| |
| Journey 53 |
4th Moon 19th Day (15th May 1978) |
|
Touring
the "Red and Purple Venomous Snakes" Prison ( 紫赤毒蛇
鑽孔小
地
獄 )
|
__________________________________________________________
|
Jigong:
|
Heaven
is intended specially for those who are virtuous and ascetic
practitioners. Hades is just the opposite of Heaven. Those who had led
evil lives on Earth, after death, are sent to Hades for punishment. These
two places are poles apart. Generally speaking, it all depends upon what
actions you do on Earth that decides which direction your soul will take,
either Heaven or Hades. Today, we will tour Hades again. Yang Sheng, step
on the lotus flower platform.
|
|
Yang Sheng:
|
Yes,
Sir. I'm safely seated, dear Master. We can proceed.....
|
|
Jigong:
|
We've
arrived. Yang Sheng get down Yang Sheng. You see in front of us one group
is coming to welcome us. They are Officers of the Red and Purple Venomous
Snakes Prison. Quickly go and pay your respect.
|
|
Yang Sheng:
|
My
humble respects to all of you, Officer and Generals.
|
|
Jigong:
|
There
is no need to stand on ceremony, arise. Today, we have received the Order
to welcome both of you here. Please follow us inside to have a look.
|
|
Yang Sheng:
|
Thank
you very much, Officer. Ah! I see so many huge snakes on the ground. I'm
very frightened. There are red colored snakes and purple
colored snakes everywhere on the ground, wriggling about. I observe a
snake entering the mouth of a sinful soul and coming out through the
navel. I can also see the body of a sinful soul being bitten by a snake,
blood oozing out from the wound. All the faces of the sinful souls are
death-pale in color. Some sinful souls simply faint away and drop to the
ground. The sight of these sufferers cause a shiver in my heart and my
limbs become numb. Can I ask Officer why these souls are suffering thus?
|
|
Officer:
|
This
place is called the Red and Purple Venomous Snakes Prison. In Hades, there
are only two types of snakes - the Red Venomous snakes and the Purple
Venomous Snakes which instead of boring the ground, prefer to bore the
bodies of sinful souls. On Earth, there are people who, instead of
following the true and righteous path, prefer to find loop-holes in the
laws to obtain undue advantage over others for their own selfish gains,
exactly like the poison of these snakes. Also, there are people who take
pleasure in instigating others and thereby causing people to be at
variance with one another. Then there are others who secretly carry knives
and bearing scrappers and will not hesitate to use them at the slightest
provocation. Again, there are house building contractors who cheat by poor
or substandard construction of houses which soon collapse thus causing
death to occupants. All these types of people are not sincere thereby
causing hardships to others; when they die, their souls after undergoing
punishments in other Tribunals in Hades, will ultimately be sent to this
Prison for further punishment by the Red and Purple Venomous Snakes.
|
|
Yang Sheng:
|
Besides
the various types of sinful souls you have just mentioned, are there any
other types who are also sent here to be punished?
|
|
Officer:
|
The
types I just mentioned are general. In the more complicated cases, the
punishment meted out will of course depend upon the severity of the sins
committed.
|
Jigong:
|
The
life-span of you human beings is not long. It is comparatively short. Then
why don't you human beings make the fullest use of your intelligence,
talent and compassion for the benefit of others? I have seen human beings
ignoring their chances of doing good and now their souls have to undergo
such suffering in Hades - it is really not worthwhile. I sincerely hope
that those who have the good luck to read this Book, Diyu Youji, will turn
over a new leaf and will, henceforth, endeavor to do good deeds whenever
possible. Those who choose to ignore my advice can be likened unto a
person who goes to a pond, thrusts his hand into a mud-hole hoping to
catch a yellow eel but, instead is bitten by a poisonous snake. Isn't he
courting trouble? Our time to return is up and so, Yang Sheng, prepare
yourself.
|
Yang
Sheng:
|
Thank
you very much, Officer and Generals for taking the trouble to explain to
us what goes on here. We have to return now, thank you again.
|
|
Officer:
|
All
Generals, line up for a send-off.....
|
| Jigong: |
We’ve
arrived at Sheng Xian Tang.
Yang Sheng,
get down.
Soul, return
to your body.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Back to Top
Date:
08/10/2001
|
