There was a very sincere Truth seeker. He had a plot of farmland, and of the middle of that field, there was a very big Bodhi tree. Everyone passing by liked to sit under the tree to enjoy the shade and rest. But before reaching the tree, they had to go through his field and ruin the crops planted there to get to the tree to enjoy the coolness. So he thought, “Hmph, it’s better that I cut down the tree.” […] He saw something like a ghost jumping out from the tree and said, […]
There was a Jew whose name was Pinkas. He was doing business in buying and selling used clothes. […] However, his business couldn’t earn enough to support his family. But there’s a Catholic person, very rich and noble, who helped him. Every time he gave him some relief money to help him. Not every time. […] Each time Pinkas received any gift from that person, he would be very happy and feel very grateful. Each time he would thank God. He’d kneel down to worship God. The noble rich man was surprised to see that. He thought, “Why is this man so grateful to God? God didn’t give him anything. It’s always me who gave him money, and he was always there saying thanks to God so sincerely. So infuriating! I’m not giving him anything from now on, and see if God would give him anything. Let him know who his benefactor actually is.” […]
At that time, the rich person, who was very rich, suddenly felt a sense of serious guilt. “Ah, why didn’t I give him? Why didn’t I give him money? He didn’t do anything to us. Why did I suddenly stop giving him money?” He felt great pain and guilt, and he went to the door of the poor man’s house, was about to knock, when Pinkas ran out to greet him and welcome him. After he came in, he saw that his home was different than before. […]
