“Monks, there is a hell called ‘Great Parilāha’. There, whatever sight a hell being sees with his eye is unlikable, not likable; undesirable, not desirable; unpleasant, not pleasant. Whatever sound a hell being hears … Whatever odor a hell being smells … Whatever flavor a hell being tastes … Whatever touch a hell being feels … Whatever thought a hell being knows with his mind is unlikable, not likable; undesirable, not desirable; unpleasant, not pleasant.”
When the Buddha said this, one of the monks asked the Buddha, “Bhante, that feeling really is painful, it’s like burning. Is there any other burning more painful and terrifying than this one?”
“There is, monk.”
“But bhante, what is it?”
“Monk, there are people who don’t truly understand about suffering, the origin of suffering, the end of suffering, and the path that leads to the end of suffering. They take pleasure in formations that lead to rebirth, old age, and death; to sorrow, crying, pain, sadness, and distress. Since they take pleasure in such formations, they continue to accumulate formations that lead to rebirth, old age, and death; to sorrow, crying, pain, sadness, and distress. Having accumulated formations that lead to rebirth, old age, and death; to sorrow, crying, pain, sadness, and distress, they burn with the pain of rebirth, old age, and death; of sorrow, crying, pain, sadness, and distress. They’re not freed from rebirth, old age, and death; from sorrow, crying, pain, sadness, and distress. I say, they’re not freed from suffering.
“Monk, there are people who truly understand about suffering, the origin of suffering, the end of suffering, and the path that leads to the end of suffering. They don’t take pleasure in formations that lead to rebirth, old age, and death; to sorrow, crying, pain, sadness, and distress. Since they don’t take pleasure in such formations, they don’t accumulate formations that lead to rebirth, old age, and death; to sorrow, crying, pain, sadness, and distress. Having ended formations that lead to rebirth, old age, and death; to sorrow, crying, pain, sadness, and distress, they don’t burn with the pain of rebirth, old age, and death; of sorrow, crying, pain, sadness, and distress. They’re freed from rebirth, old age, and death; from sorrow, crying, pain, sadness, and distress. I say, they’re freed from suffering.
“Therefore, monks, you should make an effort to understand: ‘This is suffering.’ You should make an effort to understand: ‘This is the origin of suffering.’ You should make an effort to understand: ‘This is the end of suffering.’ You should make an effort to understand: ‘This is the path that leads to the end of suffering.’”
