What do you do if you go to hell?

What do you do if you go to hell? You probably don't get this question asked very much. But I want to know.

Peace!

What do you do if you go to hell? You probably don't get this question asked very much. But I want to know.

Peace!

From what I have read/learnt from a buddhist perspective about hell is that it is not really a place as such. IMO there are two ways to get to 'hell' in life, the first one is that you create your own hell in your living waking moment. You cab create hell right now, through ignorance, greed, hate, anger, jealousy, all of the afflictive emotioms. These will cause you suffering.

Then other type of hell that is spoken of in the buddhist scriptures if I am not mistaken is that there is a realm of the hungry ghosts. I just googled realm of the hungry ghosts and found out that there is actually a hell realm as well.. Well I will paste what I found out about the hungry ghost realm and then also about the hell realm.

Hungry Ghosts (Pretas) are pitable things. They are wasted creatures with huge, empty stomachs. Their necks are too thin to allow food to pass. So, they are constantly hungry.

Greed and jealousy lead to rebirth as a Hungry Ghost. The Hungry Ghost Realm often, but not always, is depicted between the Asura Realm and the Hell Realm. It is thought the karma of their lives was not quite bad enough for a rebirth in the Hell Realm but not good enough for the Asura Realm.

Psychologically, Hungry Ghosts are associated with addictions, compulsions and obsessions. People who have everything but always want more may be Hungry Ghosts.


Hell Realms

The lowest among the realms of existence is the hell realm. Buddhists believe that there are about 136 hells which are divided into “hot hells” and “cold hells”. The hell realms are looked upon as journey full of suffering; one born into this realm must not only endure suffering in their respective hell but also pass through each of lesser hells. This journey is supposed to take years to complete. In the course of which, even the Dharma is forgotten and even if it was remembered, the anguish is such that it makes practice impossible. The hell realm is characterized by acute aggression.

Buddhists believe that each person is reborn in accordance with their respective actions (Karma) in their previous lives.

As per my interpretation of Wikipedia:

You die. And die. And then die. And then die. And then the bad karma gets used up or something and then you get reborn elsewhere.

AstralProjectee said:

What do you do if you go to hell? You probably don't get this question asked very much. But I want to know.

We don't get asked the question very much, because nobody can really answer it to any degree of what you might view as satisfactory.
see, we're telling you what our impressions are, but nobody knows what you do if you go to hell.
Look to improve your thoughts, words and actions, I suppose, in order to climb out of it.
As Tom correctly points out, Hell isn't a place, anywhere, it's what we voluntarily put ourselves through, day in and day out.... we create our own.

Here's a famous Buddhist story I posted in another thread, not long ago....

An enlightened lama sat on his zafu and one of his disciples came to him.
"Master," he said, as he bowed, "there is a soldier at the gate who states he has travelled many months to seek an audience with you. He declares himself to be a great Overlord, but to look at him, well..... I'm not sure....."
The master bade his disciple admit the soldier.
When the door opened, a tall imposing man walked in, his sword by his side.
But he was filthy, dishevelled, was distinctly malodorous and had obviously been keeping the company of a good but well-ridden horse....his clothes carried a pervasive stench, and he had obviously not washed either them - or himself - for some time.

He stood before the Guru, and bowed, lightly.
"Master!" he boomed,"I have been travelling for many months to find you. I have sought you far and wide, and have journeyed for many weeks, without stopping, because, I seek the answer to a question posed to me by a prisoner I captured. My manservant, who had heard of your fame, informed me you have the answer I seek.
Tell me - What is Hell? and what is Heaven?"

The guru gazed up at him, with a calm countenance, then began his reply.
"You filthy, stinking disgusting creature....! You dare to come before me, your sword by your side, smelling worse than a rotten pigsty, in this hallowed temple, and demand to know things which your empty, ignorant and stupid head cannot possibly ever comprehend?!? Get out of my sight! you are not even worthy to keep a dog company as it forages for scraps in garbage, such is your offensive stench!"
the Overlord, incensed and enraged by such an insolent and arrogant welcome, instinctively drew his sword, and swung it above his head, ready to strike a fatal blow.
"That, " quietly spoke the Guru, without flinching, "is Hell."

The Overlord was so stunned by this calm riposte, in the face of certain, swift and sudden death, that he was brought to a sudden halt, in mid-swing, so profound was his astonishment. He calmly bought the sword down to his side....
"and that, "continued the Guru, a flicker of a smile fleeting across his face, "is Heaven."


Best we can do.
if you want to know for sure, watch your days, and how your Mind perceives the events that befall you.
How do you view them?
How do you evaluate them?
what do you think of their effect on you?

Only then, will you know.

As Tom correctly points out, Hell isn't a place, anywhere, it's what we voluntarily put ourselves through, day in and day out.... we create our own.

How do you know Hell isn't a place?

If you watch the way this world is turning, and the events happening in far-off lands, wrought by nature, as well as man-made, I consider those places to be hell, sure....
but they're states of being, not locations.....

Until i see it as a place for myself, i'm prepared to accept i create my own every day.

If you re otherwise convinced - Point me to it.

In "Two Kinds of Language" from 'Keys to Natural Truth' Ajahn Buddhadasa said in his comments about 'Hell':

In everyday language, hell is a region under the earth. It is ruled over by the god of death, who carries off people and subjects them to all sorts of punishments. It is a place where one may go after death.

Contrast this with hell as understood in Dhamma language. Here hell is anxiety, anxiety which burns us just like a fire. Whenever anxiety afflicts us, burning us up like a fire, then we are in hell, the hell of Dhamma language.

Anyone who roasts himself with anxiety, just as he might burn himself with fire, is said to fall into hell in that same moment. And just as anxiety is of various kinds, so we recognize various kinds of hells corresponding to them.

http://www.dhammatalks.net/Books2/Bhikkhu_Buddhadasa_Keys_to_Natural_Truth.htm#TWO KINDS OF LANGUAGE

Quite.

Hell is considered a really place in the Judaic – Christian – islamic perspective, after the body dies. All consider a form of temporary or purgatory– like hell. (Except for the hell in Christianity which is deemed eternal, which is a matter of interpretation). Even Catholics, the original church, agree that you have to knowingly commit a very grave sin to enter there. That is why they have considered the temporary hell of purgatory.)

All interpretation, no one really knows.

I like the Islamic interpretation which is basically that those who wasted the opportunity to do good in this life will have to taste of their bad deeds in this life and the next. This life takes the form of suffering, crime and punishment and the hell place is a form of purging in the next life. It is like a necessary stage of advancement for makind.

Like cleaning out the impurities of gold through fire. But it is interpreted as TEMPORARY.

God created men for mercy... (11:119)...although mankind may bring down their punishment through bad deeds, God's fullfilled and ultimate plan in his divine scheme is that all beings will one day be fit to serve Him.

51:56

Hell is called "maula "...patron of the sinners 57:15 and "mother " in another verse 101:9.

The spiritual seed of man, ie...the soul is so valuable to God, that he has plans for it...to enter hell is to be only purified of the impurities to enter a higher state.

Heaven is a place of unending progress to higher stages of life and the idea of hell is not meant to torture but to purify, in order to make Mankind fit for spiritual advancement.

Yay ascension...now, I took a shot at it, don't Murder me. I also tend to agree that if a merciful all encompassing God or Creator exists than he would not eternally condemn anyone to a permanent hell.

Buy this is in my opinion and I am coming from an Abrahamic monotheist perspective. My two cents...myopic at best.

Yes, but you forget that Hell was created for satan, and all his demons.
God never intended human souls to go there.

This idea was perpetuated later by dogmatic Theistic elders, in order to counteract the teaching of reincarnation, which was regularly accepted within christian circles up to then....

The Bible teaches that God did not create hell as a judgment for humanity. God created hell for the punishment of the devil and his angels and not as a place for human beings to suffer. Jesus said:

Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels' (Matthew 25:41)..

The Bible speaks about a place of final judgment for those who do not believe in the salvation provided by Jesus Christ. This place is known as hell. It is not a geographical place, but a state of existence.

from here..
http://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/hell.cfm#why

Thank you for the link, fede. :).... that makes me wonder if God, being a merciful and loving God, would also, one day also purge hell (the physical place) of it's fallen angels? Maybe they have another form of salvation...

Eh, that's another forum and another thread. Back to topic.

AstralProjectee said:

What do you do if you go to hell?

Work your way through it...

First, there's no reason to live in fear if others tell you there's hell, and there's no reason to live without principles because others tell you there's no hell.

From what I learned, hell is a mental plane. The beings can't die in hell doesn't matter what is do to them. They experiences pain as a way to remove bad karma until it's time to reborn in other 5 realms. Hell's size can automatically adjusted according to number of beings in there.

This thread has inspired me to post an old story of mine that answers the question, in the only way I can answer it. If you'd like, check out the "Master Kwang and the Hungry Ghost" story in the arts and writing section.

I did.
i have.
worth the read.... though I'd combine part one and two into one thread......

You really do create your own personal hell right here and now, all too often it is shared with others as well, innocent people can get sucked into this hell. The three poisons the Buddha spoke of, greed, hate and ignorance will all lead you to a personal hell. I hope you enjoy your stay at personal hell, we try our best to make your stay as painful as possible :rarr:

federica said:

I did.
i have.
worth the read.... though I'd combine part one and two into one thread......

If the moderator would like to do that, don't mind a bit. I wasn't sure if there was a limit to the size of a single post. The entire story is only 1700 words, almost flash fiction.

done.

http://newbuddhist.com/discussion/14373/master-kwang-and-the-hungry-ghost

@federica,

If you re otherwise convinced - Point me to it.

Maybe there is confusion over "knowing that X does not exist" versus "having no evidence for the existence of X". I do not know if hell exists as a place, but you suggested that you know it does not exists as a place. Therefore I asked: how do you know? Or do you mean you see no reason to believe it might exist as a place? I don't mean to be nit-picking, but this seems like an important distinction.

I am utterly convinced that Hell, as a definite location, does not exist.
I can never be convinced that some good, kind, generous, considerate people exist through such hell and torment from day to day, that if they are also people who do not believe in God they are then further condemned to exist in a real, solid location in an afterlife, where further torment will be heaped upon them for all eternity, simply because they don't believe in the Creator who permits them to be consigned to that place, simply for not believing in him.
I hope that clarifies it.
Because some Christians are utterly convinced that such an end befalls such people as i have described.

federica said:

I am utterly convinced that Hell, as a definite location, does not exist.
I can never be convinced that some good, kind, generous, considerate people exist through such hell and torment from day to day, that if they are also people who do not believe in God they are then further condemned to exist in a real, solid location in an afterlife, where further torment will be heaped upon them for all eternity, simply because they don't believe in the Creator who permits them to be consigned to that place, simply for not believing in him.
I hope that clarifies it.
Because some Christians are utterly convinced that such an end befalls such people as i have described.

This is one of the main reasons that I reject Christian theology, the notion that our eternity is decided upon what amounts to a blink of an eye of a human life. Especially when some a born into such circumstances that make it nearly impossible for them to accept God into their lives while others are essentially given a free pass.

However this is not the Buddhist concept of a real hell. Birth in hell is a result of negative actions not a punishment for lack of faith and its not eternal.

Is Hell Exothermic or Endothermic?

Dr. Schambaugh, of the University of Oklahoma School of Chemical Engineering, Final Exam question for May of 1997. Dr. Schambaugh is known for asking questions such as, "why do airplanes fly?" on his final exams. His one and only final exam question in May 1997 for his Momentum, Heat and Mass Transfer II class was: "Is hell exothermic or endothermic? Support your answer with proof."

Most of the students wrote proofs of their beliefs using Boyle's Law or some variant. One student, however, wrote the following:

"First, We postulate that if souls exist, then they must have some mass. If they do, then a mole of souls can also have a mass. So, at what rate are souls moving into hell and at what rate are souls leaving? I think we can safely assume that once a soul gets to hell, it will not leave.

Therefore, no souls are leaving. As for souls entering hell, let's look at the different religions that exist in the world today. Some of these religions state that if you are not a member of their religion, then you will go to hell. Since there are more than one of these religions and people do not belong to more than one religion, we can project that all people and souls go to hell. With birth and death rates as they are, we can expect the number of souls in hell to increase exponentially.

Now, we look at the rate of change in volume in hell. Boyle's Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in hell to stay the same, the ratio of the mass of souls and volume needs to stay constant. Two options exist:

1. If hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls enter hell, then the temperature and pressure in hell will increase until all hell breaks loose.

2. If hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls in hell, then the temperature and pressure will drop until hell freezes over.

So which is it? If we accept the quote given to me by Theresa Manyan during Freshman year, "that it will be a cold night in hell before I sleep with you" and take into account the fact that I still have NOT succeeded in having sexual relations with her, then Option 2 cannot be true...Thus, hell is exothermic."

The student, Tim Graham, got the only A.

I think that all accounts of hell provide an escape at some point... even in the Christian version Jesus on judgment day will go down and release everyone in hell... there is hope whereever suffering may be!

Earth is heaven and hell.

In Mahayana tradition, such a Pure Land, I am pretty sure Hell is a physical realm. I think the OP was asking what happens in that physical realm.

See that everything is a karmic projection. Your minds painting. Relax and cut through with mindfulness. Recognize the dharmakaya.

If there is a hell (based on the abrahamic religions) then I am going. I joke around with people I know and say that I'll see them in hell.

Bekenze said:

In Mahayana tradition, such a Pure Land, I am pretty sure Hell is a physical realm. I think the OP was asking what happens in that physical realm.

If the alternative to hell is pure land then this existence could well be hell - I say that because there is no suffering in pure lands and therefore this must be hell... so maybe hell isnt so bad after all...

You create your own Heaven or you own Hell... These are states of being, states of mind... In the end you will see that there is no Heaven, there is no Hell, you just are!

I am sure the OP can take what they need from this thread, there are many a post and many a view, but there is a common trend that suggest we create our own hell right here, right now!

AstralProjectee said:

What do you do if you go to hell?

You have to sit in front of all this good food, but starve because there is only one big-ass spoon to eat from and no one wants to share. (SARCASM)

In Dante's Divine Comedy there is, at the entrance to Hell, a sign saying..."Abandon all hope, ye who enter here". This is usually interpreted as meaning that Hell is final and immutable, and you are condemned forever... and just rubbing that fact in for good measure. But it can also be seen as direct instruction for release from Hell, hidden in perfect plain sight.

I used to spend a lot of time in Hell ....and occasionally still get a wiff of sulfur. It's a great spur to practice.

RichardH said:

In Dante's Divine Comedy there is, at the entrance to Hell, a sign saying..."Abandon all hope, ye who enter here".

Thank you.
thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

The times - countless, upon countless times - that so many people have given the translation as "Abandon hope all ye who enter here."
It makes me scream!
the difference is subtle, but it makes it whopping!

"Lasciate ogni speranza voi ch' entrate".

Bravo, bravissimo, Riccardo!

Hell is also considered a real place in Buddhist cosmology. Beings in Hell can transition out and improve their lot. And it's said that sometimes Bodhisattvas choose to go to Hell in order to help the suffering beings there. According to Buddhist cosmology and teachings, rebirth in hell is only transitory, unlike in some other traditions. I'll see if I can find some quotes on that.

Lady_Alison said:

Hell is considered a really place in the Judaic – Christian – islamic perspective, after the body dies.

is "hell" mentioned in Judaism, i.e., in the Old Testament? i have never read about it. Buddhism arose before Christianity & Islam. thus, was "hell" popularised by Buddha? :hair:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell

Think the Sumerians have the oldest written account of an 'underworld' - I've read conflicting versions on whether their accounts are faith, allegory or history... not sure that a soul would end up in hell after a transition in life but there are accounts of guardians of the underworld in a firey domain - the inhabitants include souls of the dead, reanimated bodies, scorpion men army, Jin and their cohorts and winged beings with 4 wings (which may have been fallen angels later but in the accounts they started in the underworld I think) - a couple of Gods as well down there to keep order... there was a lot of war and men being killed off (mostly by scorpion stings though not all were fatal... some just hurt really badly for ages!)

@AstralProjectee Are you asking about Buddhist hells, or hell in any tradition?

I am asking about Buddhist hells

What do you do? IMO, you suffer greatly.

@AstralProjectee said: What do you do if you go to hell?

You dwell.

So look around.

Be in hell.

Maybe you are a demon.

Perhaps you have simply died and experienced the six realms of the Bardo - the gap between rebirth - the hell realm being the sixth domain.

In Buddhism there ain't no per omnia saecula saeculorum - if you are in hell it don't have to be for all eternity.

The Tibetan Book of the Dead teaches that you dwell in the hell realm until negative karma is used up - then you're reborn into another realm.

Whatever.

Like I said - you get to hell - look around - take notes - tell the rest of us what to expect when you get back......

What do you do if you go to hell?

My answer is: "If hell is a place 'to go to' then I would say the question is probably a moot point. Be what you are where you are as anything else is self-delusion."

As to where hell is to be found, I would venture that hell is where suffering is. Therefore, if you are not suffering then you are not in hell and need not worry. As the old "hellish" earworm-creating song by Bobby McFerrin says "Don't worry, Be Happy."

Nanimo :rarr: :om:

federica said:

RichardH said:

In Dante's Divine Comedy there is, at the entrance to Hell, a sign saying..."Abandon all hope, ye who enter here".

Thank you.
thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

The times - countless, upon countless times - that so many people have given the translation as "Abandon hope all ye who enter here."
It makes me scream!
the difference is subtle, but it makes it whopping!

"Lasciate ogni speranza voi ch' entrate".

Bravo, bravissimo, Riccardo!

Well.... truth be told.....um... I always got that quote wrong...... until hearing a Bhikkhu (Venerable Punnadhammo) use it correctly to convey the idea of it being instruction for release from Hell.

....Got it right now though.


:thumbup:

"The only way out is through" - Helen Keller

AstralProjectee said:

What do you do if you go to hell? You probably don't get this question asked very much. But I want to know.

Peace!

There is only one answer anyone can have to that, if you follow the Bodhisattva path:

Help all beings. Even in Hell, help all beings. If you find yourself in any of the countless realms, help all beings. It's as simple as that.

How do we do this in Hell? How should I know. If I get to Hell, I'll discover the answer to that question and let you know.

Larson's Inferno

If you end up in a hell realm, you do your best to get out. There are cold hells, and hot hells. Life in them is transitory, so you're not there forever, you can earn your way out. According to some sources, the cold hells are located under the Himalayas, and the hot hells are under Bodghaya. Here's some more info:
http://www.newbuddhist.com/discussion/13661/hell-realms-debate
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sagga/loka.html

AstralProjectee said:

What do you do if you go to hell? You probably don't get this question asked very much. But I want to know.

Peace!

You suffer a bit , you get used to your suffering routine , the suffering becomes less and less intense , until there is none left, and hell magically disappears. ( hell functions as long as the 'pacient' feels that is tortured and doesn't get used to suffering).

You first realize that you are in hell.
You realize the causes and conditions that brought you to hell.
You actively abandon said causes and conditions.
Tread the Noble Eightfold Path.

When "you" go to hell you suffer, in some ways more so than you would as a ghost or as an animal. Also, there is no Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, and so you are ingorant and continue to make terrible decisions that force you to continue to take birth in hell. It is very sad. When the Buddha would talk to others about how long a person could remain in hell, he would refrain from analogy since it would frighten people too much. Your best option? Use this precious human birth to destroy the hinderances and escape birth in hell forever.

AstralProjectee said:

What do you do if you go to hell? You probably don't get this question asked very much. But I want to know.

What are you doing right this second? 'Cause you're already in hell. The hell we create for ourselves...

Not to hijack the thread at least for too long but what do you guys think of the statement:

"It is a plain fact that our external environment is a product of our sense organs."

Agree or Disagree?