Oh, Hell!

"Professor Sato described in detail the meaning of the notion of hell in Shin Buddhism contrasting it with the Christian concept of hell. In Buddhism, hell is not a place outside of our own consciousness and is closely connected with our present experiences of suffering. Hell represents the depths of suffering experienced by the human mind. Without its basis in human experience the idea of hell would be without meaning. Professor Sato said on this subject that “Hell images are the means to help awaken us to the reality of our suffering”. Conversely the idea of heaven is bound up with experiences of happiness and pleasure." Beneath the Clouds