Buddhist Hell Flashcards
What is the Relm of Hell specifically for women?
BLOOD POOL HELL-
Based on the Blood Pool Sutra, it describes women as corrupters of the earth through their menstration blood. As one is re-encarnated one can move between bodies, some better than others. It was believed that one was born into a womens body would have been due to your karmic sins and if you work hard enough you may be re-encarnated into a mans body in the next life. Women boil in pools of blood whilst monks throw sutras, as Mulian wrote to help to save his mother he would copy out the Blood pool Sutra at specific times in a hope to save his mother from this fate. So their pain is also the mechanism of their salvation.
Positive Sutra on Women
The Sutra on Transforming Women nto Buddhas (9th cent): It states the generative power of women, their ability to create is karmically enriching, and with practice they can become Buddhas.
Literature by women: The Pillow Book
SEI SHONAGON
The Pillow Book is akin to a diary; Sei Shonagon mostly tells us stories of her daily life, gossips about her peers, comments on fashion and the seasons. Itprovides a perspective on imperial culture in all its luxury, privilege, and poetry. Written at the same time these Sutras on womens degeneracy was also written- during the Heian period in Japan.
Hell of the Flaming rooster
You eat meat and get pecked to death, then you are re-constituted and get pecked to death again.
Hell of flaming boulders
Hell for Monks
Because they are supposed to be moral exemplars, when a Monk is sent to hell it is far more painful than the regular realms of hell. Eg. the hell of Flaying and Hell of Dissection are both reserved for monks. Their bad behaviour leads others astray.
Measuring box hell
Reserved specifically for Merchants who cheated people out of goods in the market by mismeasurement, they have to measure our burning embers.
What is the relm of the Hungry Ghosts?
GAKI - Hungry Ghosts (Neck as thin as a pin, large distended bellies filled with gas, orange hair patchy and bleached of colour due to a lack of nutrients)
Just before hell (so slightly better) it is a relm that overlaps with our relm and is full of hungry ghosts despite our not being able to see them. Tortured beings forced to be constantly starved and dying of thirst. A punishment for humans who were gluttenous and full of greed.
Historical context of Gaki
Japanese civil War occuring, rapant disease and staarvation on the streets which explains the medical accuracy of the images.
Scientific context of the Gaki
They were an explanation for decay, food dissapearing- evaportation of small drops of water.
How could Gaki be saved?
Through the compassion of others, and by listening to the Buddha’s preaching. Listening to him and praying the Nenbutsu.
What was the civil war that inspired the Gaki? Which were the main elite families of Japan that were involved?
TheGenpei War(源平合戦,Genpei Kassen,Genpei-Gassen, 1180–1185)was a national civil war[1]between theTairaandMinamotoclans during the lateHeian periodof Japan. It resulted in the downfall of the Taira and the establishment of theKamakura shogunateunderMinamoto no Yoritomo, who appointed himself asShōgun
What are Gaki
What is the importance of the Scrolls of the Hungry Ghosts
