法苑珠林 7.17

7.17

Eighth is the Uninterrupted Hell (Avīci). It is also surrounded by sixteen minor hells (their sizes being as previously described). Why is it named the Avīci Hell? Here it is translated as the Uninterrupted Hell. Why is it called Uninterrupted? The hell wardens seize those sinners and strip off their skins from foot to crown, then wrap the sinners' bodies in their own skins and place them upon fiery carts. The wheels grind them over the burning ground, turning back and forth; their bodies are pulverized and rotten, their skin and flesh sloughing off, with ten thousand poisons arriving all at once, yet they are made not to die. Furthermore, there is an iron city with fires arising on all four sides: eastern flames reach to the west, western flames reach to the east, and north, south, above, and below are likewise. The blazes surge and churn, leaving no empty space between. Racing east and west, their bodies are scorched and burned, their skin and flesh roasted and festered in acrid, agonizing pain, with ten thousand poisons arriving all at once. When the sinners have been inside for a long time, the gates finally open; those sinners rush and scurry toward them, flames bursting forth from all their limbs and joints. When they run and are about to reach the gates, the gates close of themselves. Because the remainder of their sins is not yet exhausted, they are made not to die. Moreover, whatever the sinners inside raise their eyes to see, they see only hideous forms; their ears hear only dreadful sounds; their noses smell only foul stenches; their bodies touch only agonizing pains; their minds think only of evil phenomena. In the space of a finger-snap, there is no time without torment; hence it is called the Uninterrupted Hell. Having suffered torment for a long time, they exit Avīci and proceed up to the Cold Ice Hell, only then reaching the end of their lives. It is due to deeds of grave sin, creating karma destined for the evil destinies, that one falls into the Uninterrupted Hell, receiving retribution beyond reckoning. These are called the eight great hells, each passing through sixteen [minor hells], with punishments received as described above.