佛說處處經 1.69

1.69

佛言：「有比丘學道，從師受經不精進。師教取牛馬糞數升燒之，至冥不盡。師取大石持地獄中，火燒之即作灰。弟子大恐，長跪問師：『是何等火？』師言：『汝不讀經行道，死後當入地獄，獄中火燒汝，不復移時。』於是比丘惶怖，便更精進。日聞一阿含，便得羅漢道。」佛言：「善權方便，度人如是。」

The Buddha said: "There was a monk studying the Way who received sūtras from his master but was not vigorous. His master instructed him to take several pints of cow and horse dung and burn it; by nightfall it had not burned away. The master then took a large rock, held it in the fires of hell, and it immediately turned to ash. The disciple was terrified, knelt long, and asked his master: 'What kind of fire is this?' The master said: 'Because you do not recite the sūtras and practice the Way, after death you will enter hell, where the fires of hell will burn you without passing time.' Thereupon, the monk was frightened and became increasingly vigorous. Hearing one Āgama a day, he attained the way of an arhat." The Buddha said: "Skillful means save people in this manner."