Spoken by Supreme Master
Ching Hai, Japan, October 1, 1991 (originally in Chinese)
The
first precept that we have to observe in spiritual practice is "ahimsa,"
meaning "non-violence." This story discusses the ahimsa ideal.
One
day, a poor man was walking through a mango grove, where he saw many
mangoes on the trees that looked extremely luscious and tempting. He
was very hungry because he had not eaten for three days. So he quickly
picked up a stone and threw it at one of the trees. A few huge mangoes
fell on the ground and the man was very happy. He then picked up the
mangoes and had a hearty meal.
It
just so happened that the king was playing chess with his beautiful
consorts in the mango grove at the time, and the stone that struck the
tree had felled the fruit and then landed on the king's head. Fortunately,
the king's hat protected his scalp, but the stone knocked it off, and
thus the poorest man met the richest man in the kingdom. The king, feeling
very lucky about his close call, showed no interest in investigating
the cause. However, the consorts and ministers by his side were very
angry, and they hunted for the offender who had thrown the stone. They
could not figure out why someone would dare to throw a stone at the
king. On the other hand, they were also eager to earn some credit for
their work. They soon arrested the poor man, held court hearings on
the spot, and condemned him to death for assaulting the king.
Then
the king rose from his seat and questioned the ministers about why they
had condemned the man to death. He then ordered the stone thrower to
be brought before him and asked, "Why did you throw the stone?"
"To get mangoes from the tree," replied the man. "Did
you get any?" "Yes, your majesty." "Have you eaten
the mangoes?" "Yes, your majesty."
The
king next turned to his ministers and said, "The poor man was hungry,
and he struck the tree with this stone. He got some mangoes and ate
them. Now tell me, how long will he be free from hunger after eating
those mangoes?" "About twenty-four hours, your majesty. He
won't be hungry for a whole day." "That's right. Now I will
pronounce my judgment." The entire crowd waited anxiously, thinking,
"Could there be anything worse than the death sentence? We have
already condemned the man to death. How else does the king want him
to be punished?"
Then
the king announced, "I command that from this day on until the
end of his life on earth, this poor man shall receive from us enough
food to feed himself. Convey my order at once to the minister of economics."
Everyone was amazed and confused. What kind of punishment was this?
They had never heard of such a judgment. The queen thought that it was
because she had served the king well, and thus put him in a good mood.
She smiled, thinking that it was her merit.
"My
dear!" said the king to the queen, "Tell me, is the mango
tree a sentient or an insentient object?" "An insentient object,
my lord," answered the queen. "And how about me?" asked
the king. And the queen replied, "What a question to ask, great
one. Humans, the highest of creatures, are sentient beings, and you
are a jewel among humans, saintly, great, virtuous and wise."
The
king continued, "Then, my beloved, since I am a sentient being,
how am I worthy of my human status if I fail to prove that I am better
than that tree? What good is there for God to give me this human status?"
The queen said, "You are, my lord, worthier than all other men
for the human status that God has given you. But why do you say this?
What do you mean?"
"Look!
That poor man struck the tree with a stone, and the tree gave him luscious
fruit to eat, which fulfilled his hunger for a day. That stone also
hit me. Since I am the lord of all sentient beings and the gem among
humans, should I not prove myself worthier than the tree? (Master and
everyone laugh; applause.) That's why I have ordered that his food be
provided for the rest of his life."
Immediately,
the queen, consorts, ministers, subordinates and servants all fell at
the king's feet, prostrating to him. They glorified him, proclaiming,
"Oh! Your majesty! You are truly a saintly king so rare. Who but
God Hirmself could manifest such compassion and magnanimity? God is
inside you. Your merit, blessing and love are comparable to Lord Buddha
and Lord Jesus, and the great saints and sages of all times. Only rulers
like you can inspire people to cultivate their compassion and inner
cosmic love. Inspired by your glorious example, people will love and
serve each other. They will purify their bodies, speech and mind, and
change their bodies and souls to become cultivated people. Please bless
us, so that we may be your worthy servants and followers forever."
This
is a very good story. This is how we ought to behave. Sometimes, we
may not be any better than a tree. When you punch a tree or shake it,
it drops down fruit to feed you. But when you shake or punch a person,
he might kill you for it. (Laughter) Some people are really no better
than trees!