法苑珠林 67.25

67.25

Thirdly, there are sentient beings whose bodies are huge, deaf and stupid, footless, writhing and crawling on their bellies, feeding only on mud and soil to sustain their lives, and pecked and eaten by small insects, constantly undergoing this unbearable suffering. By what sin was this incurred? The Buddha said: 'Because in past lives when born as humans, they were self-opinionated and distrustful of good advice and wholesome words, unfilial to parents, and rebellious against the rulers of their time; or if as emperors, rulers, grand ministers, regional commanders of the four frontiers, regional governors, commandery governors, county magistrates, officials, jailers, or military supervisors, they relied on their authority and might to seize the property of the common people, causing the people to wither and languish without justification, walking along while wailing and sighing—therefore they have incurred this retribution.'