法苑珠林 70.19

70.19

Furthermore, because of frivolous speech, one cannot be modest or yielding, causing covetous desires to be insatiable. In this life, being stingy and greedy, one does not practice dāna; upon death, one will fall into the Hell of Boiling Excrement, where for long kalpas one suffers all manner of distress and pain. When this suffering is completed, one falls among animals and hungry ghosts, having neither food nor clothing, relying entirely upon humans, eating only filth and excrement, and getting nothing unless it is given. Amidst this, one undergoes immeasurable births and deaths. Through original karmic causes and conditions, if one encounters a minute amount of good, one may feebly regain a human body, hungry, freezing, naked, and exposed, constantly in distress, lack, and want. Since others do not give, seeking it is of no avail; even if one possesses a minute fraction, it is promptly stripped away, suffering helplessly until one loses one's body and perishes. One should know that this failure to practice dāna stems entirely from covetous desire. Therefore, the Bodhisattvabhūmi-śāstra states: The offense of covetous desire also causes sentient beings to fall into the three evil destinies. If born among humans, they receive two kinds of retributive fruits: first, having abundant desires; second, having no satisfaction. Why does covetous desire cause one to fall into hell? Because covetous desire stirs body and speech to afflict other beings; therefore, when the body dies, one suffers the torments of hell. Why does one emerge as an animal due to covetous desire? Because the impulses of covetous desire violate human propriety; therefore, upon emerging from hell, one becomes an animal. Why does one further become a hungry ghost due to covetous desire? Because covetous desire inevitably leads to begrudging what one obtains; due to the offense of begrudging, one becomes a hungry ghost. Why does covetous desire lead to abundant desires? Because covetous desire causes one's cravings to multiply. Why does covetous desire lead to insatiability? Because covetous desire makes one greedily seek without end. One should know that covetous desire constitutes the eighth great suffering.