary days, they are concentrated in the average or 'common' people's
section here but they are not allowed to leave it - they area allowed to
just exist day in and day out. Only during the 7th month, on receipt of
the District officer's Amnesty, are certain groups of these souls
allowed to get out and not otherwise. Speaking of the demonism in Hades,
it is on the 15th Day of the 7th month that group after group of
eligible souls are allowed to partake of the lavish good offerings given
by the human beings on the Feast of the hungry Ghosts. The meaning of
"Pudu" ( 普渡
) is to relieve souls out of purgatory. Buddhists call this festival
"Yu Lan Pen Hui" ( 盂蘭盆會
); Taoists call this festival "Zhong Yuan Pudu" ( 中元普渡
). The official workers in Hades generally have their regular fixed
holidays which are different from the holidays given to souls. This is
more or less the daily run of affairs in Hades. Yang Sheng, quickly get
up on the lotus flower platform again because we are going to the '16
Small Gouging Heart Prisons'.
|
| Yang Sheng: |
I am safely seated, so we can start.....
|
| Jigong: |
We have arrived, get down.
|
| Yang Sheng: |
Yes, Sir. The Officer and Staff have come to welcome us.
My respects to you, Officers and Generals, we are here again and request
that you kindly give us your usual assistance.
|
| Officer: |
Please don't stand on ceremony. This is the 7th month and
because of the congestion of souls, I am afraid you both had some
difficulty coming here.
|
| Jigong: |
Not so. On out way, we came across groups of souls who
were rather happy and I am proud to say that freedom is really very
noble and priceless.
|
| Officer: |
Please come inside and I will summon a few souls for you
to interview them.
|
| Yang Sheng: |
Thank you very much. I observe that this time the souls
appear to be more grieved and sadder than the last time when we came.
|
| Officer: |
It is because this is the 7th month and souls who are less
sinful are allowed to leave this Prison to enjoy on Earth; but in the
case of these remaining souls here, they understood, when they were
alive, that during the 7th month all souls are set free to go and enjoy
themselves on Earth. They did not know that they will be detained here
and will not be allowed to go out and enjoy. They envy those lucky souls
whoa re allowed to go out whereas they are still kept back in this
Prison. The Soldiers of Hades here have to sympathy at all, but instead,
they continue to gouge out the hearts of these souls. Therefore, they
have good reason to be sad or sadder. I hope human beings will
understand that it pays to be good always and not to do evil or commit
sins like these souls here who are suffering. Because we do not have
much time to spare I can only ask two souls to come and relate their
sinful stories.
|
| Yang Sheng: |
Thank you very much. The Soldiers of Hades are so cruel
that they split open the chests and blood flows out as from a pipe I
dare not see.
|
| Officer: |
I have asked two souls to
come here.
Look here, you souls, quickly
tell Jigong and Yang Sheng what sins you had committed when you were
alive so that they can report your stories in their Book for human
beings to read and learn to do god deeds and avoid evil.
|
| First Soul: |
Coming to think about it, I feel much ashamed of myself
and have no face to face people. When I was middle-aged, my wife died
and I began thinking of marrying again. One day, outside my village, I
came across a young girl on the road and when I saw her, my yearning for
her was boundless; looking around, I did not see anybody. I quickly ran
towards and embraced her at the same time dragging her to a nearby
sugarcane plot with the intention of ravaging her. She struggled and
shouted for help and begged me to set her free. at that time I lost my
reasoning and threatened to kill her if she dared to disobey my
advances. At last she obeyed me and I did the inevitable. After that, I
felt sorry for my action and although the girl did not report to the
police, the very thought tortured me and I could not forgive myself. Not
long after, I fell sick and soon died. When my soul reached Hades, Sen
Luo Wang was very angry with me and because I admitted my errors, I was
not brought before the 'Magic Mirror' but was brought straight away to
the Fifth Tribunal to be sentenced to the Gouging Heart Prison for 10
years to gouge out my amorous and lustful heart. I have been here for
over 4 years; every day I repent and regret. I made only one mistake and
I have to suffer forever. What is the use of my repenting now?
|
| Officer: |
Ravishing a virgin means that you have spoilt her whole
life; there is no other crime to match this. Although you are now dead
and have repented, it is already too late and useless as the
irrepairable damage has been committed and there is no amnesty
whatsoever. You have to receive and accept the penalty for your own
sins, therefore you should not murmur against Heaven and Earth and hate
others. I wish to advise human beings never to indulge in such obscene
affairs. In case any one has committed such a sin he should immediately
confess to the Deities and swear never to repeat it and beg for
forgiveness; or alternatively, donate 10,000 copies of this Book - 'Yu
Huang Da Tian Zun ( 玉皇大天尊
) - for free distribution to those who require them. Then only can the
sin be lightened. Bring the 2nd Soul to tell his sinful story
truthfully, otherwise I will have to inflict severe punishment.
|
| Second Soul: |
I bear deep hatred for myself which I ding difficult to
express because when I was on Earth, for a split second, I made a
terrible for which I am now suffering terribly. I beg Jigong to help me
out.
|
| Jigong: |
When you were alive, you took delight in furthering your
many romantic pursuits; now you have to suffer in repayment - all
created by yourself. I really don't know how I can give an amnesty to
you in mitigation for your sins. It is better for you to confess your
own sins.
|
| Second Soul: |
If Jigong does not help me, I
have no other alternative but to confess. I was a taxi driver by
profession, had a poor education resulting in my frequently doing
irresponsible deeds like whoring, gambling, drinking and many other
undesirable bad habits, especially the licentious and indecent. Inside
my taxi, I fitted a tape recorder/ amplifier and often played back
obscene tapes whenever any single beautiful girl or prostitute booked my
taxi thereby exciting and enticing the girl. Some girls on hearing the
play-back scolded me calling me 'devil without morality' or lady
enticer'; when I hear these remarks I did not, in the least, feel
ashamed but rather I felt elated. One night, I had a young girl as a
fare; on looking at her, my passion rose and I immediately switched on
the play-back tape and drove the taxi faster and brought her to the
out-skirts of the town. I stopped my taxi and brandished knife to
threaten her first and intimidate and ravage her eventually. Urged by
this sort of east prey, I committed the offence of rape three of more
times. Unfortunately, five years ago, I met with an accident which ended
my life. My soul there and then saw the Ox-head-Horse-faced Soldiers of
Hades come for me, chained me up and dragged me down to Hades. I was
brought before the First to the Fourth Tribunals for investigation and
when I came to the Fifth Tribunal, I was sentenced to a 30-year term in
this Gouging Heart Prison, every day suffering and every day repenting.
I hope that when Yang Sheng returns to Earth, he will advise human
beings thus.
" Whatever sins you
committed on Earth, you soul will have to suffer when you die - every
misdeed committed will have to be accounted for".
|
| Officer: |
You had committed very great
and unpardonable sins thereby causing your life-span on Earth to b cut
short by 10years; that was thy you suddenly met with an accident
resulting in your immediate death sot hat you soul could be brought to
Hades for early punishment. After you have served your 0-year term in
this Prison, you will be sent to 'A-Bi Diyu'* ( 阿鼻地獄
) to be there forever.
Human beings must give this
case very careful consideration and must try their very best not to
follow the bad example. Of all the sins that are committed by human
beings, lewdness is the worst - men and women who co-habit out of
wedlock are not pardoned according to the law of Hades. You must not
only realize but must follow the right path.
|
| Jigong: |
The gouging heart punishment
is worse than any other types of punishment in Hades; it is even
19,000times more severe. Human beings must remember that whatever deeds
they do, they must not go against their conscience otherwise, swift and
sure, as according to Heaven's retribution, his sins will find him
out.
Time is running short. Yang
Sheng, prepare to return.
|
| Yang Sheng: |
Thank you very much, Officer and Generals.
|
| Jigong: |
Quickly get up on the lotus flower platform.
|
| Yang Sheng: |
Yes, Sir; I am securely seated. We can start......
|
| Jigong: |
We have arrived at Sheng Xian Tang. Yang Sheng, get down.
Soul, return to your body.
|
| *
Note: A-Bi-Diyu, the lowest Hell, (according
to Buddhism) from which there is no escape. |
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