Issue 310

Whether we are reciting sutras, the Buddha’s name, or mantras, we need to know how to use our energy. How should we use this energy? This energy must originate from the “dan-tien” and return to the “dan-tien”. “Dan-tien” lies inside the navel. The energy originated from the dan-tien is adequate so one ought not to overtly exert it. One shouldn’t under-exert either, but rather it should be done in a regular manner as to not hurt it. Energy originating from dan-tien, the fundamental source, is continuous and inexhaustible. However, if you do not know how to use it, you may injure your energy or even cut it off. You should know this. Whether you are writing or doing anything, you should complete them in one go. If you can utilize the power of your energy, it is an indication of your mastery.

What is more, there are many  offenders who undergo the various kinds of extreme suffering in the hells. Hundreds of thousands ofyakshas. Yaksas are evil ghosts and evil ghosts are just yaksas. They are speedy ghosts. There are many kinds of yaksas, such as the flying yaksas and the ground-traveling yaksas. And other evil ghosts. Evil ghosts are just yaksas and yaksas are just evil ghosts. Among the various kinds of yaksas, the evil ghost referenced is the ground traveling yaksas. They display fangs like swords. Their mouths are like caverns of blood, their teeth like blades. And eyes like lightning as they pull and drag the offenders with their brass-clawed hands. Their eyes shine like lightning and their hands are made of brass or as strong as brass. These ghosts pick offenders up and toss them with their enormous strength, hurling them perhaps several yards away, perhaps a hundred, to whatever direction they like. These ghosts have enormous strength.

Other yakshas wield huge iron halberds that they use to pierce the offenders’ bodies, mouths and noses or stab their bellies and backs. They toss the offenders into the air and then catch them by skewering them with the halberds, or they let them drop onto the bed, not to let them sleep but poke and pierce them with these iron halberds.

Iron eagles peck at the offenders’ eyes and heads and crack open the skulls to eat the brains. And one type of iron serpent wraps around their necks. Long nails are driven into all their limbs and joints. Their tongues are pulled out, stretched, and then plowed through. Don’t lie or engage in gossip. Regardless of how others treat us, we should not speak of other people’s rights or wrongs. For if we do, we will enter this hell, and our tongue will be plucked or plowed through like a field. Their internal organs are gouged out, sliced, and minced. Molten copper is poured into their mouths, and their bodies are bound with hot iron. Responses to their karma go on like that throughout at least hundreds of thousands of deaths and rebirths. They undergo ten thousand deaths and as many births, in a single day. They pass through hundreds of millions of eons seeking escape in vain. Once living beings fall in this hell, they will be there for at least a few million kalpas in time. It is not easy to seek release from this hell. There is no exit date.

When this world is destroyed, they find themselves in another world. When that world is destroyed, they pass on to another one. When that world, too, is destroyed, they move on to another one. When this world comes into being again, they return here. The situation involving Relentless retribution for offenses is like that. Moreover, five karmic responses account for the name Relentless. What are the five? First, it is said to be Relentless because punishment is undergone day and night throughout many eons without ceasing for a moment. Second, it is said to be Relentless because one person fills it in the same way that many people fill it.

Third, it is said to be Relentless because repeated punishments continue without cease throughout years that stretch into nayutas of eons. Those punishments are inflicted by instruments of torture such as forks and clubs; or by eagles, serpents, wolves, and dogs; or by pounding, grinding, sawing, drilling, chiseling, cutting and chopping; or by boiling liquids, iron nets, iron ropes, iron asses, and iron horses; or by rawhide stripes bound around one’s head and molted iron poured over one’s body; or by meals of iron pellets and drinks of molten iron. Fourth, it is said to be Relentless because all beings undergo karmic responses based on the offenses that they have committed, whether they be men, women, savages, old, young, honorable, or lowly; whether they be dragons, spirits, gods, or ghosts.

Fifth, it is said to be Relentless because offenders continually undergo ten thousand deaths and as many rebirths each day and night from the moment they first enter this hell and on through hundreds of thousands of eons. During that time, they seek even a moment’s relief but it never comes. Only when their karma is exhausted can they leave the hell and be born elsewhere.

Right now, the average lifespan of people is around sixty-plus years. This is a general average and does not include extraordinary cases e.g. those who live to be a hundred or those who die at the age of one or two, neither of which is considered an average for the general population. When Sakyamuni Buddha was in the world, the average lifespan was seventy to eighty years; now it is sixty to seventy years.

Initially, human lifespan is eighty-four thousand years. At the turn of each century, human lifespan decreases by one year, and human’s height diminishes by one inch. This reduction continues until human lifespan comes down to ten years. This period is called the decreasing eon. Thereafter, human’s height increases by one inch and human lifespan increases by one year at the turn of every century until it reaches eighty-four thousand years. This period is called the increasing eon. One cycle of increasing eon and decreasing eon is called one kalpa; one thousand of this constitutes one small kalpa. Twenty small kalpas constitute a medium kalpa. Four medium kalpas constitute one great kalpa. Each of the four medium kalpas consists of the stages of coming into being, existence, destruction, and emptiness; each stage lasting a period of twenty small kalpas, which is one medium kalpa. Four medium kalpas form one great kalpa.

The world undergoes the four stages of coming into being, existence, destruction, and emptiness. It will certainly go through the process of destruction. Thousands of years ago, there were nations that existed; now, their lands are submerged and the nations no longer exist. There are also cases in which earthquakes eradicated entire villages, districts, or even countries. These are illustrations of destruction. When this world is destroyed, they find themselves in another world. It is not the case that when this world ends one’s karma in the hells is done with. Not so! One simply moves to the hells in another world, where the deeds committed are met with corresponding retributions.

When that world is destroyed according to the four sequential stages, they pass on to another one. When that world, too, is destroyed, they move on to another one. In general, they move out from destructed places and move into places that are intact. When this world comes into being again, they return here. The situation involving Relentless retribution for offenses is like that. This is what is meant by relentless, the retribution for offenses is continuous and never stop.

Moreover, five karmic responses account for the name Relentless. This hell is called Relentless, or Avici in Sanskrit, because of five events that occur due to the power of karma.

What are the five relentless aspects?

First, it is said to be Relentless because punishment is undergone day and night throughout many, countless eons without ceasing for a moment. There is no respite from the bitter retribution received due to one’s own karmic creation.

Second, it is said to be Relentless because one person fills it in the same way that many people fill it. One person in this hell is as full as many people in it.

Third, those punishments are inflicted by instruments of torture such as forks and clubs. The body is the tool for creating the karma and likewise, the tool for receiving the retribution. Or by eagles, serpents, wolves, and dogs; or by pounding, such as grating offenders in a rice mill, grinding, sawing, drilling, chiseling someone’s bone marrow with iron, cutting and chopping someone’s bones to pieces; or by boiling someone in cauldrons of liquids – hot oil. Is that not miserable?

There are iron nets, iron ropes, iron asses, and iron horses; or by rawhide stripes bound around one’s head, molted iron poured over one’s body; or by meals of iron pellets when one is hungry and drinks of molten iron when one is thirsty since there is neither tea or water.