諸經要集 18.43

18.43

As the Sūtra on Retribution for Sinful Karma and Hell Admonitions says: At that time, the Bodhisattva Faith-Form, initiating the teaching on behalf of sentient beings, said to the Buddha: "World-Honoured One, there are now sinful sentient beings whose bodies are chopped with pestles and hacked by the hell wardens from head to foot, and even after being hacked to the top of their heads, a clever wind blows them back to life, whereupon they are hacked again. What sin brought this about?" The Buddha said: "In their past lives, it was due to not having faith in the Three Jewels, not being filial to their parents, and being butchers and executioners who chopped and severed sentient beings. Therefore they incurred this sinful retribution."