________________
question was raised and the Guru replied, “The first hell is here on this earth and the other is underneath this earth.'
The first hell, that is on this earth, is in one's own body. When the worms of malice and spite are in one's body, then it is hell. But remember, hell is not there continuously. Really speaking; the body is like a heavenly chariot. To the ignorant alone this body is a source of endless pain. To the wise, it is a means of enjoying endless happiness—an instrument for attaining infinite freedom and bliss. . .
When spite and malice burn the body, when the fire of anger gets fiercer, when pride rises up like a mountain to obstruct the view, when attachment like a forest ever growing thicker, makes it dark all around, and when greed goes on collecting more and more, never satisfied, -then and then only the body becomes a hell!
Can greed be ever satisfied? When will the valley of greed be filled: When will the mountain of pride crumble down: When will the forest of attachment be thinned? When will the fire of anger be extinguished:
This valley of greed is so vast, so deep, that even if the whole world's wealth were thrown in to fill it up, it would never be full and there would be space for still more.
48
