Rinpoche’s discourse in Jun-1990
2000-05-20(about 10 yrs later) Rinpoche repeated
2005-01-01(about 5 yrs later again) uploaded in website
There were two old ladies who practised Buddhism. One day, they arranged to go to the temple for worship. On the way, they saw a naked corpse. Madam Chan immediately thought, “There is a doctrine from the Sixth Patriarch of Zen Buddhism: ‘Since there is nothing (emptiness), where can dust be gathered?’” Madam Chan ‘let go’ of her earthly thoughts and went. Madam Lee saw that the corpse was completely naked, exposed for all to see, and could not resist her sadness. She felt that this was a ‘person’ after all, the remains of a sentient being, and one must pay respects. Therefore, she took off her own jacket to cover up the corpse.
Since both old ladies practised the dharma inadequately, when they died they did not manage to reach the Buddha Realm, they returned to be human beings instead. Madam Chan returned as the wife of a wealthy government official. She had five sons and five daughters and it was said to be the ‘perfect ten’. Furthermore, she was surrounded by her children and grandchildren with an abundance of wealth and happiness. Madam Lee returned as the wife of an ordinary man with no children. Her husband had neither great wealth nor status, but she was adequate in her everyday living.
After they finished their second lifetime, they had to report to the King of Hell. Madam Lee asked, “Why didn’t my act of kindness bring me wealth and fame?”
The King of Hell replied, “Madam Chan could recite the doctrine from the Sixth Patriarch of Zen Buddhism, representing the principle of ‘without’ form and showing that her inner state of mind was good. She was rewarded accordingly. She did experience the glamorous side of life, with all the wealth and happiness that came with ultimate fame and fortune. However, she was the wife of a government official, throughout her life she suffered from constant disputes, power struggles and family rifts. She had to endure her husband’s infidelity with numerous wives and concubines. She had to bear the responsibilities of a large family. She had to experience the pain and suffering of childbirth and she had to go through all the maternal anxieties and heartaches for her children. She had to work hard her whole life. I sentenced Madam Chan to such a life because she quoted the Buddhist doctrine of the Sixth Patriarch. I wanted to test whether she could really ‘let go’. As for you, your living was average and quiet, you did not experience any of Madam Chan’s pain and suffering. Your life was calm and peaceful, you had a good marriage, and enjoyed the fruits of an easy and carefree life. In comparison with Madam Chan, is that not better? I sentenced you to such a life because you achieved the state of ‘Renunciation’ from the ‘Four Infinite Hearts’ (Compassion, Sympathy, Joy and Renunciation). You showed compassion and sympathy when you ‘gave up’ your own jacket to cover up the corpse. Your action represented the principle of ‘with’ form and your inner state of mind was also good. Therefore, I gave you an alternative reward of good fortune.”
After listening to the judgment from the King of Hell, Madam Lee suddenly understood everything. During her previous life, she had not awakened to the Truth of the Dharma. The states of ‘with’ form and ‘without’ form are equally important. One must not stubbornly hold onto ‘Emptiness’, nor must one stubbornly hold onto ‘Possessiveness’. Otherwise, what is the true meaning of good fortune? Rather than constantly striving for fame, glamour, wealth and luxury in one’s life, it would be better to enjoy the good fortune of an easy and carefree life.
Madam Chan also said, “When I walked past the corpse and took no action, I thought it represented the state of ‘Mindlessness’. It never occurred to me that I would end up in such an aristocratic family. All my life, all I could do was to ‘suffer’ in silence! There is a big distance between my dharma practice and the true state of ‘Mindlessness’. I am willing to accept any judgment that the King of Hell bestows upon me in my next life.”
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