諸經要集 14.86

14.86

Also, the Avadānasūtra says: “In the past, when the Buddha was in the world, the Venerable Purṇa went to the realm of hungry ghosts. He saw a hungry ghost of hideous appearance; whoever saw it had their hair stand on end in terror. Blazing flames issued from its body like a great mass of fire; sores and maggots came from its mouth, with pus and blood overflowing, and a stench unbearable to approach. Sometimes fire issued from its mouth several tens of fathoms long; sometimes its eyes, ears, nose, body, and limbs emitted flames several tens of fathoms long. Its lips and mouth drooped downward like a wild pig's, and its body measured one yojana in height and breadth. It clawed itself with its own hands, raised its voice in wailing tears, and rushed east and west. Purṇa saw this and asked: ‘What transgression did you commit to now suffer this pain?’ The hungry ghost replied: ‘In the past I went forth from home, but I was attached to dwellings, stingy, and greedy, unable to renounce them. Relying on my noble clan, I uttered foul and evil words. Whenever I saw bhikṣus who kept the precepts and were diligent, I immediately cursed and insulted them, perverting mouth and eyes, or distorting right and wrong. Therefore I suffer this pain. Better to cut one's own tongue with a sharp knife and suffer pain for accumulated kalpas than to revile and slander diligent, precept-keeping bhikṣus for a single day. When the Venerable returns to Jambudvīpa, please warn all bhikṣus with my appearance: skillfully guard against faults of the mouth and do not utter words falsely! When seeing those who keep the precepts, remember to proclaim their virtues! Since I received this hungry ghost form, for tens of millions of years I have constantly suffered this pain. After this life ends, I shall enter hell.’ Having spoken these words, it wailed and threw itself to the ground, like Mount Tai collapsing, or heaven and earth overturning. This was brought about by faults of the mouth.”