KarmabyLevTolstoy
["Karma"istheBuddhistbeliefthatnotonlycharactertraitsofeveryhuman being,butalsothewholefateofthecurrentlifeistheconsequenceofhis actionsinhispreviouslife,andthatthesamewaygoodorevilofourfuture lifewilldependonoureffortstoavoidevilandcommitthegooddeeds,that weaccomplishinthislife.(L.N.Tolstoy.)]
IamsendingyoutranslatedbymetheBuddhistfairytaleentitled"Karma" fromtheAmericanmagazine"OpenCourt".Ireallylikethissweetfairytale becauseitisbothnaiveanddeep.Especiallyniceitsexplanationofthetruth, latelytoooftenobscuredbydifferentparties,thatthedeliverancefromevil andobtainingthebenefitsareachievedonlybyyourownefforts,andthat thereisn’tandcan’tbesuchadevicebymeansofwhich(besideyour personalefforts),yourownorthecommongoodcouldbeachieved.This clarificationisparticularlygoodbecauseitimmediatelyshowsthatthe benefitofanindividualisatrueblessingonlywhenitbenefitsall.Assoonas therobber,comingoutfromhell,wishedtobenefithimselfalone,hisbenefit ceasedtobeaboon,andhedroppeddown.Thislittlefairytalehighlights fromnewsideoftwomain,openbyChristianity,truths:thatthelifeisonly inrenouncingyourownidentity–“who will destroy the soul, he will find it,” -andthattheblessingforpeopleisonlyintheircommunionwithGodand throughGodamongthemselves: "As you are in me and I in you, and they may be one in us. ” John. XVII, 21.
Ireadthisfairytaletochildren,andtheylikedit.Amongtheadults,after readingit,italwaysrisestalksaboutthemostimportantmattersoflife.And itseemstomethatthisisaverygoodrecommendation.
L.Tolstoy.
Pandu,awealthyjewelerofBrahmancaste,wastravelingwithhisservantin Benares.Ontheway,havingcaughtupwithamonkofvenerableappearance,
whowalkedinthesamedirection,hethoughttohimself:"Thismonkhas nobleandholylook.Communicationwithgoodpeoplebringshappiness;if healsogoestoBenares,I’llinvitehimtoridewithmeinmychariot".And, bowingtothemonk,heaskedhimwherehewasgoing,andlearnthatthe monk,whosenamewasNaradagoesalsotoBenares,heinvitedhiminhis chariot.
-Thankyouforyourkindness,-saidthemonktotheBrahman,-Igotreally exhaustedofthelongjourney.Havingnopossessions,Ican'trewardyou withcash,butitmayhappenthatI'llbeabletopayyouwithsomespiritual treasurefromthewealthofknowledgethatIhavegainedbyfollowingthe teachingsofSakyaMooney,theblissfulgreatBuddha,ateacherofmankind.
Theytraveledtogetherinachariot,andontheirwayPandulistenedwith pleasureeducativespeechesofNarada.Afterdrivingforanhour,theyarrived attheplacewheretheroadwaswashedoutonbothsidesandapeasant‘s wagonwithitsbrokenwheelobstructedtheroad.
Devala,theownerofthewagon,rodetoBenarestosellhisrice,andhurried tomakeitbeforedawnofthenextmorning.Ifhe’dbelateintheafternoon, thericebuyersmighthadtoleavethecity,havingalreadypurchasedallthe necessaryamountofrice.
Whenthejewelersawthathecouldnotcontinuehisway,ifthepeasant’s wagonwillnotbemovedaside,hebecameangryandorderedMagaduta,his servant,topushthecartoutoftheway,sothathischariotcouldpass.The peasantopposed,becausehiswagonstoodtooclosetoacliff,andthewagon couldfallapartiftouched,buttheBrahmindidn’twanttolistentothe peasantandorderedhisservantwhothrowthewagonwithriceaway. Magaduta,unusuallystrongman,findingpleasureininsultingpeople, obeyed,andbeforethemonkcouldstandupforthepeasant,thrownthe wagondown.WhenPandupassedandwantedtocontinuehisjourney,the monkjumpedoutofhischariotandsaid:
-Excuseme,sir,forleavingyou.Ithankyouforbeingkindenoughtoallow metorideinyourchariotforonehour.Iwasexhaustedwhenyouletmein,
butnowthankstoyourcourtesyIhaverested.AndnowthatI’verecognized inthispeasant’sincarnationoneofyourancestors,Ican’tdoanybetterto rewardyouforyourkindness,ratherthantohelphiminhismisfortune.
TheBrahmingazedatthemonkwithsurprise.
-Yousaythatthepeasantisanembodimentofoneofmyancestors;this cannotbethecase.
-Iknow,-repliedthemonk,-thatyouarenotawareofthatcomplexand significantlinkswhichconnectyouwiththedestinyofthispeasant.Butas onecan’texpectfromtheblindtosee,soIfeelsorrythatyou’reinjuring yourself,andwilltrytoprotectyoufromthosewoundsthatyouaregoingto causeyourself.
Therichmerchantwasn’tusedtobeingreproached;andfeelingthatthe wordsofamonk,thoughspokenwithgreatkindness,containedin themselvesastingingrebuke,heorderedhisservanttoimmediatelygoon.
MonkofgreetedDevala-peasant,andbeganhelpinghimtofixhiswagonand topickupthespreadrice.Theymanagedtodoitquickly,andDevala thought:
"Thismonkmustbeaholyman,-seemslikeinvisiblespiritsarehelping him.I’llaskhimforwhatIdeservedsuchcruelhandlingwithmebythe proudBrahmin".
Andhesaid:
-Thevenerablesir!Couldn’tyoutellme,forwhatIhavesufferedthe injusticeofamantowhomIhaveneverdoneanythingbad?
Themonksays:
-Kindfriend,youdidn’thaveaninjustice,butonlysufferedinthepresent existenceofwhatyoudidtothisBrahmininthepastlife.AndIwon’tbe mistakenifItoldyouthatevennowyouwouldhavedonetotheBrahminthe
samethingthathedidtoyou,ifyouwereinhisplaceandhadthesame strongservant.
Thepeasantconfessedthatifhehadthepower,hewouldn’trepentafter doingtoanotherpersonbarricadingtheway,justwhattheBrahmindidto him.
Thericewasmovedintothewagon,andthemonkwiththepeasantalready approachedBenareswhenthehorsesuddenlyjumpedaside.
-Snake,snake!Exclaimedthepeasant.Butthemonkcloselylookedatthe subjectwhichscaredthehorse,jumpedoffthewagonandsawthatitwasa wallet,fullofgold.
"Noone,exceptthewealthyjeweler,couldlosethiswallet,"-hethought,and tookthewallet,andpassedittothepeasant,saying:
-Takethewalletandwhenyou'reinBenares,cometothehotel,whichIwill showyou,askforBrahminPanduandreturnthewallet.Hewillapologizeto youfortherudenessofhisact,butyoutellhimthatyouforgavehimand wishhimsuccessinallhisenterprises,because,believeme,themore successfulhewillbe,thebetteritisforyou.Yourfatedependslargelyonhis fate.IfPanduasksyouforanexplanation,thensendhimtoamonastery wherehecanalwaysfindmeinreadinesstoassisthimwithanadvice,ifhe needsone.
MeanwhilePanduarrivedinBenaresandmetMalmeka,hiscommerce buddy,awealthybanker.
-I’mdead,-Malmekasaid,-andcan'tdoanybusinessanymoreiftodayI won'tbuythebestricefortheImperialcuisine.Imadeaconditionwith RoyalButlerunderwhichIhavetoprovidehimthismorningwithawagon ofrice.ButIhaveanenemybankerhereinBenares,who,afterlearning aboutmyobligationandwishingtodestroyme,boughtupallthericein Benares.RoyalButlerwillnotreleasemefrommycondition,andtomorrow I'mgone,ifKrishnawillnotsendmeanAngelfromthesky.
WhiletheMalmekacomplainedabouthismisfortune,Pandurealizedhisloss ofwallet.Aftersearchinghischariotandnotfindingit,hesuspectedhis servantMagadutaandcalledthepolice,accusedhim,orderedtotiehimand brutallytorturedhimtoforcehisconfession.Theslaveyelled,suffering:
-Iaminnocent,letmego!Ican'tendurethesetorments!Iamcompletely innocentofthiscrimeandsufferforthesinsofothers!Oh,ifIcouldbegfor thatpeasant’sforgiveness,towhomIdidevilforthesakeofmymaster! Thesetormentmust’vebeenservingpunishmentformycruelty.
Whilepolicewerestillbeatingtheservant,thepeasantpulleduptothehotel and,tothegreatsurpriseofall,handedthewallet.Theslavewasimmediately releasedfromthehandsofhistormentors,butbeingunhappywithhismaster, heranawayfromhimandjoinedabandofrobberslivinginthemountains. WhenMalmekaheardthatthepeasantcansellthebestrice,suitableforthe King'stable,heimmediatelyboughtthewholewagonforthetripleprice,and Pandu,rejoicinginhisheartforreturningofhismoney,immediatelyhurried tothemonasterytoreceiveexplanationsfromthemonk,whichhepromised him.
Naradasaid:
-Icouldgiveyouanexplanation,butknowingthatyouarenotableto understandthespiritualtruth,Iprefersilence.However,Iwillgiveyoua generaladvice:conductyourselfwitheachpersonyoumeet,justasyou wouldwithyourself,servehimthesamewayasyouwouldliketobeserved. Thatway,youwillsowtheseedsofgooddeedsandarichharvestofthem won’tpassyou.
-Onmonk!Givemetheexplanation,-saidPandu,-andthenit’llbeeasier formetofollowyouradvice.
Andthemonksays:
-Thenlisten,I'llgiveyouthekeytothemystery:evenifyouwon’t understandit,believeinwhatI’lltellyou.Toconsideryourselfaseparate beingisamistake,andonewhodirectshismindtofulfillthewillofthis
particularbeing,followsafalselightthatwouldleadhimintotheabyssof sin.WethinkofourselvesasindividualbeingsbecausetheveilofMaya dazzlesoureyesandpreventsusfromseeingourunitywiththesoulsofother beings.Fewknowthistruth.Letthefollowingwordswillbeyourtalisman:
"Onewhoharmothers,doeviltohimself.Onewhohelpsothers,doesgood tohimself.Stopregardingyourselfasaseparatebeing-andyouwillgeton thepathoftruth.
ForthosewhosevisioniscloudedbytheveilofMaya,thewholeworld seemstobeslicedinthecountlesspersonalities.Andsuchapersonmaynot understandthevalueoftheall-encompassingloveforalllivingthings."
Panduanswered:
-Yourwords,venerablesir,havedeepmeaningandIwillrememberthem.I didalittlegooddeed,whichcostedmenothing,forthepoormonkduringmy triptoBenares,andhere'swhatbeneficialresultsithasbrought.Ioweyoua lot,becausewithoutyouIwouldhavenotonlylostmywallet,butIcouldnot doinBenaresthosetradecasesthathavesignificantlyincreasedmywealth. Inaddition,yourdiligenceandthearrivalofthewagonofricecontributedto thewell-beingofmyfriendMalmeka.Ifallthepeoplehavelearnedthetruth ofyourrules,howmuchbetterwouldourworldbeasevilwouldbe decreasedandoverallwell-beingwouldhaveincreased!Iwishthetruthof Buddhawasunderstoodbyall,andbecauseofthatIwanttoestablisha monasteryinmyhomelandofKolshambiandinviteyoutovisitme,sothatI coulddevotethisplaceforthebrotherhoodofthedisciplesofBuddha.
Yearshavepassed,andPanduhasfoundedKolshambimonastery,which becamethemeetingplaceforthewisemonksandbecameafamouscenterof educationforthepeople.
Atthistimetheneighboringking,onceheheardofthebeautyofprecious jewelrymadebyPandu,senttohimhistreasurer,toorderaCrownofpure gold,decoratedwiththemostpreciousstonesofIndia.
WhenPandufinishedthiswork,hewenttothecapitaloftheKing,hopingto
launchbusinessthere,andtookwithhimalargesupplyofgold.Caravan deliveringhisjewelswasguardedbyarmedmen,butwhenitreachedthe mountains,banditswithMagaduta,whobecametheirleader,attackedhim, beattheguardandcapturedallthegemsandthegold.Panduhimselfbarely escaped.Thismisfortunewasabighitforthewell-beingofthePandu:his wealthgreatlydiminished.
Panduwasverydistressed,buttoleratedhismisfortuneswithoutmurmuring; hethought:"Ideservetheselossesforthesinscommittedbymeinmy formerlife.Inmyyouth,Iwascrueltopeople;andifnowIreceivethefruits ofmyownbaddeeds,Icannotcomplain."
Sincehebecamealotmorekindtoallbeings,thisunhappinessonlyhelped himtopurifyhisheart.
Moreyearshavepassed,andagainithappenedthatPantaka,ayoungmonk andadiscipleofNarada,whiletravelinginthemountainsofKolshambi,fell intothehandsofrobbers.Becausehedidnothaveanypossessions,ataman oftherobbersbeathimhardandlethimgo.
Thenextmorning,Pantaka,goingthroughtheforest,heardthenoiseofa battleand,comingtothisnoise,sawmanythievesattackingtheirchieftain Magaduta.
Magaduta,likealionsurroundedbydogs,foughtbackfromthemandkilled manyoftheattackers.Buthehadtoomanyenemies,andintheendhewas defeatedandfelltothegrounddead,coveredwithwounds.
Assoonastherobbersleft,theyoungmonkapproachedpeoplelyingonthe ground,wantingtohelpthewounded.Butalltherobberswerealreadydead, onlyintheirbossalittleliferemained.Themonkimmediatelywenttothe brook,whichrannearby,broughtsomefreshwaterinhispitcher,andpassed ittothedyingman.
Magadutaopenedhiseyesand,grittinghisteeth,said:
-Wherearethoseungratefuldogs,whomImanytimesledtovictoryand
success?Withoutmetheywillsoondie,asjackalshunteddownbyahunter.
-Donotthinkaboutyourfriendsandparticipantsofyoursinfullife,Pantakasaid,-butthinkaboutyoursoulandtakeadvantageofthe opportunityinthelasthour,whichseemstobepresentedtoyou.Here,drink somewater,letmewrapyourwounds.MaybeI’llbeabletosaveyourlife.
-Itisuseless,-Magadutaanswered,-Iamdestined;therascalsfatally woundedme.Ungratefulrascals!TheybeatmebythoseblowswhichI taughtthem.
-Youreapwhatyousowed,-themonkcontinued.-Ifyouhavetaughtyour fellowsthegooddeeds,youwouldhavereceivedfromthemgooddeeds,too. Butyoutaughtthemkilling,andbecauseofthat,you’rekilledthroughyour deedsbytheirhands.
-You'reright,-repliedtheatamanoftherobbers,-Ideservedthisfate,but myloadissoheavythatI’llhavetoreapthefruitsofallmybaddeedsinthe futurelives.Teachme,holyfather,whatcanIdotoeasemylifeofsins, whichpressureme,likearockfallenonmychest.
AndPantakasaid:
-Eliminateyoursinfuldesires,defeatyourevilpassions,andfillyoursoul withgoodnessforallbeings.
Atamansaid:
-I'vebeendoingalotofevilanddidn’tdoanygooddeeds.HowcanIget outofthenetworkofgriefthatImadewiththeevildesiresofmyheart?My karmawouldleadmetohell,andI'llneverbeabletoembarkonthepathof salvation.
Andthemonksaid:
-Yes,yourkarmawillreap,infutureincarnations,thefruitsofthoseseeds youhavesown.There’snoescapeforthedoerofbaddeedsfromthe
consequencesofhisbadactions.Butdon'tdespair:anyonecanbesaved,but onlyontheconditionthatheuprootsoutofhimselfhisdeceptionofan individual.Asanexampleofthis,Iwilltellyouthestoryofthegreatrobber Kandata,whodiedunrepentantandwasbornagainasadevilinhell,where hewentthroughthemostterriblesufferingsforhisevildeeds.Hewas alreadyinhellformanyyearsandcouldnotgetridofhisplight,when BuddhaappearedonEarthandreachedthestateofblissfulenlightenment.At thismemorabletimetheraysoflightfellandreachedhell,risinglifeand hopeinalldemons,androbberKandataloudlyyelled,"OhblissfulBuddha, takepityonme!I'msufferingterribly;andalthoughIwasdoingevil,Iwish nowtogoonthepathofrighteousness.ButIcan'textricatemyselffromthe networkofgrief;helpme,Lord,takepityonme!"Thelawofkarmaisthat evildeedsleadtoperdition.
WhentheBuddhaheardtherequestofthedemonsufferinginhell,hesentto himaspiderontheweb,andthespidersaid:"Takegripofmywebandget onitoutfromhell".Whenthespiderdisappearedfromtheview,Kandata clutchedhiswebandstartedclimbing.Thewebwassostrongthatwasnot breaking,andhewasraisingbyithigherandhigher.Andsuddenlyhefelt thatthethreadbegantotrembleandfalter,becauseothersufferersstartedto climbonthewebaswell.Kandatawasfrightened;hesawthesubtletyofthe webandsawthatitstretchedfromtheincreasedweight.Butthewebstill kepthim.Earlier,Kandataonlylookedup,butnowhelookeddownandsaw thatinnumerablecrowdofinhabitantsofhellclimbingontheweb."Howcan thisfinethreadholdtheweightofallthesepeople,"–hethought,and, frightened,yelledloudly:"Letgooftheweb,it’smine!"Andsuddenlythe spiderwebbroke,andKandatafellbacktohell.Misleadingidentitystill livedinKandata.Hedidnotknowthemarvelousforceofthegenuinedesire togouptoembarkonthepathofrighteousness.Thisdesireissubtle,likea spider'sWeb,butitwillliftmillionsofpeople,andthemorepeoplegeton theweb,theeasieritwillbeforeachofthem.Butonceathoughtwouldarise inthehumanheart,thatthiswebismine,thatblessingoftherighteousness belongstomealoneandletnobodyshareitwithme,thethreadbreaks,and youfallbacktothepreviousstateofaseparatebeing.Separationofa personalityisacurse,andunityisablessing.Whatishell?Hellisnothing likeself-love,andnirvanaislifeforall.
-Letmegrasptheweb,-saidthedyingatamanoftherobbersMagaduta, whenthemonkhadfinishedhisstory,-andIwillgetoutofthedepthsof hell.
Magadutaspentafewminutesinsilence,gatheringhisthoughts,and Magadutacontinued:
-Listentome,I’llconfesstoyou.IwasaservantofPandu,ajewelerfrom Kolshambi.Butafterhehadpunishedmeunjustly,Iranawayfromhimand becametheheadofrobbers.SometimeagoIlearnedfrommyscoutsthathe passesthroughthemountains,andIrobbedhim,tookmostofhis possessions.GonowtohimandtellhimthatIforgavehimfromthebottom ofmyheartfortheinsultthatheunfairlycausedme,andIaskhimtoforgive meforrobbinghim.WhenIlivedwithhim,hisheartwasharshasstone,and Ilearnedfromhimhisselfishness.Ihaveheardthathehasnowbecomea good-naturedmanandanexampleofkindnessandjustice.Idon'twantto remainindebtedtohim;sotellhimthatIsavedhisgoldencrown,whichhe madefortheKing,andallhistreasures,andhidtheminadungeon.Onlytwo oftherobbersknewthisplace,andnowthey'rebothdead;letPandutake withhimarmedmenandcometothissiteandtakebackhispossessions, whichI'vestolefromhim.
ThenMagadutatoldwherethedungeonwas,anddiedatthehandsof Pantaka.
AssoonastheyoungmonkPantakareturnedtoKolshambi,hewenttothe jewelerandtoldhimeverythingthathappenedintheforest.
AndPanduwentwitharmedmentothedungeonandtookfromthereallthe treasuresthatatamanhid.Andtheyburiedhimwithhonors,andsohiskilled comrades,andPantaka,referringtothewordsoftheBuddha,saidthe followingoverthetomb:
"Personalitydoesevil,andthepersonalitysuffersfromit.
Onceapersonalityrefrainsfromevil,itpurifies.
Purityandimpuritybelongtoapersonality:noonecanpurifyanother.
Manhimselfmustmakeaneffort;theBuddhasareonlypreachers."
"Ourkarma,-alsosaidmonkPantaka,-isnotaproductofShivery,or Brahmi,orIndre,oranyofthegods,-ourkarmaistheconsequenceofour actions.
Myactivityhasawomb,whichcarriesme,itisalegacythatisgiventome, isthecurseofmyevildeedsandtheblessingsofmyrighteousness.Mywork istheonlymeantomysalvation."
PandubroughtallhistreasuresbacktoKolshambi,andspendinghisso unexpectedlyreturnedwealthlittlebylittle,hepeacefullyandhappilylived fortherestofhislife,andwhenhewasdying,alreadyinelderyears,andall ofhissons,daughtersandgrandchildrengatherednearhim,hesaidtothem:
-Mydearchildren,don'tblameothersforyourfailures.Lookforthecauseof yourmisfortunesinyourselves.Andifyou'renotblindedbyvanity,you'll findit,andbyfindingit,youwillbeabletogetridoftheevil.Thecure againstyourmisfortunesisinyourselves.Letyourmentalgazebenever coveredbytheveilofMaya…Rememberthosewordsthatwerethetalisman ofmylife:
"Whoeverhurtsanother,doeseviltothemselves. Onewhohelpsanother,helpshimself.
Letthedeceptionofanindividualitydisappear-andyou’llgetonthepathof righteousness."