Ten Evils

0
395

Source: The Great Vehicle Great Assembly Kṣitigarbha Ten Wheel Sutra

Killing incur ten kinds of suffering and affliction:

  1. To incur fear and anxiety in others.
  2. To incur the suffering of birth, old age, sickness, and death.
  3. To incur a habitual nature of anger and hatred.
  4. To incur constant physical suffering.
  5. To incur a short lifespan.
  6. To incur being pursued and harmed by vengeful spirits.
  7. To incur frequent nightmares.
  8. To incur the accumulation of resentment from others.
  9. To incur the fear of being reborn in the lower realms.
  10. To incur the suffering of hell, hungry ghosts, and animals.

If born as a human, one will receive two kinds of retribution: a short life or frequent illness. In future lives, one will incur external retribution: the land will be salty and barren, and crops and herbs will lack vitality.

Stealing incur ten kinds of unfavorable consequences:

  1. To incur the loss of wealth due to kings, thieves, fire, water, and unloving children.
  2. To incur the resentment of many people.
  3. To incur constant bullying.
  4. To incur insults and abuse from all directions.
  5. To incur constant worry about harm.
  6. To incur a bad reputation.
  7. To incur fear and dread when among people.
  8. To incur constant deficiencies in wealth, life, appearance, strength, happiness, and eloquence.
  9. To incur the habit of stealing.
  10. To incur the suffering of hell, hungry ghosts, and animals.

If born as a human, one will receive two kinds of retribution: poverty or shared wealth without freedom. Externally, it will cause frost, hail, locusts, and famine.

Improper sexual conduct incurs four kinds of afflictions:

  1. It incurs disharmony of the six senses and intense sensual desires.
  2. It incurs discord and opposition from family members.
  3. It incurs a bad reputation and is reviled by others.
  4. It incurs frequent intrusions upon one’s marital relationship.

Subsequently, one will be reborn in hell, as a hungry ghost, or as an animal, enduring constant suffering. If reborn as a human, one will receive two kinds of retribution: an unfaithful spouse or the inability to have a harmonious family.

Lying incurs eight kinds of suffering:

  1. To have foul-smelling breath and be disliked by others.
  2. To be distrusted and disbelieved by people in the world.
  3. To be unheard and shunned by others.
  4. To develop a habit of lying and deceit that becomes increasingly widespread.
  5. To experience a growth in delusion, leading to the defilement of body, speech, and mind.
  6. To constantly make mistakes in speech and suffer mental anguish.
  7. To be disrespected when giving testimony or making statements.
  8. To become increasingly foolish and be constantly deceived by others.

Subsequently, one will be reborn in hell, as a hungry ghost, or as an animal, enduring constant suffering. If reborn as a human, one will receive two kinds of retribution: being frequently slandered and being deceived by others. As an external retribution, everything will be foul-smelling.

Abusive language incurs eight kinds of unwholesome karma:

  1. To speak inappropriately and out of bounds.
  2. To speak words that are of no benefit.
  3. To speak words that are illogical or unreasonable.
  4. To use vulgar or abusive language.
  5. To speak words that no one wants to hear.
  6. To be untrustworthy in one’s speech.
  7. To be mocked and ridiculed for one’s words.
  8. To speak words that cause annoyance and hatred.

If reborn as a human, one will receive two kinds of retribution: constantly hearing harsh words and being involved in many disputes. As an external retribution, the earth will turn into tiles, stones, gravel, and other rough and unpleasant substances.

Frivolous speech incurs three definite consequences:

  1. To be despised by the wise and associated with the foolish.
  2. To engage in endless idle chatter that is of no practical use.
  3. To live a vain and worthless life.

If reborn as a human, one will receive two kinds of retribution: one’s words will not be accepted by others, and one’s speech will be unclear and unintelligible. As an external retribution, plants will wither and be full of thorns.

Sowing discord and defaming others will inevitably incur five kinds of destruction:

  1. Constant harm to one’s own body.
  2. Ruination of one’s family and relationships.
  3. Loss of faith and trust.
  4. Frequent loss of possessions.
  5. Constant destruction of all good deeds.

Subsequently, one will be reborn in hell, as a hungry ghost, or as an animal, enduring constant suffering. If reborn as a human, one will receive two kinds of retribution: alienation from family and friends, and having wicked relatives. As an external retribution, the land will be uneven, full of cliffs and valleys, and overgrown with thorny plants.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here