《The Love of Life》- A Dragon In Disguise

Stories for children of all ages
translated by GB Talovich
Edited by Silent Voices

There was an old man named Chu. He was well over sixty. He had done many good things throughout his life. In the old days, transportation was very difficult. He donated money to have roads made and bridges built so people could get around more easily. People in need could always count on him for help. His neighbors had many good things to say about him.

One day he saw a fisherman on his way to the market to sell a carp he had caught. This beautiful fish had red markings as bright and warm as a fire in the winter. Its eyes were as shiny as stars in the sky. Old Chu thought it would be a shame to eat such a beautiful fish. He bought the carp for a good price and put it in a pond. He felt very good about that.

But Chu was an old man, and nobody lives forever. Not long after that, he felt weak, very light-headed, and very sad. He thought he might not live much longer. As he was lying home sick, a little serving boy came in, and said, "Mister Chu, my master has sent me to invite you to eat with him."

Old Chu didn't recognize whose serving boy it was, but he thought getting out of bed might do him good; a meal out might lift up his spirits. He followed the boy. "I must really be sick," he thought as they made their way, "Everything looks hazy, and glowing in a golden light." 

Before long, he found himself standing in front of an ornate palace with carved pillars and painted beams. A sign over the front door read, "The Crystal Palace". 

"Strange! Isn't that the name of the dragon's palace?" wondered Old Chu.

In a few moments, out came his host, a most impressive man with thick eye-brows, long eyes, and five long strands of whiskers. He looked lively and powerful, yet virtuous. After they had chatted a bit, Old Chu found out that his host was none other than the Dragon King himself! 

Together they enjoyed a royal feast. The Dragon King told Old Chu, "One of my sons was out fooling around the other day, and was kidnapped by a bandit who was going to murder him! Fortunately, you were there to save him. For this we are most grateful.

"Actually, your time on this earth is just about up, but because you have rescued a dragon in the guise of a fish, you have earned the right to live longer. I have prepared this simple dinner to express my gratitude, and explain this to you." Old Chu humbly replied, "I hardly dare to accept your generosity. From now on, I will do even more good deeds to show my deep gratitude."

After their feast, Old Chu woke up in bed with a full stomach, "It must have been a dream," he told himself. "But if it was a dream., why am I so full?" 

He did many more good deeds, and died peacefully many years later without any suffering at the age of one hundred and twenty.

related post: 《The Love of Life》- General Mao and The Turtle

Source Of Information:
《Wisdom of the Buddhas》, by Venerable Wu Ling, based on the Talks of Venerable Master Chin Kung, translated by Silent Voices, published in August, 2012, distributed by Amitabha Buddhist Society Malaysia (92, Jalan Pahang, 53300 Gombak, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
*** The information provided above does not contain personal opinion of this blog.

《The Love of Life》- The Mother Deer

Stories for children of all ages
translated by GB Talovich
Edited by Silent Voices

The forest was very still in the early morning. The rising sun lit up the earth, the forest, and the plains. The mountains glowed with a beautiful light, and the water glistened on the ripples in the stream. Everything was peaceful. 

Suddenly a man appeared. He hurried across the stream, and reached a meadow. He stopped and looked around him, as if he were looking for something. This man had a strong face, big ears, eyebrows like swords, and eyes like a tiger's. He had an adventurer's hat on his head. He held a bow in his left hand and his quiver of arrows hung on his right hip. He looked vigorous, tough, and lively. He loved the great outdoors, and he especially loved hunting. His name was Shu. 

He spotted a fawn coming out of the forest. Shu smiled and nocked an arrow. Zip! The fawn fell over almost as soon as the sound of the bow-string was heard. Shu was proud of his good shot. Just as he was about to go pick up his game, he saw the fawn's mother running to her child. 

When the mother deer saw what had happened to her baby, she whimpered and cried, and licked her baby's wound. 

Shu had never expected this to happen. He watched as the mother tended her baby, but Shu's aim had been too accurate. The wound was too deep, and before long, the little deer died. 

When the little deer died, its mother fell down dead, as well. Shu was amazed. He couldn't figure out why the mother deer had died, too. He took out his hunting knife and cut open her corpse to find out what was wrong. 

He saw that her organs, that everything inside of her had broken into tiny pieces! The mother deer was so sad that her baby had been killed that everything inside of her had burst from her sorrow.

Shu then became terribly sorry for what he had done. Right away, he broke his bow across his knee and threw his arrows into the stream. He left his home and went deep into the mountains to find a Teacher. He worked hard for many years and finally he became a great Buddhist, a great peacemaker.

related post: 《The Love of Life》- A Dragon In Disguise

Source Of Information:
《Wisdom of the Buddhas》, by Venerable Wu Ling, based on the Talks of Venerable Master Chin Kung, translated by Silent Voices, published in August, 2012, distributed by Amitabha Buddhist Society Malaysia (92, Jalan Pahang, 53300 Gombak, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
*** The information provided above does not contain personal opinion of this blog.

《The Love of Life》- The Sami Who Rescued The Ants

Stories for children of all ages
translated by GB Talovich
Edited by Silent Voices

 
A little monk who is not old enough to become ordained is called a "sami".

Once there was a little sami who studied Buddhism with a very wise Teacher. He was a very good student. He was respectful, sincere, and obedient. He learned very quickly.

The Teacher was so wise that he could foretell the future. The Teacher knew from the beginning that his little student could not live very long. One day he counted and realized that the little student had only seven days left to live. He felt very sad.

He called the little sami to him and said, "Little sami, you haven't seen your mother for a long time. I think you need a vacation. You run on home and visit your mother, and come back eight days from now." He did this so at least the little sami could die in his own parents' home.

When the little sami left, the Teacher was very sad. He thought he would never again see his little student.

Eight day later, who should show up but the little sami! His Teacher was delighted, but he was also puzzled, because the little student looked wonderful. He didn't look like someone who had been about to die.

Finally, the Teacher decided to find out what had happened. He told the boy, "Son, I have foretold the future many times, and I have never been wrong. I sent you home because you were doomed to die within seven days, but the seven days have already passed. Not only are you still alive, but you look great. The image of death has left you. How did you do this?"

The little sami was thunderstruck. He didn't have any idea how to answer his Teacher, so the Teacher entered the settled state of meditation. Before long, he understood.

"Son, on the way home, did you save some ants?"

"Yes, Teacher, on the way home I saw a whole bunch of ants trapped by some water. They were about to drown, so I got a piece of wood and rescued them."

"That's it, then. Your kind heart has earned you a long life. The wise men of old said, 'Saving one life earns more merit than building a temple, a pagoda of seven stories.' You have saved hundreds of lives, so you will live a very long time."

"You have earned a good future, but you still have to keep working to save living creatures. Spread the message of the Buddha. Teach all people to be compassionate. Tell everyone not to kill living creatures. Let all animals live in peace."

The little sami never forgot his Teacher's words. He worked very hard and became a great monk. He lived for a long, long time.　

related post: 《The Love of Life》- The Mother Deer

Source Of Information:
《Wisdom of the Buddhas》, by Venerable Wu Ling, based on the Talks of Venerable Master Chin Kung, translated by Silent Voices, published in August, 2012, distributed by Amitabha Buddhist Society Malaysia (92, Jalan Pahang, 53300 Gombak, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
*** The information provided above does not contain personal opinion of this blog.