Observations placeholder

The Lotus sutra – translated by Burton Watson
Because he cut off the seeds of Buddhahood
he will suffer ..penalty.

If he should become a camel
or be born in the shape of a donkey,
his body will constantly bear heavy burdens
and have the stick or whip laid on it.
He will think only of water and grass
and understand nothing else.

Because he slandered this sutra,
this is the punishment he will incur.

Or he will be born as a jackal
who comes to the village,
body all scabs and sores,
having only one eye,
by the boys
beaten and cuffed,
suffering grief and pain,
sometimes to the point of death.

And after he has died
he will be born again in the body of a serpent,
long and huge in size,
measuring five hundred yojanas,
deaf, witless, without feet,
slithering along on his belly,
with little creatures
biting and feeding on him,
day and night undergoing hardship,
never knowing rest.

Because he slandered this sutra,
this is the punishment he will incur.