In ancient India, there was an elderly rich man who had wealth equivalent to that of an entire nation, but he didn’t have the generosity to match his wealth. He was stingy, jealous, and ruthless. Before he died, he told his son not to give alms to others. Unexpectedly, he was reincarnated as a blind beggar boy who was even violently confronted by the son from his previous life.
Selfish rich man
According to legend, there once appeared a rich man called “The Elder of Yue Nan” in the Vāraṇasi region of ancient India. It was said that he was extremely wealthy — to the point that there were vaults and more vaults in his home to store it all. No matter where he went, he could see his immeasurable collection of precious jewelry.
However, despite his wealth, the elderly man lacked generosity and was known to be stingy and jealous. He didn’t believe in the importance of moral conduct. He not only didn’t help others, but he even asked his family not to do such stupid things. He demanded the servants guard the door, so that beggars were not allowed to enter. Those who did not listen would be forcibly thrown out. His deeds, characterized by his extreme wealth and stinginess, were known to all.
When the elderly man was dying, he said to his son Zhan Tan: “The thing I can’t let go of is my property, so I want to tell you that no matter who comes to ask for help in the future, you are not allowed to give them alms, and you cannot let them come into the house. As long as you really do what I say, our family will not need to do anything for generations, and there will still be money that can’t be used up. You must remember my instructions!” Later, Zhan Tan became as stingy as his father.
Reincarnated as a blind beggar
The elderly man, who had been reincarnated as a blind boy born to a poor mother, lived a life of poverty by begging for alms. When the boy was 10 years old, his mother instructed him: “You’re older now. Use a cane and a rice bowl to beg. Remember to express your misery, saying that you are blind and often bullied. Ask for pity and for food to alleviate your suffering from hunger.” The boy remembered his mother’s words and began to beg from house to house.
By chance, the boy found himself at his previous residence, where he hoped to receive charity from the rich family. Upon hearing of the boy’s presence, Zhan Tan scolded his servants, who quickly came and threw the boy out of the house. The boy’s rice bowl shattered, scattering rice all over the floor. He was bruised all over his body and cried out loudly for a moment.
At that moment, the guardian angel who kept watch at the door spoke: “This is just a small injury, and there is still greater pain waiting for you. You were rich in your previous life, but you never helped others. It is now too late to regret.” Many people heard the commotion and gathered to watch, chattering among themselves.
At the time, Shakyamuni Buddha and his disciples were passing by. When he heard the boy’s cries, he knew that they were due to the karma from the boy’s previous life. Upon arriving at Zhan Tan’s house, he immediately drew attention to the karmic relationship between the beggar and Zhan Tan.
Zhan Tan realized that the beggar in front of him was the reincarnation of his father, and the boy remembered that he had once been the wealthy owner of the family. Shakyamuni asked the boy: “Do you know who you were in your past life?”
The boy replied: “Yes, I was a rich elder.” Shakyamuni continued: “Even with all that wealth, did it bring you any benefit?” The boy replied: “No, it did not. I am now a blind beggar in this life.” Shakyamuni then imparted wisdom: “This is the result of greed. How difficult and lost people can be in the world! The pair who used to be father and son are now strangers to each other.”
The boy became aware of the consequences of his past actions and deeply regretted his misguided beliefs and cruel behavior. Zhan Tan also had a sudden change of heart and became a charitable person, assisting those who were in need. He and the boy both followed the teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha and encouraged others to do good and help others, leading to a positive outcome.
Translated by Patty Zhang
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