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Mindfulness is one of the most influential teachings of Gautama Buddha. Examples of karmic retributions are commonly found in many Buddhist scriptures to enlighten us on how our lives are the creation of our minds.
One day, Gautama Buddha walked past a Brahman’s house and saw no one inside. However, he noticed the luxurious interior of the house was filled with elegant and inviting furniture. There was even a chaise lounge in the living room.
A dog was having its meal on a fine chaise lounge in the living room. This dog was known to be highly doted by the Brahman, for it was treated with privilege. No one in the house was allowed to be on this particular chaise lounge except for the dog, which was allowed to have its three meals there. It would always be served with high-quality food in beautiful dishes.
The dog noticed Gautama Buddha looking right into the house and immediately greeted him with a furious bark. Buddha said to it before leaving, “I see that you are still harbouring the three evil roots (greed, hatred and ignorance) both in the present and in the past life.”
The dog understood the words of Lord Buddha and felt straight out dejected. The Brahman noticed that his dog was lying listlessly on the floor when he returned home and asked his servant, “Was the dog offended? Why is it so unhappy?” The servant told the Brahman what had just happened between Gautama Buddha and his beloved dog.
Feeling infuriated, the Brahman decided to look for Gautama Buddha. “For you are always so compassionate, Lord Buddha, why did you have to scold my dog? It is so unhappy now,” the Brahman questioned Buddha.
Gautama Buddha replied, “You care for the dog because it was your father in its previous life. There is a karmic relationship between the both of you.”
The Brahman was taken aback by what Buddha said and he could not bring himself to believe his words. Hence, he asked, “How can you prove to me that it is the reincarnation of my father?”
Gautama Buddha said, “He is obsessed with wealth accumulation. When you were little, he hid a box of treasures for fear of losing them. His strong attachment to his treasures has led him to reincarnate into your house pet. He loves you deeply and has never left his favourite chaise lounge. You could verify with the dog where your father’s treasures were hidden."
Upon returning home, the Brahman kneeled beside his dog and asked, “Please prove to me that you were my biological father and take me to your hidden treasures.”
The dog brought him to his favourite chaise lounge and started sniffing and digging the area under it. The Brahman watched his dog in incredulity and ordered his servant to help remove the floor tiles. True enough, after digging for a while, there were treasure boxes hidden deep underground.
The Brahman shuddered in tears upon witnessing this whole incident unfolding before him. He said, “The effect of a negative and unwholesome mind is terrifying! How sad and pathetic that my father has actually reincarnated into a dog so he could continue to protect his treasures!”
In conclusion, it is imperative for all to cultivate right mindfulness in all aspects of life. A negative and unwholesome mind will lead to negative consequences in the future. Attachment is like a rope, while greed is like a shackle. Despite abandoning our bodies when we die, our future will still be dictated by the shackles of Samsara (cycle of rebirth) which throw us into troubling karma. Hence, we need to apply the Dharma teachings in our daily lives and remove any negative habitual behaviours to achieve a pure mind finally.
Translated by Calista Chan
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