Maudgalyāyana, who was renowned for his super powers and ability to communicate with beings in other realms,
Here is his talk with Hungry Ghosts: Tales of Karmic Retribution
1. A hungry ghost asked: “I constantly suffer from headaches. What is the cause of this?”
Maudgalyāyana replied: “In your previous life as a human, you enjoyed striking people’s heads with a staff. That is why you are now suffering this retribution as a hungry ghost.”
2. A hungry ghost asked: “I have great wealth but enjoy wearing ragged, torn clothing. What is the meaning of this?”
Maudgalyāyana replied: “When you were a human, you practiced **dāna** (giving/generosity) and cultivated merit, but later you regretted it. That is why you now possess the wealth but suffer this retribution as a hungry ghost.”
3. A hungry ghost asked: “I am constantly homeless, always sleeping on the streets and in alleyways. Why is this so?”
Maudgalyāyana replied: “In your life as a human, when guests arrived and asked to stay, you refused them. When they finally gave up and decided not to stay, you became angry. Because of this, you now suffer this retribution as a hungry ghost.”
4. A hungry ghost asked: “I can never eat enough to feel full, even five measures of food aren’t enough. What fault did I commit to cause this?”
Maudgalyāyana replied: “When you were a human and invited others to eat, you never allowed them to eat their fill. That is why you now suffer this retribution as a hungry ghost.”
5. A hungry ghost asked: “I have many sons who are all handsome and beloved, but they all die young. The grief rips my heart out every time. What is the reason for this?”
Maudgalyāyana replied: “In your life as a human, you were delighted to see your sons commit **killing** (killing living beings), and you even ate the flesh of the creatures they killed with them. Because of their killing, your sons received the karma of a short lifespan and early death. And because you rejoiced in their killing, you now receive the anguish of losing them, and you will further suffer retribution in the hell realm later.”
6. A hungry ghost asked: “There is a large dog with sharp teeth and eyes that glow red that constantly comes to bite me. What is happening?”
Maudgalyāyana replied: “In your life as a human, you enjoyed taking dogs out hunting and harming living beings. You lacked any sense of **compassion**. You will further suffer retribution in the hell realm later.”
7. A hungry ghost asked: “I suffer from constant, unbearable pain all over my body. What is the cause of this?”
Maudgalyāyana replied: “In your life as a human, you enjoyed catching fish. After catching them, you would often throw the netted fish onto the sand, letting them suffer greatly until they died. That is why you now receive this retribution.”
8. A hungry ghost asked: “I have always been very stupid and know nothing. Why is this?”
Maudgalyāyana replied: “In your life as a human, you enjoyed forcing or heavily urging people to drink alcohol, making them drunk and muddled. That is why you are now unintelligent.”