慈悲道場懺法 4.9

4.9

While the Buddha was in Rājagṛha, he also saw a sentient being whose tongue was vast and long, with iron nails driven into the tongue from which blazing fire flared up, enduring severe agony all day and all night. Maudgalyāyana asked the Buddha: "What sin's retribution causes him to undergo this suffering now?" The Buddha answered Maudgalyāyana: "In the past, this person once served as a monastery master. He scolded and drove away visiting monks, not giving them food or drink and not allowing them to share in offerings. Through these causes and conditions, he has incurred this retribution." There was also a sentient being whose body was vast and long, with a cauldron on his head blazing with fire, filled with molten copper pouring out from all four sides over his body, walking through empty space without rest. Maudgalyāyana asked the Buddha: "What sin causes him to undergo this suffering now?" The Buddha answered Maudgalyāyana: "In the past, this person served as an administrative officer (karmadāna/zhishi) of a monastery. When a dānapati sent oil, he did not distribute it to the guest monks, but waited until the guests had left and only then distributed it to the permanent residents. Through these causes and conditions, he has incurred this retribution."