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Milarepa
The
Sufferings of Hell Beings
"It
is very true that human beings suffer like this," agreed the disciples.
"Now please tell us about the sufferings in the three miserable realms,
even though just to mention them may be distressing. Also, to spur our
spiritual efforts, please preach for us the causes of Hell and its woe."
In response,
Jetsun sang:
Those who,
for meat and blood
Slaughter living beings,
Will in the Eight Hot Hells be burned.
But if they can remember the Good Teachings,
Soon will they be emancipated.
Ruthless
robbers who strike and kill,
Wrongly eating others' food
While clinging to their own with greed,
Will fall into the Eight Cold Hells.
Yet if they do not hold wrong views against the Dharma
It is said that their time for deliverance will come.
(The Holy Scriptures) also say
Whene'er the denizens of hell
Recall the name of Buddha,
Delivered will they be immediately.
Ever repeating
sinful deeds means
Dominance by vice and evil Karma.
Fiends filled with the craving for pleasures,
Murder even their parents and Gurus,
Rob the Three Gems of their treasure,
Revile and accuse falsely the Precious Ones,
And condemn the Dharma as untrue;
In the Hell-of-unceasing torment
These evil doers will be burned;
Far from them alas, is Liberation.
This, my sons, will certainly distress you,
So into Dharma throw your hearts
And devote yourselves to meditation!
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