Hell can be Here.

Above is a Japanese depiction of “Naraka”, a fiery word where the sinful are sent after death, tortured by demons for repentance. Sounds similar, doesn’t it?

Naraka is actually an old Hindu belief, and like many things from Hinduism, some forms of Buddhism adopted it as well. The main difference from Naraka and Christianity’s Hell is that your stay in Naraka, while uncomfortably long, is not eternal. Maybe a couple thousand years. After that, you’re free to be reborn into a new life again. It’s also harder to get into Naraka than Hell, you’re not just sent there for not accepting some savior. Instead, the people who frequent there are murderers. This is because you’re sent there by a result of your karma, and you have to rack up some pretty seriously bad Karma to deserve Naraka. In one source, it’s said that some crimes that will send you there for a long time are murdering your parents, and harming a Buddha.Naraka is not a central belief in Buddhism, so while popular in folklore, it’s not something you really need to be concerned with. Personally, I don’t care much for it. It suggests ‘individual reincarnation’, the idea that you’re re-incarnated as the same person you are now, with memories and personality intact, which largely is not what the rest of Buddhism teaches by my knowledge. Focusing too much on it also can lead to some weird conclusions. One old book I read involved the ‘confessions’ of a monk who was afraid he had harmed The Buddha in a previous lifetime, and was convinced he was going to Naraka for it unless he repented. That guy had some issues.However, if you do find yourself in Naraka by some chance, keep your eyes peeled for a friendly face.

That bald man wearing lotus skates and helping the tortured soul out of that big bowl of noodles (disclaimer: probably not actually noodles) is Ksitigarbha. He is a Bodhisatva, someone who has taken an oath to refrain from obtaining Nirvana until they help everyone else reach it themselves. They’re kinda like the saints of Buddhism.Ksitigarbha in particular is the Bodhisatva of Naraka. His particular oath is that he won’t reach for Nirvana until all the hells are empty. Those who find themselves in Naraka by poor circumstance may find Ksitigarbha offering to ease your suffering.And Believe me hell is here too on living Earth.

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