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Karmic Retributions of Beings in Jambudvipa
Chapter 4
Sutra:
But if they encounter Good and Wise Advisors who exhort them and lead them to quickly take refuge with Earth Store Bodhisattva, then those beings will just as quickly be released from their retributions in the Three Evil Paths. If those beings are determined and respectful, if they behold, bow to, and praise the Bodhisattva, and if they make offerings of flowers, incense, clothing, jewels, food, and drink to him, they will enjoy supremely wonderful bliss in the heavens for millions of billions of eons.
When their blessings in the heavens end and they are born as people, throughout hundreds of thousands of eons they will have the potential to be national leaders able to remember all aspects of causes and effects from previous lives. O Samadhi Self-Mastery King, Earth Store Bodhisattva has such inconceivably great awesome spiritual power that he uses expansively for the benefit of beings. All of you Bodhisattvas should remember this sutra, and proclaim and spread it far and wide.”
Samadhi Self-Mastery King Bodhisattva said to the Buddha, “World Honored One, please do not be concerned. We thousands of billions of Bodhisattvas Mahasattvas, based on the Buddha’s awesome spiritual strength, will certainly proclaim this sutra widely throughout Jambudvipa for the benefit of beings.”
Having spoken thus to the World Honored One, Samadhi Self-Mastery King Bodhisattva put his palms together respectfully, bowed, and withdrew.
Commentary:
But if, perhaps and perhaps not, now let us hypothetically assume that they encounter Good and Wise Advisors. What is Good and Wise Advisor? Someone who knows things by their name and by their looks. Good can also mean “capable”. He knows and recognizes things. What things? He knows about the miserable afflictions of this Triple Realm, that the Triple Realm is not peaceful, just like a house on fire.
There are three kinds of Good and Wise Advisors. The first kind is Good and Wise Advisors who protect the Dharma externally. This kind of Good and Wise Advisor helps to take care of everything. What do monastics need? They will protect and support the Triple Jewel and the monastic residents. They provide everything that monastics need. These are Good and Wise Advisors who protect externally. The second kind is companion Good and Wise Advisors. They are companions in that they cultivate with us and encourage us. How do they encourage one another? They beat up their fellow cultivators; you help me look for my problems, and I help you look for your problems. Since people do not know their own faults; whereas other people will detect all of our faults easily.
As it is said, “Those who are in the game do not see clearly.” We cannot tell what is right or wrong in our own role. “Those who are bystanders see clearly.” Those on the sidelines can tell my faults and I can see your faults. This is called beating up on your fellow cultivators. Though, this is not about seeing others’ faults and getting angry or you getting angry because I tell you your faults. Instead of getting angry, study our errors, which turn the situation into encouragements and exhortations so that we may strive forward diligently, polishing and chiseling each other.
The Great Learning says, “It is like cutting and chiseling; it is like polishing and grinding.” Stonemasons cut and chisel, polish and grind jade so that it becomes beautiful. Two fellow cultivators beat up in this way, looking for each other’s faults. People who really want to cultivate must be companion Good and Wise Advisors in this way. There is also the third kind, the teaching Good and Wise Advisor: Good and Wise Advisors who lecture on the sutras and speak the Dharma, propagate the Dharma and teach living beings. These are all Good and Wise Advisors who teach.
Who exhort them and lead them to quickly take refuge with Earth Store Bodhisattva. As quickly as a finger snap, a very short duration, or in a wink of an eye, which lasts about 20 thoughts. Twenty winks are one kashana. The Prajna Sutra of the Humane King Who Protects the Country says that there are 900 births and deaths in one kashana. In other words, in one kashana, 900 thoughts come and go. Sixty-four kashanas exist in a matter of a finger snap. Here, a finger snap merely means a very short time.
There are two interpretations for exhorting and leading them quickly:
1. That they will believe in and take refuge with Earth Store Bodhisattva in as short a duration as a finger snap, then go up to the heavens and attain eternal bliss.
2. After receiving advice from Good and Wise Advisors, they believe in as short a time as a finger snap and develop the faith to take refuge with Earth Store Bodhisattva. Taking refuge is a form of respect in that we hand over our body, mind, and life to Earth Store Bodhisattva. Earth Store Bodhisattva is our compassionate father and we are like his children. Then those beings will just as quickly, in as short a time as a snap of a finger, be released from their retributions for infinity in the Three Evil Paths.
If those beings are determined and respectful, they are furthermore concentrated and sincere, if they behold, bow to, and praise the Bodhisattva, and if they make offerings of flowers, incense, clothing, treasures, jewels, food, and drink to him (consequently this is the reason why monastics should make offerings of food to the Buddha first before we eat), they will enjoy supremely wonderful bliss in the heavens for millions of billions of eons. Those who make offerings of incense, flowers, food, clothing, and various gems to Earth Store Bodhisattva as described above will always go up to the heavens for as long a time as millions of billions of eons throughout the future.
When their blessings in the heavens end and they are born as people, throughout hundreds of thousands of eons they will have the potential to be national leaders able to remember all aspects of causes and effects from previous lives. They recall what they did in their lives past or what occurred in their past lives.
O Samadhi Self-Mastery King, Earth Store Bodhisattva has such inconceivably and ineffably great awesome spiritual power that he uses expansively for the benefit of beings. All of you Bodhisattvas should remember this sutra, the Earth Store Sutra, and proclaim and spread it far and wide. All of you should voluntarily circulate this Earth Store Sutra. The fact that we can hear the name, Earth Store Sutra and hear an explanation on the Earth Store Sutra is based on the power of all the Bodhisattvas who vastly proclaim and circulate this sutra. If it were not for the Bodhisattvas who proclaim and circulate this sutra from behind the scenes, we may not be able to encounter such a profound Dharma treasure.”
Samadhi Self-Mastery King Bodhisattva said to the Buddha, “World Honored One, please do not be concerned. No need to worry about any of these problems. We thousands of billions of Bodhisattvas Mahasattvas, based on the Buddha’s awesome spiritual strength, will certainly proclaim this sutra widely throughout Southern Jambudvipa for the benefit of beings.”
Having spoken thus to the World Honored One, Samadhi Self-Mastery King Bodhisattva put his palms together respectfully, bowed to Shakyamuni Buddha, and withdrew to sit down on the side.
Sutra:
At that time the Four Heavenly Kings rose from their seats, put their palms together respectfully, and said to the Buddha, “World Honored One, Earth Store Bodhisattva has been making such great vows from distant eons past until now. Why is it that even now he has not yet finished taking beings across? Why does he continue to renew his vast and mighty vows? Please, World Honored One, explain that for us.”
Commentary:
At that time, when Samadhi Self-Mastery King Bodhisattva respectfully bowed, withdrew to sit down on the side, the Four Heavenly Kings who live halfway up Mt. Sumeru surrounded by the seven gems of gold, silver, lapis lazuli, crystal, carnelian, red pearls, and agate. The city built with these seven gems is 42,000 yojanas tall, surrounded by seven rows of trees, seven layers of nets, and seven rows of fences in an adorned fashion. The Four Heavenly Kings are the heavenly king of the East, the heavenly king of the South, the heavenly king of the North, and the heavenly king of the West.
The heavenly king of the east is named Dhtra, which means the heavenly king who guards nations. He protects all beings and nations. He has 99 sons all named Indra’s. Some of the ghosts and spirits that he leads are fragrance spirits while some are odor ghosts. Who are the fragrance spirits? They are the gandharvas among the eightfold division of ghosts and spirits. On his head is a horn. He runs towards any place where there is some nice scent because he enjoys fragrances.
The Jade Emperor is King Indra who burns a type of chandana incense so that when gandharvas arrive, the Jade Emperor will order him to make music. Since the Jade Emperor is still in the Six Desire Heavens and not yet left the state of the five sense objects, so he makes gandharva play music for him. These music spirits of the Jade Emperor are also fragrance spirits. The heavenly king who upholds nations also leads odor ghosts that have a stench about them. They are called Putanas, who are also in the Shurangama Mantra. His capability or spiritual power is to release a stench so that he smells it wherever he is.
The southern heavenly king’s Sanskrit name is Virdhaka, which means growth. He makes living beings’ good roots grow. He also has 99 sons, all named Indra’s. Each of these four great heavenly kings has 99 sons, all of whom are named Indra’s. All 396 of them are by the same name. Heavenly King Growth of the South also command most ghosts and spirits, among which there is a type called distant ghosts and another type called nearby ghosts. What are distant ghosts? They stay far away from people. What are nearby ghosts? They enjoy being people’s ancestors and go to families to become their ancestors.
What are distant ghosts called? They are the kumbhandas in the Shurangama Mantra. What do kumbhandas look like? They look like a large crock with no head or feet. It is thick and round so that you cannot even see its head or feet. Since it stays far away from people, it does not like to be close to people; hence it is called a distant ghost. There is another kind of ghost called Preta, which is also named in the Shurangama Mantra. This type of ghost enjoys going into families with ancestral plaques and being the family’s ancestor. This type of ghost enjoys being close to people, so they are called nearby ghosts.
The heavenly king of the west has a Sanskrit name Virsa, which means various languages. He knows how to speak any language. He also has a title called Vast Eyes Heavenly King. He also leads some ghosts, which ones? They are Pisasas that eat essences. They are also insanity ghosts because they make people insane. This type of ghost eats people’s essences where intercourse occurs. They go to those places to eat this kind of impurities.
If Pisasa ghosts make people sick, then people do not know anything, but have to stay in an insane asylum. Actually, victims of these ghosts will not be cured easily of this illness even if they were to stay at an insane asylum. The heavenly king of the west also leads venomous dragons. You are shot with its poison as soon as it looks at you; you are shot with its poison as soon as you hear its sounds; you are shot with its poison if you have any contact with it; and you are shot with its poison as soon as you smell it. The Heavenly King of the West leads these two types of ghosts and spirits; he is in charge of these two.
The heavenly king of the north is the leader among the Four Heavenly Kings. The other three heavenly kings must obey his command. The heavenly king of the north also governs ghosts and spirits, which ghosts? He is in charge of yaksha ghosts and raksasha ghosts. There are many types of yakshas: some walk on land, some travel in air, and some are in the sky. Yakshas are also called speedy ghosts, which means that they run real fast, which is about the same as the speed of light; hence their name, speedy ghosts. Raksasha ghosts are scary ghosts that re very evil.
The Four Heavenly Kings govern these ghosts and spirits of the world. They go to the Heavenly King of the North for meetings. The Heavenly King of the North is called Vaina, which means the Heavenly King of Erudition. Since he knows many things, the other three heavenly kings must listen to his orders; they will do what he tells them to do.
Now these Four Heavenly Kings rose from their seats. Originally everyone was listening to the Earth Store Sutra together, now they all get up from their seats. They put their palms together respectfully, and said to the Buddha, “World Honored One, Earth Store Bodhisattva has been making such great vows as described above from distant eons past until now. Why is it that even now he has not yet finished taking beings across? Why does he continue to renew his vast and mighty vows? Please, World Honored One, explain that for those of us in this assembly.”
Sutra:
The Buddha told the Four Heavenly Kings, “Excellent, excellent. Now, to benefit you and to extend that benefit to people and gods of the present and future, I will speak about how Earth Store Bodhisattva out of compassion and pity uses expedient devices, within the paths of birth and death in Jambudvipa in the Saha world to rescue, take across, and liberate beings who are undergoing suffering for their offenses.”
The Four Heavenly Kings replied, “Please, World Honored One, we would like to hear about his work.”
Commentary:
The Buddha told the Four Heavenly Kings, “Excellent, excellent requests. Now, to benefit you and to extend that benefit to people and gods, all beings including those in the hells, hungry ghosts, and animals, of the present and future, I, Shakyamuni Buddha, will speak about how Earth Store Bodhisattva out of compassion and pity uses expedient devices, within the paths of birth and death in the six paths of transmigration in Jambudvipa in the Saha world to rescue, take across, and liberate all beings who are undergoing suffering for their offenses. He rescues all suffering beings with offenses.”
The Four Heavenly Kings replied upon hearing Shakyamuni Buddha, “Please, World Honored One, we would like to hear about his work. Yes, World Honored One, we would very much enjoy hearing the Buddha’s instructions.”
Sutra:
The Buddha told the Four Heavenly Kings, “From distant eons past up to the present, Earth Store Bodhisattva has been rescuing and liberating beings. Since his vows are still not fulfilled, he continues with compassion and sympathy to help beings suffering for their offenses in this world. Moreover, he sees the ceaseless tangle of their causes extending on through infinite future eons. Because of that he renews his vows. Thus, in this Saha world, on the continent of Jambudvipa, this Bodhisattva teaches and transforms beings by means of millions of billions of expedient devices.
Commentary:
The Buddha told the Four Heavenly Kings, “From distant eons past up to the present, Earth Store Bodhisattva has been rescuing and liberating beings in the six paths. Since his vows are still not fulfilled, he continues with compassion and sympathy to help beings suffering for their offenses in this world. Moreover, he sees the ceaseless tangle of their causes extending on through infinite future eons. The spreading weeds that grow more and more each year represents our karma that increases in each life the way weeds grow endlessly. Because of that he renews his vows.
Thus, in this Saha world, on the continent of Jambudvipa, this Bodhisattva, Earth Store, teaches and transforms beings by means of millions of billions of expedient devices. The ceaseless tangle is like the bit of karma we create in this lifetime, then a bit more karma in the next life. Our karma increases and becomes more serious by the day. Our offense karma is similar to this ceaseless tangle. Since your offense karma becomes heavier each day, your virtuous conduct becomes less each day. We cannot become Buddhas with little or no virtue. We will become ghosts if we have karmic obstructions.
How do Buddhas become Buddhas? They are perfected with the myriad virtues. How do ghosts become ghosts? When filled with myriad sorts of evil karma, they become ghosts. Some ignorant individuals claim there are no ghosts, words which are worse than those uttered by children. Children will believe this idea if you explain it. However, people who find ghosts and spirits incredulous claim, “There are no ghosts.” Without ghosts, there are no Buddhas. Ghosts and Buddhas are two sides of the same coin. Turn it over and it is the Buddha; let it alone and it is a ghost. People are between being turned and not turned. Were we average, we would just be people; were our evil karma more serious, we would become ghosts. Nothing here is to be doubted.
Sutra:
“O Four Heavenly Kings! To killers, Earth Store Bodhisattva says that short life spans will be the retribution. To robbers, he says that poverty and acute suffering will be the retribution. To those who indulge in improper sex, he says that rebirth as pigeons or as mandarin drakes or ducks will be the retribution. To those who use harsh speech, he says that quarrelling families will be the retribution.
Commentary:
The Buddha called out, “O Four Heavenly Kings! Were he to encounter would-be killers, Earth Store Bodhisattva says to them that short life spans will be the retribution. He explains that those who enjoy killing in this lifetime will experience many illnesses or short lives in future lives. How come their lives will be short? Having taken lives in the past so that the victims live a short life; consequently, the lives of killers will be short.
To robbers and thieves, Earth Store Bodhisattva says that poverty and acute suffering will be the retribution. What does robbing and stealing mean? Stealing means taking without letting anyone see. Robbing means taking someone else’s belongings without their knowing. When Earth Store Bodhisattva encounters people who like to steal and rob things, what does he say to them? He talks about the retribution of poverty and acute suffering. He explains that if you steal people’s valuables now so that they become poor, then you will also become poor in future lives.
See all those poor people who do not have anything to eat or wear because they experience retribution from stealing other people’s goods or money in past lives? This is the reason why people are poor now. The more you steal, the poorer you become; the more you are afraid of having nothing, the more likely you will have nothing. Earth Store Bodhisattva tells these people about the retribution of poverty and acute suffering; poverty is one of the worst miseries.
To those who indulge in improper sex, he says that rebirth as pigeons or as mandarin drakes or ducks will be the retribution. If he were to meet people who enjoy sexual misconduct, which refers to wrong and temporary pleasures between non-official couples – not between those officially married couples (although it would be best to reduce sexual activity between officially married couples too). Do not think that one can be casual and that the act is not an offense if it is with one’s official partner; sexual activity deludes people. The more sexual activity, the more deluded we are so that we do not have a light about us.
Why is there a light about you? There is a light about you because you do not engage in sexual activity, which leads to real wisdom. Engaging in sexual misconduct, improper sexual activity between men and women, is a transgression of the precepts. What retribution does he tell these people? He explains the retribution of becoming pigeons or mandarin ducks, fowls in future lives.
Sparrows and pigeons are very licentious. Pigeons will give birth to a nest full of little pigeons. Most fowls procreate with males on top of females; pigeons are different in that females are on top. They are so licentious that they give birth to a nest full of little pigeons. Mandarin drakes or ducks are very emotional. Males and females are together whether they are on land or in the air; they are inseparable. Although these fowls are considered free, it is still bad because they are animals. People who enjoy sexual misconduct will be reborn as sparrows, pigeons, and mandarin drakes or ducks, or the like.
To those who use harsh speech or who enjoy scolding others, including divisive speech, frivolous speech, and lies, he says that quarrelling families will be the retribution. He tells them that they will not get along and will always quarrel with their future retinues.
Sutra:
“To those who slander, he says that being tongueless and having cankerous mouths will be the retribution. To the hateful, he says that being ugly and crippled will be the retribution. To the stingy, he says that not getting what they seek will be the retribution. To gluttons, he says that hunger, thirst and sicknesses of the throat will be the retribution. To hunters, he says that a frightening insanity that destroys one’s life will be the retribution. “To those who oppose their parents, he says that being killed in natural disasters will be the retribution. To arsonists who burn mountains and forests, he says that trying to take their own lives in the confusion of insanity will be the retribution.
Commentary:
“To those who slander the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha, he, Earth Store Bodhisattva, says that being tongueless and having cankerous mouths will be the retribution. He says you only speak nonsense in this lifetime, slander individuals and the Triple Jewel, ruining the Triple Jewel, in your future life, you will have no tongue and be unable to speak. In your future life, you will always have sores on your mouth. You will face the retribution of incurable sores. Why are people mutes? It is because they slandered the Triple Jewel. How come that person has a lot of canker sores on his mouth that never quite heal? The reason why miracle doctors cannot heal him is because he slandered the Triple Jewel in past lives; hence he faces the retribution of no tongue and canker sores on the mouth.
To the hateful who have the biggest temper, who get angry easily, and replete with qualities typical of asuras, he says that being ugly and crippled will be the retribution. When people get angry, they get red in the face, thick in the neck, and glare with their eyes, then they do not look too good. If they were that way, they will be very ugly in future lives. Why? Since they enjoy being that way in past lives, they will look especially ugly in this lifetime. They may be disabled, such as experiencing inconveniences in urination or crippled. This is a type of illness. If you get upset often, you will be ugly, disabled, and entangled by numerous illnesses in future lives.
To the stingy who are not willing to give even a coin, turning and twisting that coin so that it becomes liquid, they are still unwilling to let it out of their hand. Stingy people are miserly and unwilling to give, refusing to let go of the money they grab on to. He, Earth Store Bodhisattva, says that not getting what they seek will be the retribution. They will not have any of their wish come true.
To gluttons who want to eat nonstop, eating repeatedly without restraint, to people who eat without constraint, they do nothing but think about food all day; they eat then sleep, sleep then eat. Earth Store Bodhisattva tells people who do not restrain their food intake, he says that hunger, thirst and sicknesses of the throat will be the retribution. Eat repeatedly now and in future lives, you will never be full. You may not even get a drink of water when you want it, why? It is because your throat will develop some sickness so that it cannot swallow. You may want to eat, but you cannot swallow it, including water. This is the retribution of hunger, thirst and sickness of the throat.
To hunters, he says that a frightening insanity that destroys one’s life will be the retribution. Why do hunters hunt? They think it is fun. Here comes a deer, so “bang!” They shoot it and the deer lies there dead. They only think, “Oh, see how my shot is so precise! I shot it dead with one bullet.” They are pleased with themselves for being so indulgent, unruly, unrestrained, and can do whatever they want.
What should be said to hunters who indulge in their desires? Explain to them that since you killed, in the future, they will experience frightening insanity in some accidental death, such as a car accident, plane crash, train wreck, bus accident and others. If you kill someone now, you will be killed by a car in the future. Explain this kind of cause and effect to them and they may think, “Oh, that is very dangerous.” They will quit hunting.
Earth Store Bodhisattva explains the appropriate Dharma for people. If you remember the retributions for these cause and effect, you will be able to explain the Dharma for anyone you encounter. You are then a transformation of Earth Store Bodhisattva; Earth Store Bodhisattva is your partner to your firm. So after listening to the Earth Store Sutra, we understand the retribution in cause and effect and should avoid doing anything wrong.
“To those who oppose their parents by being unfilial, beating, and scolding, he says that being killed in natural disasters will be the retribution. You cannot be unfilial to your parents because the universe will destroy you, such as death by a thunderbolt, by a falling tree knocked down in a wind storm, or by a collapsing house. These are retributions of death due to natural disasters. People who are not filial face the retribution of being hit by a thunderbolt, wind storm, or rain that washes down your house and crushes you.
To arsonists who burn mountains and forests because they enjoy setting wild fires, he says that trying to take their own lives in the confusion of insanity will be the retribution. Do not set fire to burn down any mountain because in future lives you will go insane and die. Explain these different retributions to him. Earth Store Bodhisattva teaches living beings everywhere, explaining the principle of cause and effect.
Sutra:
“To cruel parents or step-parents, he says that being flogged in future lives will be the retribution. To those who net and trap young animals, he says that being separated from one’s own children will be the retribution. To those who slander the Triple Jewel, he says that being blind, deaf, or mute will be the retribution. To those who slight the Dharma and regard the teachings with arrogance, he says that remaining in the bad paths forever will be the retribution.
"To those who destroy or misuse possessions of the Eternally Dwelling, he says that revolving in the hells for hundreds of millions of eons will be the retribution. To those who defile the pure conduct of others and bear false witness against members of the Sangha, he says that remaining in the animal realm forever will be the retribution. To those who scald, burn, behead, maim, or otherwise harm beings, he says that undergoing the very same suffering will be the retribution.
Commentary:
“To cruel parents or step-parents, either real dad and step mom, real mom and step dad, step dad and mom, or real dad and mom who have favorites. Dashun of China, for example, had his real father and a step mother.
There are also real mother’s and step father’s. Someone’s father dies and the mother remarries someone who becomes the stepfather. The step dad may have favorites, preferring this child and hating that child. Ming Zician of China, for instance, is one of Confucius’ students. His father was an official who remarried. The stepmother abused Ming Zician. In cold places during the winter, she put reed puffs in Ming Zician’s padded jacket. For her real sons, she padded their jackets with cotton.
Reed is fluffy and not warm enough; only cotton can isolate chills and prevent cold. One day, Official Ming, the father of Ming Zician, was going somewhere and told Ming Zician to steer the carriage. He was so cold that he trembled. Official Ming got upset, “What is the matter with you? The weather is not even too cold, how can you be freezing the way you are?” He picks up a whip and smacks him, which ripped his jacket. He took a look and saw that the padding was made entirely of reed puffs. The father started crying, saying, “I have so wronged my son. He is so cold because his stepmother treats him like this.” He swore that he will get rid of this wife.
When he got home, he was going to divorce his wife, but Ming Zician knelt down before his father. He said, “Please do not get rid of my stepmother.” The father asked, “Why?” He said, “One son alone bears the cold when the mother is around; but two sons have the chills with the mother gone.” He says that he is the only one who bears the cold when his stepmother is around; but if his stepmother were to leave and remarry another, then two sons (step-brothers) will both suffer the cold. His father thought it over and did not ask his wife to leave. The stepmother was moved by Ming Zician’s words and thought, “My son is so considerate.” She treated him impartially, without discriminating against him in the future.
Why are there people with step parents? Perhaps their father passed away and their mother remarried. Perhaps their real mother dies and their stepfather remarries. Children in this situation usually suffer a great deal. I do not know whether this occurs in America or not? This occurs frequently in China. In general, parents usually do not love children who are not related to them by blood; they may be extremely vicious toward them. This is some of what it means by cruel parents or step-parents. He, Earth Store Bodhisattva, says that being flogged in future lives will be the retribution. What kind of cause and effect does he say to these people? He tells them in future lives, they will face the retribution of being whipped and beaten.
To those who net and trap young animals, such as newborn or baby fish, sparrows, and other creatures. He says that being separated from one’s own children will be the retribution. Do things like this and in future lives you will separate from your family. You encounter situations where you cannot be together. You may have to go far away from your hometown so that not everyone can see each other. This is the retribution of being apart from your children.
To those who formally slander the Triple Jewel of the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha, he says that being blind, deaf, or mute will be the retribution. You do not need to ask and yet you can tell that blind, deaf, and mute individuals slandered the Triple Jewel in their past lives since limitless eons ago. You will fall into the hells if you slandered the Triple Jewel. Once you fall into the hells, you will not be able to get out of it until billions and billions of eons later. Once you leave the hells and before you become a human being, who knows how many lifetimes you would have to be an animal? How many years you would have to be a horse, a cow, a sheep, a chicken, a dog, or a pig? As a human being, you will be poor, of a low class, blind, deaf, or mute as a result of having slandered the Triple Jewel.
To those who slight the Dharma and regard the teachings with arrogance, those who look down on the Buddhadharma and are conceited toward Buddhism, he says that remaining in the bad paths forever will be the retribution.
To those who destroy or misuse possessions of the Eternally Dwelling, of the temple. Perhaps you ruin a piece of paper or a piece of wood for no reason. In general, to those who damage the temple’s communal goods, he says that revolving in the hells for hundreds of millions of eons will be the retribution.
To those who defile the pure conduct of others and bear false witness against members of the Sangha refers to those who ruin others’ Brahma conduct, the purity in cultivation and those who commit libel. This monk did not steal, but they say, “I saw him steal.” This monk did not kill and they say, “I saw him kill!” Or “I saw him eat meat! I saw him drink somewhere! I saw him fooling around with women somewhere...” They badmouth this monk for no good reason. To those who slander with false accusations, he says that remaining in the animal realm forever will be the retribution. This kind of people will fall into the hells in the future and be an animal forever after they leave the hells.
Shakyamuni Buddha told the Four Heavenly Kings that to those who scald, burn, behead, maim, or otherwise harm beings, he, Earth Store Bodhisattva, says that undergoing the very same suffering will be the retribution. Scald people with hot water and in future lives you will be scalded with hot water too; burn people with fire and people will burn you in the future too; cut people with a knife and others will cut you with a knife in the future too. These are paybacks where the debts are handed over back and forth. You kill someone, someone kills you; someone kills you and you kill someone. He explains this kind of retribution that is delivered back and forth.
Sutra:
“To those who violate precepts and the regulations of pure eating, he says that being born as birds or beasts that must suffer from hunger and thirst will be the retribution. To those who make unprincipled and destructive use of things, he says that being unable to ever obtain what they seek will be the retribution. To the arrogant and haughty, he says that being servile and of low station will be the retribution. To those who use backbiting to cause discord among others, he says that being tongueless or having speech impediments will be the retribution. To those with deviant views, he says that being reborn in backward regions will be the retribution.
Commentary:
“To those who violate precepts and the regulations of pure eating...People who receive the precepts should not break the precepts; they should observe the precepts. What does it mean by breaking the precepts? You transgress on purpose. It is okay if you did not know before and made mistakes. If you know and still make mistakes, then your offenses are even more serious. You take another’s life though you received the precept against killing, so you break this precept. You steal though you received the precept against stealing, so you break this precept.
You engage in sexual conduct though you received the precept against committing sexual misconduct, so you break this precept. You lie though you received the precept against lying, so you break this precept. You take intoxicants though you received the precept against taking intoxicants, so you break this precept. These are obvious transgressions that everyone knows; but transgressions also occur when people do not know about them. You appear not to make any transgressions when you did. Transgressions can be apparent to most people; transgressions can also be unbeknownst to most people, nevertheless they are transgressions according to the Buddhadharma.
The following are four scenarios of transgressions that do not appear to be transgressions.
1. A Bhikshu can adhere to the precepts completely, except that he is egoistic about keeping the precepts. There is still an “I” about who receives the precepts, an “I” who upholds the precepts, and an “I” who keeps the precepts. There is always a self, which is an attachment. Although he did not violate the precepts, he is not really keeping the precepts. Keeping the precepts means that you do not feel you are better than other people because you keep the precepts.
2. He can recite and apply the sutras and vinaya, keeping the precepts completely. Obviously he is inseparable from “the view of his body”. He does not talk about “I”, but talks about his body because he is attached to it. How is he attached to the body? He refuses to change his body. He refuses to change his old ways, such as being lax and lazy. He always works hard to make plans for his body. This is the view of the body. This is the second type of transgression that looks as if he is keeping the precepts and making no transgressions.
3. He practices the Twelve Dhutanga practices. Dhutanga is a Sanskrit word that means upbeat and energetic. One is not sleepy or hungry. He strikes up his spirit to fight off laziness. Sleepy? I am going to sit here and meditate. Hungry? I am going to avoid even water. This is how we practice the Twelve Dhutanga practices. But he does not know about the emptiness of people and the emptiness of Dharma; he feels that all dharmas are existent. He has not reached the state of all dharmas are empty of characteristics, but thinks that all dharmas are existent. This appears to be keeping the precepts, but his skills at keeping the precepts are imperfect.
4. He is compassionate towards all beings; however, if he were to hear that all dharmas, all marks of Dharma are fundamentally uncreated, that nothing comes into being and nothing ceases, then he is frightened at the prospect of seeing this type of Dharma.
The above four scenarios describe what appears to be no violation of precepts, but they are not adherences to the precepts either.
Violate the regulations of pure eating, such as being a vegetarian, means eating meat. Not only is eating meat a violation of the regulations of pure eating, but eating at the inappropriate times also violates the regulations of pure eating. What does it mean by eating at the inappropriate times? Eating after noon when you made a vow not to eat past noon is to eat at an inappropriate time. Eating at the inappropriate time is also a theft because you said that you would not eat after noon and you do. Having violated the precept of not eating beyond noon and the precept against stealing, when people ask you if you ate anything, you answer, “Oh, I did not!” This violates the precept against lying.
Altogether you violated three precepts. If someone gave you any food, this person also violates the same precept and commits the same offenses. This is why the Buddha said they are not the Buddha’s disciples, they are not my disciples. What are people who break these precepts like? They are like fish hawks that make strange sounds or hungry ghosts that eat excrement because they have nothing to eat. People who break the precepts and the regulations of pure eating show themselves to be people of the lowest class. In the future they will experience the retribution of being animals. If Earth Store Bodhisattva encounters those who break the precepts and the regulations of pure eating, he says that being born as birds or beasts that must suffer from hunger and thirst will be the retribution. They will not have any food to eat.
To those who make unprincipled and destructive use of things, he says that being unable to ever obtain what they seek will be the retribution. To those who do unreasonable damage to implements such as a bowl or a cup by picking it up and smashing it for no reason at all. Actually, not just a cup, but all goods belonging to the temple, including personal goods, cannot be destroyed. If these things are damaged, then in future lives you will not get anything you want. You often experience the suffering of not getting what you wish. As a retribution, you will always lack or want what you seek in future lives.
To the arrogant and haughty who have a strong view of a self, who are so egoistical that they consider themselves bigger than Mt. Sumeru. Arrogant individuals think highly of themselves and are quite pompous. For them, he says that being servile and of low station will be the retribution. Not aware of how arrogant and pompous you are in this lifetime, you will be servants to others or those of the lowest class or ignoble background in future lives.
To those who use backbiting to cause divisions, gossip, contention, and discord among others, he says that being tongueless or having speech impediments or being sparrows will be the retribution.
To those with deviant views, for which they do not observe the rules because they have the wrong kind of understanding, he says that being reborn in the most impoverished and backward regions will be the retribution.
Sutra:
“The bad habits involving body, mouth, and mind karma that beings of Jambudvipa perpetuate, result in hundreds of thousands of retributions like those. I have only listed a few examples here. Since the varying karma created by beings of Jambudvipa brings about different responses, Earth Store Bodhisattva uses hundreds of thousands of expedient means to teach and transform beings. Those beings must first undergo retributions such as those, and then fall into the hells, where they pass through eons without being able to escape. You should therefore protect people and nations. Do not allow the accumulation of karma to confuse beings.”
Upon hearing that, the Four Heavenly Kings wept in sorrow, placed their palms together, and withdrew.
Commentary:
“The above problems on the causes and conditions of retribution, the bad habits involving body (killing, stealing, committing sexual misconduct and others), mouth (the four evil karma of frivolous speech, lies, harsh speech, and divisive speech), and mind (the evil karma of greed, hatred, and delusion), which create the ten types of evil karma that beings of Southern Jambudvipa perpetuate, result in hundreds of thousands of retributions like those. Consequently they will experience different evil retributions in the future. I have only explained in brief, rather than in detail, and listed a few examples here.
Since, as described earlier, the varying evil karma created by all beings of Southern Jambudvipa brings about different responses, Earth Store Bodhisattva uses hundreds of thousands of expedient means to teach and transform all beings. Those beings of Southern Jambudvipamust first undergo many retributions such as those described, and then fall into the hells, where they pass through eons without being able to escape. For this reason, you Four Heavenly Kings should therefore protect people and nations. Do not allow the accumulation of karma to confuse and entangle beings.”
Upon hearing the causes and conditions of retributions that Shakyamuni Buddha explained earlier, the Four Heavenly Kings wept in sorrow. Why did the Four Heavenly Kings hear this and cry out of sadness? On the one hand, they were sympathetic with living beings for having to face this kind of suffering; on the other hand, they were ashamed that they did not live up to their responsibilities in protecting living beings. With thoughts such as these, they wept in sorrow, placed their palms together, and withdrew to the side to sit down.
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