..續本文上一頁e waters seethed and bubbled. Many evil beasts with iron bodies flew swiftly back and forth above this sea. She saw billions of men and women bobbing up and down in the sea, being fought over, seized, and eaten by the evil beasts. She saw yakshas with different shapes. Some had many hands, some many eyes, some many legs, some many heads. With their sharp fangs, they drove the offenders on toward the evil beasts. Or the yakshas themselves seized the offenders and twisted their heads and feet together into shapes so horrible that no one would dare even look at them for long.

　　“During that time the Brahman woman was naturally without fear, due to the power of recollecting the Buddha.

　　“A ghost king named Poisonless bowed his head in greeting and said to the worthy woman, “Welcome, O Bodhisattva. What conditions bring you here

　　”

　　“The Brahman woman asked the ghost king, “What is this place

　　”

　　“Poisonless replied, “We are on the western side of the Great Iron Ring Mountain and this is the first of the seas that encircle it.”

　　“The worthy woman said, “I have heard that the hells are within the Iron Ring. Is that actually so

　　”

　　“Poisonless answered, “Yes, the hells are here.”

　　“The worthy woman asked, “How have I now come to the hells

　　”

　　“Poisonless answered, “If it wasn”t awesome spiritual strength that brought you here, then it was the power of karma. Those are the only two ways that anyone gets here.”

　　“The worthy woman asked, “Why is this water seething and bubbling, and why are there so many offenders and evil beasts

　　”

　　“Poisonless replied, “These are beings of Jambudvipa who did evil deeds. They have just died and passed through forty-nine days without any surviving relatives doing any meritorious deeds on their behalf to rescue them from their distress. Besides that, during their lives they themselves didn”t plant any good causes. Now their own karma calls forth these hells. Their first task is to cross this sea. Ten thousand yojanas east of this sea is another sea in which they will undergo twice as much suffering. East of that sea is yet another sea where the sufferings are doubled yet again. What the combined evil causes of the three karmic vehicles evoke is called the sea of karma. This is that place.”

　　“The worthy woman asked the Ghost King Poisonless, “Where are the hells

　　”

　　“Poisonless answered, “Within the three seas are hundreds of thousands of hells, each one different. Eighteen of those are known as the great hells. Five hundred subsequent ones inflict limitless cruel sufferings. Following those are hundreds of thousands that inflict limitless further sufferings.”

　　“The worthy woman again questioned the great ghost king, “My mother died recently and I do not know where she has gone.”

　　“The ghost king asked the worthy woman, “When the Bodhisattva”s mother was alive, what habits did she have

　　”

　　“The worthy woman replied, “My mother held deviant views and ridiculed and slandered the Triple Jewel. Even if she occasionally believed, she would soon become disrespectful again. She died recently and I still do not know where she was reborn.”

　　“Poisonless asked, “What was the Bodhisattva”s mother”s name and clan

　　”

　　“The worthy woman replied, “My parents were both Brahmans; my father”s name was Shila Sudarshana, my mother”s name was Yue Di Li.”

　　“Poisonless placed his palms together and implored the worthy woman, “Please, Worthy One, quickly return home. There is no need for you to grieve further. The offender Yue Di Li was born in the heavens three days ago. It is said that she received the benefit of offerings made and blessings cultivated by her filial child who practiced giving to Enlightenment-Flower Samadhi Self-Mastery King Thus Come One at stupas and monasteries. Not only was the Bodhisattva”s mother released from the hel…

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