PureInsight | February 24, 2003
[PureInsight.org] Many people maintain that personal gains and losses are the result of their own pursuits and efforts. They do not believe in such things as fate, or that the path of one's life is pre-arranged according to karmic and predestined relationships. Actually, no matter how hard you try to get what you want, by fair or foul means, you will obtain what you seek only if it is predestined. The following story about Monk Jigong will explain this cosmic law. [Note: Jigong was a well-known Buddhist monk from the Southern Song Dynasty (1127 A.D.-1279 A.D.).]
One day, Jigong pawned his clothes for 150 strings of coins. He called out loudly as soon as he came out of the pawnshop, "Who will help me carry the money?" A man of heavy build came over, saying, "Monk, I will do it." Monk Jigong replied, "You heart is black, and I do not trust you with the money." Jigong then turned around and distributed the money among the poor people. Some were given two strings of coins, and some three. As Jigong continued to divide the money, there were soon only five strings of coins left. Jigong said, "Let the big fellow have some." The man grabbed the remaining coins and immediately ran away, but Jigong didn't chase him. All those who were carrying coins asked, "Monk, where do you want us to take the money?" Jigong answered, "You can do whatever you wish with it." So they all left.
The heavily built man ran through 17 alleyways with the five strings of money on his shoulders. Jigong, though, just casually strolled to one alleyway and waited there. Soon the man ran passed Jigong and Jigong grabbed him. Jigong said, "Nice try! Bad luck! If you had waited another moment, I would have given you the five strings of coins. It won't do if you steal them from me. You are predestined to have only half a string of coins. If you dare to run away with the five strings of coins, I will take you to the court of Qiantang County and file a lawsuit against you." Upon hearing Jigong's words, the man became afraid and ran away. Jigong called out, "Get him!" Being in such haste, the man did not watch where he was going and thus accidentally bumped into a ceramics vendor, breaking seventeen bowls and two plates. To compensate the vendor for his losses, the man had to pay him four and half strings of coins. Afterwards, the man had only half of a string of coins left. It is no wonder that Jigong had predicted that the man's heart was black and that he was predestined to own only half a string of coins.
This story was adapted from "The Complete Biography of Jigong."
Translated from:
Adapted version of http://www.zhengjian.org/zj/articles/2002/6/20/10635.html
