Namo Amituofo!
Heard a story from Ven. Jing Jie while travelling to work today.
A young Chinese scholar, Chen was making his way to the capital for the annual imperial examination. While resting, he met a fortune teller who asked him where he was going. Chen thought "Why not I find out if I could pass the examination?" The fortune teller looked at his mian xiang (face), and replied sternly "Young Man, my advice to you is to make your way home to have a last reunion with your folks. You don't have much time left."
Chen was depressed by what he heard. He dropped the idea of taking the examination and headed home. When he was approaching the river, he saw a woman carrying two toddlers trying to drown herself and her children. Chen stopped the woman, asking why she wanted to end her life. The woman wept "My husband asked me to sell the pig for 10 taels, which I did. Only did I realised the 10 taels were fake metals plated with silver. He would kill me for that. I rather end my own life rather to die from his beating."
Chen thought, since he was dying, he asked the woman to show him the fake money. Quietly, he swapped her bag of money with his. "Oh, Madam, the 10 taels are real. Bite them if you don't believe", exclaimed Chen. The woman did as told and was surprised to discover that what Chen said was true. She thanked Chen and left happily with her children.
Continuing his journey, Chen chanced upon a deserted temple. Seeing that the sun has set, he decided to take shelter for the night at the temple. Not long along, Chen dozed off due to exhaustion. Out a sudden, he heard someone shouting his name. When he opened his heavy eyes, he saw a figurine resembling Kuan Gong (the Chinese God of War), approaching him and furiously shouting "Get out of the temple!" In shock, he hurried out of the temple. The moment he set his foot out the premise, the temple pillars started to give way and in minutes, all that remained was ruin. When Chen recovered from state of shock, he felt a sense of relief and calm. He thought since he has escaped death, why not try his luck at the imperial examination.
On his way to the Capital, he met the same fortune teller. The fortune teller was surprised to see a change in Chen's mian xiang. He told Chen, "Young man, the shine on your forehead is extraordinary, different from 2 days back. You must have done a great charitable deed. Trust me, go for the examination, you will make it with flying colours." Chen followed the fortune teller's advice and he really became the top scholar of the year.
This story tells us that though we may suffer misfortune due to our past negative karmic actions, our kind deeds in this lifetime could possibly delay the ripening of negative karma. This gives us time to focus on our cultivation to transcend to the western paradise.
Namo Amituofo!
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Namo Amituofo!
ReplyDeleteWell, this story is really inspiring and true. When we read it, it really touches our heart to perform good deeds, but always remember, although good deeds will certainly bring good results in this very life time or the next, never expect it to happen.
Because when you perform a good deed with your mind expecting something in return, then your good result/karma is limited. This is called "Fu De" which brings good fortunes only for samsaric life.
Whereas a good deed with no "self" and no "recipient" in mind is a "Gong De" which we can exchange with reborn in Sukhavati (Ji Le Shi Jie).
I myself has been doing good deeds whenever I see opportunities arise. But it is hard to loose self and others. I will always remember the good deeds I performed, to whom and when. So what we can do to reach a no self and others is to perform more to make it our habit thus become our nature. When it is our nature, like eating and sleeping, we don't think about it anymore.
Namo Amituofo!
Namo Amituofo!
ReplyDeleteTo continue on my last comment regarding "Fu De" and "Gong De". Venerable Master Ying Guang said, not to worry too much or get confused on how to get which one. Just dedicate all merit, be it with-self or no-self, Fu De or Gong De for a reborn in Sukhavati Ji Le Shi Jie.
Namo Amituofo!