Page 66 - Desire to Disaster

of excruciating pain and heart-rending misery. There is no
respite, even for a fraction of a moment.”

Agonies of Nigoda
The monk continued, “Those who live in nigoda are known
as nigodiyas. They are one sensed beings. Many nigodiya
souls live in one body. And suffer infinitely more than hellish
beings. In nigoda, a living being is born and dies 18 times
in one moment. It keeps taking birth and dying in the same
place. And experiences the most horrific agonies each time it
is born and dies. And this cruel process goes on for ananta
kala {incredibly, unimaginably long period of time.)

The monk thus described the situation in naraka and nigoda.

When the king had asked the monk to explain naraka
and nigoda he had done so in anger. But when he heard
the terrifying realities of naraka and nigoda, his arrogance
vanished. The king bowed at the feet of the monk, and with
respect he seated the monks on a high seat. With folded
hands, the king asked the monk, “What leads to rebirth in
naraka or nigoda?”

Rebirth in Naraka or Nigoda

The monk said, “Great ruler, the five senses and the mind are
enemies of the soul. Their longings lead to disaster. Those
who become slaves of their sensuous cravings do the most
violent and despicable deeds. They commit violence, they lie,
they steal, they commit adultery and dedicate their lives to
the pursuit of material wealth. They obsessively pursue all
possibilities of sensual pleasure. Such people are reborn in
naraka or nigoda. Lack of control over the five senses and
the mind leads to rebirth in naraka or nigoda.”

The king was shocked to hear this. He was rudely awakened
from his apathy. His arrogance shattered and he blurted,

66 Desire to Disaster