The Butcher and the End of the Wicked

Under the blazing sun of Shravasti, the agonized squeals of pigs echoed from the largest house at the village entrance. This was the home of Chunda, a butcher renowned throughout the region. Rumors spread that his roasted pork was so exquisite that even kings sent servants to purchase it. Yet few knew the horrific secret behind such culinary delight.

Chunda was a wealthy man, large in body with a rosy complexion. He raised and slaughtered pigs using a method unknown to the world today. When it was time for slaughter, he tied the pig tightly, preventing any movement. Then he struck its body repeatedly from head to toe, softening the meat without killing it. The animal screamed in agony, but Chunda showed no mercy. He devised an iron tool to pry open its jaws and poured hot water down its throat. The water did not kill, but burned its insides until the pig defecated uncontrollably. Watching the filth flow out, Chunda felt satisfied. Once the intestines were clean, he boiled the same water and poured it over the living skin. The flesh peeled away in patches, the hair fell off, and the meat turned pale pink. Finally, he slit its throat, collected the blood, roasted the carcass, and painted the skin red with fresh blood. This dish made him rich quickly.

Chunda lived in luxury, never making merit, offerings, or acts of generosity. Day after day, he ate and drank excessively, enjoying life with his family. Whenever a monk walked by with his alms bowl, Chunda would turn his face away in contempt. He thought, "I am wealthy and healthy, getting everything I desire. How pitiful those ascetics are!"

Then, his blessings from merit ran dry. One day, Chunda suddenly fell ill with a strange disease. He writhed and screamed, but his cries were not human; they sounded like the squealing of pigs. He crawled on the ground, running from the front of the house to the back, banging his head against walls, diving under beds, and overturning furniture. His massive body threw aside family members who tried to hold him. He continued to run and scream as if being beaten, scalded with boiling water, and having his throat cut. Terrified, his family barred all doors, trapping him inside. For seven days, his anguished cries filled the neighborhood, striking fear into everyone who heard them.

On the seventh day, Chunda let out one final shriek and collapsed dead. His body was blackened as if burned by fire. Monks passing by had heard the screams for days, assuming he was still slaughtering pigs. They approached the Buddha to report this. The Buddha sat in silence, then spoke:

"Monks, there is no slaughter happening here. Chunda, the butcher, has already died. He just spent seven days experiencing the suffering of a pig, enduring the pain he inflicted upon animals. Now, he has fallen into Avici Hell."

The Buddha then recited a verse: "Suffering arrives in this very life; future suffering will be far greater. The wicked are full of tears, harvesting the bitter fruits they have sown."

Chunda had created heavy karma through taking life throughout his entire existence, never performing a single act of merit to balance it. Therefore, karmic retribution manifested partially in his current life, and after death, his suffering would be ten thousand times, even a million times worse.

The Meaning of the Story

The tale of the butcher Chunda serves as a profound warning about cause and effect (karmic law). No matter how wealthy or successful a wicked person may seem, they are merely exhausting the remaining blessings from their past lives. When merit runs out, negative karmic results appear immediately in this life, becoming even more terrifying in the next. Do not assume that evil goes unpunished simply because you see bad people prospering. Nor should you doubt your path when doing good brings difficulties. Trust deeply in cause and effect (karmic law), live virtuously, and stay away from evil deeds.

Compiled from a dharma talk by Venerable Thich Chan Quang