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The purpose of learning Buddhism is to free oneself and others from suffering to attain enlightenment.
To release oneself from suffering, one must always be aware of one’s actions, words and intentions. If there are times when one is swayed from the right path, one must have the discipline to spur oneself to be more attentive in cultivation.
To liberate others from suffering, however, would require teaching by opportunity. Buddha said that sentient beings have eighty-four thousand afflictions. Each of us is of a different mind. Therefore, one must wait for the right moment and use a suitable method so that the person can accept the teachings. The key to releasing the sufferings of others is to do or say things that can reach people’s hearts. This is the best way to help others.
There was a story that originated from a village in Nara, Japan.
On a vast and empty land, there stood a small and dilapidated house. In it lived old Mr Aokuro and his daughter.
There was a snowstorm on a freezing winter night. The cold winter air seeped through the holes on the walls, filling the house with cold air. The wind was howling, and the snow fell relentlessly. However, the father and daughter slept soundly, oblivious to the snowstorm.
Suddenly, the door of the house door opened slightly, and two men tiptoed into the house. Relieved to hear loud snoring, they started to sneak around the house looking for things to steal. However, they only found two sacks of rice and nothing else. While they were on the way out, with each of them carrying a sack of rice on their back, Mr Aokuro suddenly coughed and woke up. He noticed somebody at the door, so he called out, “Who is it?”
The thieves were caught by surprise and tripped over each other.
The old man got up from the bed and walked towards the door. “The night is late, and yet both of you have come to visit us amid a huge snowstorm. Please come in quickly and have a cup of tea!” said the old man calmly to the men lying on the ground.
Upon hearing this, the two thieves looked at each other and pondered, “Obviously, this old man knows we are thieves, and yet he is treating us so nicely. He must be a fool!”
The old man called out to them warmly again, “Come in. It is cold outside.” The thieves thought that he must be a senile old man, so there should be nothing to be afraid of. They picked themselves up and strutted into the house. The old man woke his daughter up and asked her to make some tea.
“I do apologise that both of you have to come all the way to visit me in such bad weather. I am so grateful to both of you!” said Mr Aokuro. The thieves were baffled and thought, “Obviously, he must have known that we are here to steal. Why is he apologising to us and thanking us?”
One of the thieves asked, “Old man, do you know why we are here?” The old man replied, “Of course I do. But I am so sorry that although I have two plots of land, the harvest for this year was bad. I had only managed to harvest two sacks of rice. What I owed you in the past should undoubtedly be repaid. To make you come all the way to collect it yourself, for this, I am grateful to you.”
At this moment, the daughter brought out steaming cups of tea. The old man offered the hot tea to the thieves and said, “The weather is so cold, please drink some hot tea.” The thieves started to feel guilty and ashamed. The thief asked again, “When did you borrow from us?”
The old man replied, “It must be in our past life. There must be a debt unpaid by me. If there were no debts created in the past life, you would not have come to my house in the middle of the night when there are so many rich families in the village. Therefore, this must be our pre-destined relationship!”
The other thief, who had been keeping quiet all along, suddenly kneeled and bowed to the old man. He said, “We are so ashamed of our actions. Everyone in the village knows Mr Aokuro to be a sincere and honest man, yet, we thought you were just a fool. We are so ashamed of ourselves.”
The thief lamented, “I’ve always wanted to start afresh and be a better person. However, it is easier said than done. With my life filled with difficulties, how is one to do good?
The old man replied, “My life is difficult, and I am poor, but life can still go on. To lead a simple life free from worries and with ease is a carefree life.”
The old man’s heartfelt words had moved the thieves. He thought, “The old man handled the situation calmly difficult life with such willingness. His must-have cultivated very deeply.” So, the thief bowed humbly and said, “You have such a high level of moral character. I wish to become your apprentice. I hope you can accept me out of compassion. The other thief also said, “I also want to learn from you. Please do accept me as your apprentice.”
The old man replied humbly, “I am also an apprentice, same as you. Let us learn together and encourage each other to progress. So they kneeled and bowed to Mr Aokuro and became apprentices of the old man. The thieves had decided to change for good. They will respect the teacher and his teachings.
Mr Aokuro was a Buddhist who practised Buddhism diligently and with dedication. He treated people with respect and love. So when external adversities arise, he is able to face them with calmness, solving the difficulties with wisdom and compassion. In the midst of it, he helped reform the thieves to change their path and become good persons. This samadhi and wisdom come from vigorous daily spiritual cultivation. Cultivation starts from within. If your mind is aligned with Buddha’s teachings, you can face any difficulties with ease. You will also be able to turn bad situations good with wisdom.
Therefore, one must practice cultivation mindfully and reflect on one’s always reflect on one’s actions.
Translated by Christine
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