Disclaimer:
I am layman Buddhist/pagan.
The summary is based on what I perceive is 'important' in the book.
Conversation in between Deity JiGong, Yang Sheng and Prison Guard
If there is contradiction of meaning convey, the book prevails.
There are times I might questioning parts of the points inside the book doesn't mean I don't believe it. I need enlightenment on the doubts that I raise.
VISIT TO THE PRISON OF HEART-WRENCHING
Prologue: The Chinese culture and its traditional morality were originally the result of the synthesis of the vital force of heaven and earth. From thence, they always remain new and exist indefinitely through the ages. Nowadays, people are more inclined to materialism. They adore nothing but material welfare. They deny the intrinsic value of their own culture and totally submit to the material civilization of the Occident. Their excessive veneration with regard to foreigners renders them ungrateful to the extent they forget their ancestors and their race. They weaken themselves and bring shame to the next generation. Still worse, with the rapid progress of science and technology, these people pride themselves for having daunted nature and outdone God himself. They never realize that a single tidal wave suffices to eliminate every living creature with their inventions. Even if he is well-equipped with his science and technique, man is simply a small boat drifting on the immensity of an ocean. His pretention to excel God and destroy the great nature with his science and technology will necessarily lead him some day to bear the terrific catastrophes of heaven. The man who considers himself free from the laws of nature often behaves immorally. It is therefore desirable that every person of generous and virtuous character considers carefully before making any commitment.
Gouging Heart Prison (Heart Wrenching Prison)
Cries of great grief. Sorrowful screaming of the souls. The guards are splitting open the chests of the souls and gouging out the hearts, exactly like animal slaughter house where they cut open the stomach of pigs and extract the hearts and intestines.
The hearts of such souls had become so evil that the guards have no alternative but to gouge out these evil hearts and cure/cleanse them.
A case of a learned man
Had read lots of books, went to university, had interested in current events and influenced by foreign civilization and culture. A Christian. Despise parents who continue worship idols, old fashioned and were behind time whom pray to wooden figures and were superstitious. Had try to converting parents and told the parents to stop worshipping to wooden figures but fail. Thus, become angry and threw ancestral tablets to the ground.
Narrated King Sen Luo (for that soul):
It is not an offence to believe in any religion and to be converted; but in your case, you threw away ancestral tablets which action is totally unpardonable. In addition, when you went preaching, did you think about 'drinking the water and giving a thought to the fountain which supplied the water?' Your preacher told you not to worship wooden figures but you never understand the truth. The wooden cross, the bible and the preacher are all like wooden figures; why did you worship them? People say 'clear off wooden figures' - this means you should look through the mask of humanity and must not be greedy for the pleasures of the flesh but must aim at the filing of empty spiritual life with worthwhile undertakings and actions. "Clearing off wooden figures' also means respect spiritual faith for eternal life. You misunderstood the true meaning and thereby destroyed the ancestral tablets thus destroying the morality of your ancestors. I ask you; where did your body come from and what was your surname? All these were given by your ancestors. Heaven is 'great God' and ancestors are "small God". You forgot your origin and cheated your ancestors thereby going against Maker's heart, that's why God did not bring you to Heaven and therefore you dropped into this Prison.
Narrated by JiGong.
Religious faith teaches man the way to regenerate. By no means should he accuse or criticize the faith of other people, pretending his is true and unique. That’s the law of God. By pretending that one’s religion is authentic whereas the others’ are false, one sows discord. Once the feelings of mercy and fraternity are lost, people deviate from the straight path. If it is possible that such lopsided people manage to obtain success in the Way, the deities themselves will be in disharmony, at odds, in dispute, and paradise will become a battlefield instead of a kingdom of felicity.
For further details, please visit Journey #32
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