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The
Netherworld Houses Many Emperors
•Guru's
Talk•
Translated
and Edited by True Buddha Foundation Translation Team
In my spiritual travel—
I have seen many past emperors
who are still dwelling in the netherworld. These emperors were
known to have been extremely arrogant when they were alive.
Yet, upon their death, they all fell into the netherworld.
Why is this so? It really
startled me when I first observed this situation.
The answer is simple. Many of
these past emperors were very ambitious, seeking great
achievements and often engaging themselves in battles either
by conquering other countries or being invaded by others,
creating a terrible environment, jeopardizing people’s lives
and property, causing turmoil and chaos everywhere. The
citizens of the [emperor’s own] country, his subjects, were
the ones who inevitably suffered from these wars.
Also—
When the emperor was happy, his
subjects received immediate promotion and wealth.
[In ancient China] when the
emperor was angry, his subjects suffered immediate death, the
death penalty extending to all of the subject’s nine
generations of paternal and maternal relatives.
This is true of the emperors in
China, as well as the [leaders] of other countries. Throughout
history, quite often one wrong thought by the ruler of the
time caused the deaths of whole cities.
This statement is seen in the
netherworld:
"Even one who is an emperor
may end up here, for only one who has holy virtue shall ascend
to heaven."
I have seen many such cases in
the netherworld, where past emperors are still repaying their
karmic debts over a long period of time. Until they have paid
their dues, it is impossible for them to be freed from their
imprisonment.
Indeed, the saying, 'A life as a
government official may result in nine lives as an ox' carries
much truth.
When I was in the netherworld, I
saw many heads of states. I would rather not reveal their
identities, but they are there in great numbers. Should a
ruler go against the laws of heaven, cause harm to others,
disregard ethics, make a careless decision or a wrong
statement, it can lead to the deaths of thousands in the land.
Therefore, it is important that rulers take great caution in
what they say and do!
In fact, inventors must also take
note—
Many of those who invented
weapons of mass destruction have found themselves eternally
imprisoned in the netherworld. It appears that people of
virtue are far too few.
I quote from the Analects of
Confucius, “I am a Transmitter”:
"I have not yet been able to
meet a saint, but I would be satisfied to meet a real
gentleman [someone who has made significant progress in
self-cultivation]. I have not yet met a man of true goodness,
but I would be satisfied to meet a man of constancy [in good
deeds and cultivation].
One who has nothing inside, but
pretends noble achievement;
One who is weak inside, but
pretends strength and courage;
One whose house and pockets are
empty, but pretends wealth and means;
How difficult it is for such a
one to have constancy!"
(When we perform good deeds, we
must do it consistently. Likewise, when we cultivate, we must
do it consistently.)
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