Disclaimer: My translations are not official nor endorsed by 2OR, so please just treat it as a ‘fan-based’ translation. Please enjoy, and I hope it serves as a good filler until the official English version comes out.
問：2019年1月27日，凌晨2時，迷迷糊糊中見家中房頂金光閃閃，護法於空中傳意念：『奉觀音旨意，帶童子遊鐵炎地獄，讓陽世知道斂財果報真實不虛。』魂體被金光包圍送進一處山谷中，四周環境非常陰暗。
Enquiry:
On the 27th of January 2019, at 2 am while I was still drowsy, I saw the ceiling radiating out a gold light. The Dharma protector beyond the sky sent me a thought message, “By order of Guan Yin Bodhisattva, I will escort you to the hell of scalding iron so that people in the living realm knows about the karmic retribution of profiting using the name of the Buddha.” Then my spirit was enveloped in a golden light, and I flew towards a mountainous valley, where the surrounding area looked dark and eerie.
八熱地獄——鐵炎地獄
魂體落在由紅色磚瓦圍起的高大城牆前，一個黑色匾額掛在城門上，匾額上寫著『鐵炎地獄』。弟子正疑惑鐵門前沒有獄差看顧時，從不遠處急急忙忙跑來一個著古代巡捕衣裝的鬼差，詢問我手上有無公文。弟子把手上卷軸交給鬼差，得鬼差批准進入鐵炎地獄。
One of the Eight Hot Hells – Hell of Scalding Iron
I descended near a great red-coloured brick wall that had a black plaque hanging outside the gate. It had the words ‘Hell of Scalding Iron’ written on it. When I was beginning to wonder why there wasn’t a guard at the entrance, an executioner dressed in ancient Chinese garment for patrols came rushing towards me. It asked me whether I had any official documents permitting my visit on me, so I handed it my scroll. The guard then permitted me to enter the hell of scalding iron.
鐵炎地獄內部沒有光亮，只有中間的空地不時響起慘烈的叫聲。在城門不遠處有一間古代衙門，弟子飛向衙門，衙門前的匾額寫著『閻王殿』。管理此處的閻王爺和判官拿著筆記本在案前怒目瞪著跪在地上的罪靈。
閻王爺：『身為出家法師，為何不守清淨戒律？不只暗地與女居士淫亂，還拿廟宇道場錢財。可知那些是信徒捐贈之物，非你私用？你身為佛門出家弟子，戒律應當嚴守，如此視佛法戒律如無物，自己坦白招供地獄果報！本王嚴厲警告陽世出家僧眾，如不嚴守出家戒律，淫亂或斂財者，死後我會依自身所造罪孽發放各大地獄懲戒。』
There weren’t any traces of light, but I could hear echos of screams coming from inside. Not a long distance away from the entrance was a building that looked like an ancient Chinese governmental office. I approached it and could see a plaque that contained the words ‘Yama’s Court’. Inside, I saw Yama and judges who were holding notebooks looking sternly at the sinned spirits who were kneeling before them.
Yama said, “As a venerable monk, why do you not observe the precepts and abide by the disciplinary rules? Not only did you commit deeds of sexual misconduct with a woman secretly and also used the temple funds. Do you not know that they are donations that are meant to be used for the sake of the Buddha, and not for yourself? As a monastic Buddhist, you should have observed the precepts seriously. How could you treat the disciplinary rules of the Buddha-Dharma as if it’s nothing? Be honest with your testimonial and why you suffered the karmic retribution of being in hell! I must send a strict warning to the monks in the living realm. If they don’t observe the precepts of being a monk, and they commit deeds of sexual misconduct and enriching themselves using the name of the Buddha, then after death, they will be sent to the appropriate hells according to their sins.”
罪靈A（男法師，T國）：『我15歲受佛法薰陶，在廟宇道場以居士身幫忙住持處理法務。後來機緣成熟，23歲半出家為僧，出家後跟著師父嚴守戒律，打齋超度做佛事，接受供養。三年後，師父見我已能獨當一面，讓我去XX寺打理。我在寺內幾年，身邊沒有師父看管，開始犯邪思，對年輕女眾起心動念。過後，不能克制自己淫慾念想，犯了許多戒律。有一離婚女常眾，常來寺中請教佛法。日久接觸，我對她暗生情意，在外面兩人做出許多不符合佛門規律的邪事。為了掩蓋我做錯的事情，我拿了寺廟錢財置辦房產地業，收留女居士於我置辦的公寓中，她為我生下一女。寺廟監事舉報我的不法之事，我被理事會趕出寺廟，還俗後和XXX結婚。46歲外出時慘遇車禍身亡。』
The sinned spirit A (venerable male monk, from Country T) said, “I began my study of the Buddha Dharma when I was 15. In the temple, I was still a layperson, and I helped handle Dharma affairs and the maintenance of the temple. Afterwards, my affinity had matured, and when I was 23 and a half years old, I was initiated to becoming a monk and live a monastic life. Then I followed my master and adhered strictly to the precepts. I conducted religious rites, ascension rituals and other Buddhist events. I received offerings. Three years later, as my master saw that I became knowledgeable and independent, he allowed me to manage [Temple X]. After being in the temple for a few years, and as I was no longer supervised by my master, I started to have lustful thoughts which would be aroused when I was approached by young female followers. Eventually, I could no longer control my lustful thoughts, and I broke many disciplinary rules. There was a divorced woman who frequently visited the temple to receive guidance from the Buddha-Dharma. As we remained in contact over some time, I started to develop feelings for her. And outside the temple, we had committed many misdeeds that do not adhere to the disciplinary rules of Buddhism. For the sake of covering up my wrongdoings, I took the temple funds and used it to develop a property business, and I sheltered the woman and gave her a role and place to stay there. She gave birth to a daughter to me. Eventually, the temple supervisors reported my misdeeds, and I was forced out of the temple. I returned to being a layperson and married with [Name of the woman]. At age 46, I died in a car accident.
罪靈A：『我死後先投入糞池地獄受糞水蟲蟻啃咬（犯佛門戒律——淫亂），糞池刑滿出獄後轉投鐵炎地獄。我被捆綁在石台上，鬼差拿了大鐵錘放在火上燒得赤紅，然後一大鐵錘一大鐵錘把我的胸膛敲得血肉模糊，說這是懲戒我起貪念拿佛門財物的地獄果報。每天痛得昏死過去，又被鬼差喚醒，醒了又拿鐵錘敲，苦不堪言。』
After I died, I was sent to the hell of excrement, where I was bitten by the insects inside the pool (as I broke the disciplinary rule of Buddhism and committed deeds of sexual misconduct). After my sentence there was completed, I was transferred to the hell of scalding iron. I was strapped to a heavy stone platform, and the executioner took out a big iron hammer and put it over a flame until it became red hot. Then it used the hammer to smash down at my chest repeatedly until it became a mashed-up pile of flesh and blood. It was said to be my karmic retribution for misusing the funds for Buddhism for personal use. Every day, I would lose consciousness from the pain, and then I would be woken up by the executioners with my body recovered again, and I would repeat the punishment over and over again. The pain is indescribable.”
閻王爺：『本來出家為僧應該得壽九十六，壽終還能往生天界佛國。既已出家就該奉守戒律終老，看一眼都是罪業，更何況你如此荒唐淫亂！地府按天律扣你五十歲陽壽，死後還要受地獄果報。現在你回去繼續接受懲戒直到刑滿出獄轉投人道，得侏儒身，一輩子受人輕視，不能抬頭視人。』
Yama said, “Originally after you were initiated to become a monk and live a monastic life, your life span was 96 years. And after death, you would be reborn in heaven in the lands of the Buddha. Since you already become a monk, you should have adhered to the disciplinary rules until you die from old age. But now looking at your records, every one of your deeds is sinful, especially when you recklessly committed deeds of sexual misconduct! According to the laws of heaven, the courts had reduced your life span by 50 years, and you would suffer punishment in hell after your death. Now you can return and continue with your punishment until your sentence is over, then you can reincarnate in the human realm. You will attain a dwarf-like body and be looked down on for the rest of your life, unable to have a sense of dignity.”
罪靈B（男法師，Z國）：『我是XXX寺廟住持，法號X恒X。201X年，有居士在我寺中擺放《心靈法門入門手冊》及《小房子念誦指南》等書籍。我見是新興佛門書籍，在閒暇時拿來翻閱。對小房子的超度本來不以為然，後來見書籍內靈驗案例極多，就照著《心靈法門入門手冊》念誦小房子。當地的心靈法門信徒見我會念誦小房子，開始找我寺院結緣，我按寺中規矩一張收費20元。起初，是實實在在地跟著《小房子念誦指南》做超度法事。後來，結緣小房子的人實在太多，本身自己也有很多法事需要處理，就只是每張經典組合隨意念誦，點滿了事。我不知道小房子是天地傳下來的佛門法物，是觀世音菩薩的大悲願力。201X年7月X日在禪院打坐時，見兩個巨大黑影迎面撲來，魂魄被強硬拉出體外後就被鎖上手銬帶來這裡懲戒。每天鬼差用熱鐵燙我胸膛、手腳，痛得我哇哇大叫。意識昏死過去又被強硬搖醒，醒後又拿熱鐵繼續懲戒。』
閻王爺：『可知在地府等候超度的鬼魂得不到經文能量非常怨恨？本王依陰律扣除你陽壽，再讓鬼差押你魂體下來懲戒。因在世佛事功德，地獄刑滿可以轉投人道。』
The sinned spirit B (venerable male monk, from Country Z), “I am the abbot of [Temple Name], my Dharma name is [Name]. In 201X, a layperson was sharing and handing over the books ‘Introduction to the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door’ and ‘Instructions on how to recite and offer Little Houses’ inside the temple. I saw that it was a new book about Buddhism, so in my spare time, I would flip a few pages and a brief read. Originally, I never considered the method of using Little Houses to help spirits ascend seriously. But looking at all the miraculous cases in the book, I followed the instructions in the book on how to recite and offer Little Houses. The local Guan Yin Citta followers found out that I knew how to recite Little Houses, and so approached me in the temple to establish an affinity with me. I put up a notice that for each Little House, I would require a fee of 20 RMB. In the beginning, I really did recite the Little House according to the instructions. But later, because the number of people who came to me for Little Houses was too many, and I was busy with other responsibilities in the temple, I didn’t recite the Little House seriously nor completely, yet I fully dotted each one. I didn’t know that the Little House was really a treasure of the Buddha that was passed down from heaven, and it was created by the power of Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s vow. In X of July, 201X while I was meditating, two enormous black shadows appeared before me and forcefully separated my spirit from my body. I was then handcuffed and brought here to be punished. Every day, the executor would use giant red hot iron hammers to smash my chest and my arms and legs. I would scream from all the pain. Then when I lost consciousness, I would be woken up and had to experience the same punishment over again.”
Yama said, “Did you know that there were many spirits waiting inside my court to be ascended, yet because they didn’t receive the required energy from the Buddhist scriptures, they became very angry? According to the laws of the underworld, I reduced your life span and permitted the executioners to drag your spirit down here to be punished. Since you did perform meritorious deeds for Buddhism when you were alive, after your sentence is over, you can reincarnate in the human realm.”
罪靈C（女居士，Z國）：『師父，弟子錯了！我斂財！小房子我拿去賣錢了，嗚嗚嗚……（哭泣聲）我從法會結緣大量的小房子放在家裡，偏僻鄉區的老媽媽需要小房子，我開車載法寶結緣給她們。她們沒有聽錄音，每次去都給我XXX元當作車馬費，說我去法會結緣法寶和送法寶來XX區也需要車馬費，給是應該的。師父，是我貪心，我拿了她們的錢。原本癌症都念好了，斂財後癌症復發，是血癌末期。還沒出事前就夢到自己會得血液方面的毛病，我沒有從根本上找自己毛病，沒有大懺悔，兩個月就走人了。死的時候很痛苦。』
The sinned spirit C (female layperson, from Country Z) said, “Master, I was wrong! I took money in the name of Buddhism! I used the Little Houses to make money (she cried). In the Dharma convention, I take a large number of empty Little Houses back home. Old mothers in remote and rural areas require the Little Houses, so I drive to them while taking all the resources with me. They don’t listen to Master’s radio programme, every time they would give me X RMB as a travelling expense. They would say that I drive such a long way just to take these resources to them so it would be unfair if they wouldn’t help cover my expenses. Master, I was greedy and took their money. Originally my cancer disappeared after reciting, but after I took their money, it reoccurred, and it was diagnosed as terminal blood cancer. Before it happened, I even dreamt that I would contract a disease related to the blood. But I didn’t introspect my fundamental problem and didn’t repent. Then I passed away in 2 months. When I died, I was under a lot of pain.
罪靈C：『死後就在這個地獄，我貪心手腳不乾淨，所以鬼差天天拿熱鐵燙我手腳，很痛很痛。皮膚整個裂開出血水。師兄們，真的要以我為戒，不可以斂財，要好好依教奉行，師父講的話不要不當一回事。我錯了！護法菩薩，關帝菩薩，請原諒弟子！』
閻王爺：『觀世音菩薩慈悲憐憫墮落地獄的弟子，現在本王手上有觀音聖旨讓童子遊地獄書寫斂財謗佛地獄果報，以此文章分享功德讓你轉投人道。』
夢醒，早上7時多。睜開眼時，護法傳意念於弟子，地獄之遊已經結束，觀世音菩薩囑咐弟子好好念經修心，不可懈怠。
弟子 2019-01-27
After I died, I was sentenced to this hell. I was greedy, and my hands are defiled, that’s why the executioners would using a scalding hot iron to burn my hands and legs every day, it’s incredibly painful. My skin would split, and blood will flow out of it. Fellow practitioners, you must learn from my lesson. You mustn’t make money using Buddha’s name, and you must adhere to the disciplinary rules. Don’t take Master’s advice lightly. I was wrong! I beg for the Dharma protectors’ and Guandi Bodhisattva’s forgiveness.”
Yama said, “Guan Yin Bodhisattva pities all disciples who had fallen into hell. In my hand, I have Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s order to allow our honoured guest to journey into hell and write down the karmic retribution of enriching oneself using the name of the Buddha into a book. And with the sharing of your testimonial, your meritorious deed will let you reincarnate in the human realm.”
I woke up from my dream at 7 am. When I opened my eyes, the Dharma protector sent me a thought message and told me that my trip had ended. He also passed me Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s message to tell me to be diligent in reciting sutras and cultivating the mind and don’t slack.
27th of January 2019.
答：這裡面講到有個女的兩個月就死了，這個人打進過電話的，是山東的，當時她說她身體很好，我和她說，你兩個月要走人了，是血癌。不是跟你們開玩笑的，每一個案例全部都有的。包括法師也是的，過去有一句話說：『地獄門前僧伽多』，你出家了，不好好修，就下地獄。學佛人不好好修，借佛斂財，一定會出事。修得好不好，不要聽他怎麼講，要看行動。一定要好好修，如果真的到了下面，再叫苦，就真的沒有救了，師父都很難幫你。有的人說：『我現在活得很好，我怎麼苦了？』我問你們，你們做惡夢的時候苦嗎？害怕嗎？死了就這樣，醒不過來了。
Master’s reply:
You mentioned that there was a woman who died in 2 months after diagnosed with terminal blood cancer. She had called into my radio programme before; she’s from Shandong. At the time, she said that she felt unwell, and I said that she would pass away in two months, and it was blood cancer. I’m not joking with you, every case exists, including venerable monks. In the past, there’s a saying that ‘Many monks arrive at Hell’s gates’. You’ve already initiated to be a monk; if you don’t properly cultivate, then you’ll fall to hell. If Buddhists don’t properly cultivate and enrich themselves using the name of the Buddha, they will invite calamity to themselves. Whether they’re cultivating well or not, don’t listen from them, observe their conduct. You must properly cultivate if you do go down there, and you cry for help, it’s too late. It’s difficult for Master to help you. Some people say, “I’m living quite well now; how would I suffer?” Let me ask you, when you’re having a nightmare, are you in pain? Are you scared? When you die, that’s what it feels like, but you won’t wake out of it.
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