English
English version: A ghost asked: 'With this body, there are always people coming, holding various knives and saws, cutting and peeling my body, and also splitting open my abdomen, taking out my five internal organs. The flesh is completely cut off, the tendons are broken, and the suffering is unbearable. After a short while, the flesh grows back and returns to normal, and then they come to cut again. What sin has caused this?' The answer was: 'When you were a human, you were often a butcher, in charge of killing people, without any compassion. You happily did these things, and therefore you have this sin. Now you are receiving the flower retribution (a lighter form of karmic consequence), and the full consequence will be in hell.' A ghost asked: 'I am suffering in this body, and there are constantly hot iron wheels rotating under both armpits. The extreme heat presses against my body, and both armpits are scorched and rotten. What sin has caused this?' The answer was: 'When you were a human, you left home to study the Way, and you made various kinds of cakes for the Sangha (Buddhist monastic community). Before the Sangha began to eat, you were greedy and stole the Sangha's cakes, hiding them under your armpits in a secluded place to eat them. Because of this cause, you are receiving such suffering. Now you are receiving the flower retribution, and the full consequence will be in hell, where the suffering is immeasurable.' A ghost asked: 'I am suffering in this body, and there are constantly naturally formed red iron balls falling from the sky, entering my mouth and reaching my abdomen, or exiting from the left and entering from the right, or exiting from the right and entering from the left, causing my whole body to be scorched and rotten, and the pain is immeasurable. What sin has caused this?' The answer was: 'When you were a human, you left home to become a Śrāmaṇera (novice monk), and you cooked Āmra (mangoes) for the Sangha. When distributing them among the Sangha, you always gave seven extra to the abbot. Because of this cause, you are receiving such evil retribution. Now you are receiving the flower retribution, and the full consequence will be in hell.' A ghost asked: 'I am suffering in this body, and when I want to walk, move, or turn around, it is like a whirlwind, and I can never move forward. The sorrow and suffering are immeasurable. What sin has caused this?' The answer was: 'When you were a human, you worked as a diviner, deceiving others with false words, causing their minds to be confused, either with joy or fear, none of which was true. Because of this cause, you are receiving such evil retribution. Now you are receiving the flower retribution, and the full consequence will be in hell.' A ghost asked: 'I am suffering in this body, and there is constant heat inside, as if embracing boiling water, and then being burned and cooked, with all kinds of suffering. What sin has caused this?' -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ？”
Chinese
答言：“汝为人时，作国王第一夫人。时王贵敬小夫人，汝常生嫉心，作恶方便，求欲杀之。伺其卧时，煮酥令热，注着腹上。其人得此苦痛无量，遂便命终。由是因缘，得如是苦，今受花报，果在地狱。” 一鬼问言：“我受此身，性多恐怖，常畏人来，收闭系缚、枷锁楚毒，初无欢心，何罪所致？” 答言：“汝为人时，好行邪淫，犯人妇女，常畏发觉，心不自宁，今受花报，果在地狱，或卧铁床或抱铜柱，如是之苦，不可称计。” 一鬼问言：“我受此身，自然热铁，而有笼网，缠络我身，烧热焦烂，痛毒叵言，何罪所致？” 答言：“汝为人时，常持罝网，杀诸鱼兽，笼取飞鸟。以是因缘，得如是苦切，今受花报，果在地狱。” 一鬼问言：“我受此身，无有手足，如一假肉，在于旷野，狐狼虎豹，雕鹫众鸟，竞来搏撮，争共食之，苦痛叵言，何罪所致？” 答言：“汝为人时，作恶方便，若己若他，妊身之时，即便与药，令胎消化。由是因缘，得如是苦，今受花报，果在地狱。” 又三鬼一时来问言：“我受此身，常有铁钉，从空中下，钉我身上，入肌破骨，痛毒彻髓，何罪所致？” 答言：“汝为人时，一人作马师，一人作牛师，一人作 现代汉语译本 回答说：‘你做人的时候，是国王的第一夫人。当时国王宠爱小夫人，你常常心生嫉妒，用各种恶毒的手段，想要杀死她。你趁她睡觉的时候，把滚烫的酥油煮热，浇在她的肚子上。那人因此遭受了无量的痛苦，就死了。由于这个因缘，你才得到这样的苦报，现在受的是花报，果报在地狱。’ 一个鬼问道：‘我受的这个身体，天性就多恐怖，常常害怕别人来，把我抓起来关押捆绑、戴上枷锁用刑具拷打，从来没有欢喜的时候，这是什么罪导致的？’ 回答说：‘你做人的时候，喜欢行邪淫，侵犯别人的妇女，常常害怕被人发觉，心里不得安宁，现在受的是花报，果报在地狱，或者睡在铁床上，或者抱着铜柱，这样的痛苦，不可计数。’ 一个鬼问道：‘我受的这个身体，自然有烧红的铁，做成笼子和网，缠绕在我的身上，烧得焦烂，痛苦难言，这是什么罪导致的？’ 回答说：‘你做人的时候，常常拿着网，杀各种鱼和野兽，用笼子抓飞鸟。因为这个因缘，你才得到这样痛苦的报应，现在受的是花报，果报在地狱。’ 一个鬼问道：‘我受的这个身体，没有手脚，像一块假肉，在旷野里，狐狸、狼、老虎、豹子、雕、鹫等各种鸟类，都来争抢，一起吃它，痛苦难言，这是什么罪导致的？’ 回答说：‘你做人的时候，用各种恶毒的手段，无论是自己还是别人，在怀孕的时候，就给她们吃药，让胎儿消化掉。因为这个因缘，你才得到这样的苦报，现在受的是花报，果报在地狱。’ 又有三个鬼同时来问道：‘我们受的这个身体，常常有铁钉，从空中落下，钉在我们的身上，进入肌肉，刺破骨头，痛苦彻入骨髓，这是什么罪导致的？’ 回答说：‘你们做人的时候，一个人做马师，一个人做牛师，一个人做…’
English
English version The answer was: 'When you were a human, you were the first wife of a king. At that time, the king favored a concubine, and you were constantly jealous, devising evil schemes to kill her. You waited until she was asleep, then boiled ghee (clarified butter) until it was scalding hot and poured it onto her abdomen. The person suffered immeasurable pain and died. Because of this cause and condition, you received such suffering. Now you are receiving the 'flower' (preliminary) retribution, and the full karmic consequence is in hell.' One ghost asked: 'I receive this body, which is inherently full of terror. I am constantly afraid of people coming to capture, confine, bind, shackle, and torture me. I never have any joy. What sin caused this?' The answer was: 'When you were a human, you were fond of engaging in illicit sexual conduct, violating other people's wives. You were constantly afraid of being discovered, and your heart was never at peace. Now you are receiving the 'flower' (preliminary) retribution, and the full karmic consequence is in hell, where you either lie on iron beds or embrace copper pillars. Such suffering is immeasurable.' One ghost asked: 'I receive this body, which is naturally made of hot iron, with cages and nets that entangle my body, burning and charring it. The pain is indescribable. What sin caused this?' The answer was: 'When you were a human, you often used nets to kill various fish and beasts, and cages to capture birds. Because of this cause and condition, you received such bitter suffering. Now you are receiving the 'flower' (preliminary) retribution, and the full karmic consequence is in hell.' One ghost asked: 'I receive this body, which has no hands or feet, like a lump of flesh, lying in the wilderness. Foxes, wolves, tigers, leopards, eagles, vultures, and various birds come to snatch and devour it, causing indescribable pain. What sin caused this?' The answer was: 'When you were a human, you used various evil means, whether yourself or others, to administer medicine to pregnant women to cause the fetus to be aborted. Because of this cause and condition, you received such suffering. Now you are receiving the 'flower' (preliminary) retribution, and the full karmic consequence is in hell.' Then three ghosts came together and asked: 'We receive this body, which is constantly pierced by iron nails falling from the sky, piercing our bodies, entering our muscles, and breaking our bones. The pain penetrates to the marrow. What sin caused this?' The answer was: 'When you were humans, one of you was a horse trainer, one of you was a cattle trainer, and one of you was a...' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
象师。苟贪他财，针刺无道，使受痛苦，而不除痛，由是因缘，得如是苦，今受花报，果在地狱。” 一鬼问言：“我受此身，无有头首，眼耳鼻口，尽在胸前，何罪所致？” 答言：“汝为人时，若见杀人，与之捉头，欢喜而挽，无有慈心。由是因缘，得如是身，今受花报，果在地狱。” 目连答诸鬼已，皆生敬心，走前忏悔。目连见其欢喜，更为说法。诸鬼闻已，皆大欢喜。 饿鬼报应经 现代汉语译本： 一位驯象师如果贪图他人的钱财，用针刺等不人道的方式，使大象遭受痛苦，却不解除它们的痛苦，因为这样的因缘，会得到这样的苦报，现在所受的是花报（较轻的报应），真正的果报在地狱之中。 一个饿鬼问道：‘我受到的这种身体，没有头和颈，眼睛、耳朵、鼻子、嘴巴，全部长在胸前，这是什么罪导致的呢？’ 回答说：‘你做人的时候，如果看到有人杀人，就帮他抓住头，欢喜地拉扯，没有慈悲心。因为这样的因缘，得到这样的身体，现在所受的是花报，真正的果报在地狱之中。’ 目连（Maudgalyayana，佛陀的弟子，以神通著称）回答了众饿鬼的问题后，他们都生起了敬畏之心，走到前面忏悔。目连看到他们欢喜，就为他们进一步说法。众饿鬼听了之后，都非常欢喜。 《饿鬼报应经》
English
English version: A mahout (elephant trainer), if greedy for the wealth of others, uses needles and other inhumane methods to inflict pain on elephants without relieving their suffering. Due to such causes and conditions, they will receive such suffering as retribution. What they are experiencing now is the 'flower retribution' (a lighter form of karmic consequence), while the true karmic fruit lies in hell. One hungry ghost asked: 'I have received this body, without a head or neck, with eyes, ears, nose, and mouth all on my chest. What sin caused this?' The answer was: 'When you were a human, if you saw someone killing another person, you would help them hold the head, gleefully pulling on it, without any compassion. Due to such causes and conditions, you received this body. What you are experiencing now is the 'flower retribution', while the true karmic fruit lies in hell.' After Maudgalyayana (one of the Buddha's chief disciples, known for his supernatural powers) answered the questions of the hungry ghosts, they all developed a sense of reverence and came forward to repent. Seeing their joy, Maudgalyayana further expounded the Dharma for them. Upon hearing it, all the hungry ghosts were greatly delighted. The Sutra of Retribution for Hungry Ghosts --------------------------------------------------------------------------------