Terrible and Harsh Prison of Hell and Prison of Animal Realm

So too, Monks, when one does not have confidence in [cultivating] wholesome qualities, when one does not have a sense of moral wrongdoing in [cultivating] wholesome qualities, when one does not have moral concern in [cultivating] wholesome qualities, when one does not have energy in [cultivating] wholesome qualities, when one does not have wisdom in [cultivating] wholesome qualities, in the Noble One’s discipline one is called a poor, impoverished, needy person.

Having no confidence, no sense of moral wrongdoing, no moral concern, no energy, no wisdom in [cultivating] wholesome qualities, that poor, impoverished, needy person engages in misconduct by body, speech, and mind. This, I say, is his getting into debt.

To conceal his bodily misconduct, … To conceal his verbal misconduct, … To conceal his mental misconduct, he nurtures an evil (unwholesome) desire. He wishes: Let no one know me; he intends [with the desire]: Let no one know me; he speaks statements [with the desire]: Let no one know me; he makes bodily endeavors [with the desire]: Let no one know me. This, I say, is the interest he must pay.

Well‑behaved fellow Monks speak thus about him: This Venerable One acts in such a way, behaves in such a way. This, I say, is his being advised.

When he has gone to the forest, to the foot of a tree, or to an empty dwelling, evil unwholesome thoughts accompanied by remorse attack him. This, I say, is his prosecution.

Then, with the breakup of the body, after death, that poor, impoverished, needy person who engaged in misconduct by body, speech, and mind is bound in the prison of hell or the prison of the animal realm.

I do not see, Monks, any other prison that is as terrible and harsh, [and] such an obstacle to attaining the unsurpassed security from bondage (Enlightenment), as the prison of hell or the prison of the animal realm.

(Reference: AN 6.45)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how through lacking confidence, moral wrongdoing, moral concern, energy, and wisdom to cultivate wholesome qualities, one is a “poor, impoverished, needy person”.

Through a lack of confidence, moral wrongdoing, moral concern, energy, and wisdom to cultivate wholesome qualities, one will engage in unwholesome conduct by body, speech, and mind. It is Right Intention, Right Speech, and Right Action that provide the wisdom of moral conduct by body, speech, and mind.

Right Intention: Mind

Right Speech: Speech

Right Action: Body

Through a lack of wholesome bodily, verbal, and mental conduct, one is reborn into the lower realms of hell and the animal realm.

The Buddha explains who being reborn into hell or the animal realm is like a prison. He shares this because once reborn into hell or the animal realm, it is very difficult to return back to the human or heavenly realms for an opportunity to attain Enlightenment.

Hell, nor the animal realm, are permanent, but once reborn into those realms, there is significant pain and misery with no ability to attain Enlightenment from those realms. It requires countless rebirths in those realms before a being can make it back to the human or heavenly realms for the opportunity to attain Enlightenment.

This is one of the reasons Gotama Buddha was so supportive, encouraging, and motivating to help as many beings as possible during his lifetime to attain Enlightenment. His Teachings helped countless people during his lifetime and after his death to live a better way of life, attain Enlightenment, and escape The Cycle of Rebirth.

Moral wrongdoing is the knowledge and understanding of what is wholesome or unwholesome related to bodily, verbal, and mental conduct.

Moral concern is to have care and an interest to improve one’s life and life practice by choosing to practice wholesome bodily, verbal, and mental conduct. To have regard that one’s moral conduct is unwise or unwholesome and needs to improve.

Detailed explanation of moral wrongdoing and moral concern is available in this same book series found in Chapter 25 of the book “Generosity” (Volume 13).