ExclusiveTraditional Chinese Tales: Kindness Ended a Bad Karmic Relationship

Kindness ended a bad karmic relationship. This is a Buddhist tale. One evening a wandering monk seeking alms arrived at a village as a heavy rain began to fall. He knocked on the door of a wealthy household asking to stay the night since the rain was too heavy to return to the temple. The gatekeeper asked, what do you need? The monk replied, the rain is too heavy to go back to the temple. I'd like to stay here for one night. The gatekeeper quickly informed the master of the house. Unexpectedly the master refused. The gatekeeper relayed the master's decision to the monk and left the monk standing outside. With the rain growing heavier and darkness closing in, the monk had nowhere to go. He had to spend the entire night beneath the gatehouse. At dawn the rain stopped. When the gatekeeper opened the door he saw the miserable monk huddled beneath the gatehouse shivering with cold. His clothes were soaked through. Seeing the gatekeeper opening the door the monk asked, what is the name of the master for this house? Without hesitation the gatekeeper told him promptly. But then the gatekeeper felt a little bit odd. He asked the monk, why did you ask for my master's name? The monk smiled. Without saying a word the monk returned to the temple. Half a year later this master had a concubine. One day the concubine went to the temple to burn incense and suddenly noticed her master's name was carved on a pillar in the main hall. Startled she asked a monk beside her, why is my master's name carved on the pillar? The monk replied, our abbot once went out for alms and when evening came it started raining. He sought shelter at a wealthy household but the master refused to let him stay. So our abbot crouched beneath the gatehouse for a night. After returning the abbot remained silent for several days. Later he had the name of this master carved on the pillar. Is it because your abbot could not let go of his grudge he had my master's name carved on the pillar? Isn't this cursing him? No, no the monk explained in a hurry. Our abbot said this master refused to shelter me. This must be due to the bad karmic relationship I created in a previous life which left no cause for good return. He chose not to shelter me. This of course is not his fault it is mine. Because I did not leave good causes from a previous life there is no good return today. I do not resent him. I had his name carved on the pillar in the temple's main hall so I can recite prayers daily to dissolve this grievance to end the bad karmic relationship and to bless him with abundant descendants and prosperity. The monk's words moved the master's concubine to tears. She returned home and immediately told her master what had happened. A few days later the master personally went to the temple to apologize to the abbot and repeatedly promised. From now on I will provide all meals to all monks and workers in the temple. For thousands of years people have often blamed others when harmed yet for someone pursuing spiritual elevation one must look within for causes. If one can respond to harm with kindness and no resentment then this person is truly on a path of spiritual growth.