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Crossing the Ocean of Life and Death
- Book 163: Crossing the Ocean of Life and Death
- Chapter 20:
The Appearance of the Ten Lords of the Netherworld
- Written by Sheng-yen Lu
- Translated and edited by True Buddha Foundation
- Translation Team (Cheng Yew Chung, Satch)
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When I was traveling in Korea, I visited the temples and realized the Buddhists in Korea are very respectful to the ten Netherworld Lords. Their temples are erected with the Hall of Netherworld Lords, which pay homage to the ten Netherworld Lords, namely:
1. Lord Qin Guang
2. Lord Chu Jiang
3. Lord Song Di
4. Lord Wu Guan
5. Lord Yan Luo
6. Lord Bian Cheng
7. Lord Tai Shan
8. Lord Ping Deng
9. Lord Du Shi
10. Lord Zhuan Lun
If these ten lords were to show themselves, most people may not recognize them immediately, as they may come in many forms and appearances. Some forms of the Lords of Netherworld equal the vastness of space; others are like Mt. Sumeru and the smallest is eighteen times the size of a human body. They appear ferocious, seemingly filling the whole world. Their upper teeth protrudes out of their mouths and they have a wrathful facial expression; their mouths utter the sounds of `Hurt! Hurt!` and they rip heads from human corpses, rip out their hearts, lick their brains and drink their blood. At this time, the deceased would be frightened.
Please do not assume this is fabricated to frighten people. Please read chapter eight of the Ksitigarbha Sutra, `Admiration from Ghost Kings`: `At that time, from the Iron-Fence Mountain, innumerable ghost kings and sons of the heavens came to the Trayastrimsha Heaven where Sakyamuni Buddha taught the Dharma. Those who came included Evil Poison Ghost King, Evil Doing Ghost King, Dispute Ghost King, White Tiger Ghost King, Blood Tiger Ghost King, Red Tiger Contagious Ghost King, Disaster Ghost King, Flying Body Ghost King, Lightning Flash Ghost King, Wolf Teeth Ghost King, Thousand Eyes Ghost King, Eating Beast Ghost King, Rock-Carrying Ghost King, Exhaustion Ghost King, Calamity Ghost King, Food Ghost King, Wealth Ghost King, Domestic Animal Ghost King, Fowl Ghost King, Beast Ghost King, Mountain Spirit Ghost King, Birth Ghost King, Life Ghost King, Disease Ghost King, Danger Ghost King, Three Eyes Ghost King, Four Eyes Ghost King, Five Eyes Ghost King, the Fire Spirit King, the Great Fire Ghost King, the Dharma Protector King, the Great Dharma Protector King and so on. There were also thousands of major and minor ghost kings who live in all the worlds and rule over specific areas.`
This is an account of the innumerable ghost kings as recorded in the Ksitigarbha Sutra. Do not assume that these accounts in the sutra are mere stories used as instructional tools, that they are not actual events, and that the accounts of hell are imaginary.
But I must say this, `This sutra was spoken by the Buddha Himself. How could it be a fabrication?`
During the bardo, it is possible for the deceased to come face to face with the Ten Lords of Netherworld, the major and minor ghost kings and innumerable numbers of other ghost kings.
Based on the doctrines of Tibetan Buddhism, we know that the Peaceful Deities will make their appearances, so will the Wrathful Deities (this is similar to the description of the Ten Netherworld Lords and the innumerable ghost kings).
However, the deities mentioned in Tibetan Buddhism seem more horrifying. For example: three heads, six hands, and four feet; the right face being white, the left, red; the central, dark-brown; the body emitting flames of radiance; the nine eyes are wide-open, in a terrifying gaze; the eyebrows quivering like lightning; the white protruding teeth; giving vent to sonorous utterances of `a-la-ha.` Its six hands are holding different weapons, such as a wheel, a sword, an ax, a bell, a human scalp, and a plowshare.
Besides, the main blood-drinking deity of the Vajra Order appears as dark blue in color; with three faces, six hands, and four feet firmly postured; with its six hands holding a vajra scepter, a human scalp, an ax, a bell, another human scalp, and a plowshare.
Blood-drinking: there are the blood-drinking goddesses of Keurima, Phra-Men-Ma, Dvang-phyug-ma, Tseurima, Pramoha, Petali, Pukkase, Ghasmari, Chandali, Smashali and so forth.
There are the thirty wrathful deities, and twenty-eight various-headed mighty goddesses, including the lion-headed, the tiger-headed, the fox-headed, wolf-headed, vulture-headed, bird-headed, crow-headed, and owl-headed. Besides drinking blood, they also loudly consume the human scalp; they eat the stomach and intestines, chew the heart, biting off pieces of the corpse that hangs in the mouth, swallow eyeballs, all while grinning and showing their fangs.
These mighty goddesses also hold iron hooks, nooses, iron chains, spears, and other weapons in their hands.
Most people who see these Blood-Drinking Wrathful Deities (the great ghost kings) will be frightened, and often collapse in shock. If this happens, then it is all over, for the deceased will become a victim of his own fear.
Why do these Peaceful and Wrathful Deities appear? Actually they are the projection of imageries within the consciousness of every human being. In any case, the sutras and scriptures of the Sutric and Tantric Traditions explain that each and every one of us are formed with the consciousness of happiness, anger, grief and joy. After a person dies, the whole range of human emotions will surface, as seen in the case of the different animal-headed deities.
Do not think that such matters are impossible. I once told you that a human may look and appear human on the surface, but deep down in their hearts they have transformed into tigers, leopards, lions, elephants, wolves, dogs, snakes, eagles, foxes, etc. Do not think that the existence of great ghosts is impossible. Many people are no longer human, for their hearts have long held evil intentions, and they have become ghosts. They have not become just any ordinary ghosts, but the fierce and cruel Great Ghost Kings.
All manifestations of the Peaceful Deities, the Wrathful Deities, the Blood-Drinking Deities, the Animal-Headed Deities, the Lord Yama (the Ten Netherworld Lords), the innumerable ghost kings, and various gruesome images and forms, are nothing more than the projections of our mind.
I want to state this frankly: These deities and spirits are drawn and magnetized by the deceased. They are also the manifestations of the mind. Thus, they are inseparable from the departed (The Yoga Tantra of Tantrayana allows you to attain yogic response with the ten dharma realms. The Yoga Tantra of the True Buddha School allows you to gain yogic response with Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Vajra Deities, Dharma Protectors, and at the very least with the Devas, although the Deva realm is within the domain of Samsara).
Most importantly, never gain response with the Three Evil Paths, and ideally, do not gain response with any of the six realms of reincarnation.
At this time, you should calm your mind and pray: (Do not faint out of fear)
Wandering am I in the bardo
I pray to you, my guru, run to my rescue
OM GURU LIAN-SHENG SIDDHI HUM!
OM GURU LIAN-SHENG SIDDHI HUM!
OM GURU LIAN-SHENG SIDDHI HUM!
Principal deities, let not your grace forsake me!
Protectors, deliver me by your grace!
O Precious Guru and Principal Deities!
I pray wholeheartedly for your protection.
(Your guru and principal deity are bound by their vows to save you)
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