In a small town of Teng County, an elderly man named Jiang was known for his diligence and frugality, though his son was quite the opposite — idle and indulgent. Over time, the family’s fortune dwindled, much to Jiang’s distress.
A father’s last wish
Concerned about his family’s future, Jiang confided in Taoist Priest Chen at the Guan Di Temple, a man he trusted deeply for his righteousness and sincerity. Quietly, Jiang handed over 500 pieces of gold to the Taoist, saying: “I am old, and my son is no good. If he changes his ways after I die, please use this money to help him. If he remains useless, use it to repair the temple.”
Taoist Priest Chen agreed to the request. He placed the 500 gold coins into an earthen jar, covered it with a broken chime, and buried it in the ground so that no one would know.
A son’s ruin and a priest’s sacrifice
A few months later, Jiang passed away. His son’s behavior only worsened, leading to the complete ruin of the family estate. His wife left him, and he found himself homeless. Throughout this time, Taoist Priest Chen often provided him with financial support and even taught him a few skills. Seeing signs of his repentance, the priest decided to reveal the secret about the gold his father had entrusted to him and planned to dig it up and give it to the son.
However, when they went to retrieve the gold, it had disappeared without a trace. The son, suspecting foul play, sued Taoist Priest Chen, and the local magistrate ruled that the priest should compensate for the 500 gold coins.
Despite the unfair judgment, Taoist Priest Chen bore no complaint or grudge. He took out all of his savings, but could only pay two-tenths of the compensation. Misunderstood by those unaware of the truth, the priest had no choice but to leave the temple.
Wandering and a miraculous discovery
Taoist Priest Chen wandered for several years. One day, he arrived at Lianchi Temple in Baoding, Hebei Province, where an official was performing Buddhist rituals. An old servant and a young boy were playing at the temple gate. When the boy saw Taoist Priest Chen, he ran up and threw himself into his arms, rejoicing and reluctant to leave.
The old servant tried to carry the boy away, but the child was unwilling. Left with no other option, the servant asked Taoist Priest Chen to take the boy home. After listening to the servant’s story, the official generously rewarded the priest and sent him on his way. However, the young boy cried and chased after him, compelling the official to set up a small room in the back garden and invite the priest to stay.
Revelation and karmic justice
Taoist Priest Chen needed a wooden fish and a chime to recite sutras. The host family found him a wooden fish and an old broken chime. When he saw the broken chime, he was shocked and said: “This is my chime!” He then told the host how he had used the broken chime to cover an earthen jar containing 500 gold coins several years ago. He recounted the story of Jiang’s request, the loss of the gold, and his punishment, which forced him to leave the temple and wander.
The official listened intently and suddenly felt a deep sense of realization. He believed that his young son was Jiang reincarnated, and that he was sent to recover the hidden gold.
The official explained: “Three days after my son was born, while burying his placenta, we unearthed a clay pot containing five hundred pieces of gold and this broken chime. I deposited the gold in a fabric shop, where it has earned interest over the past five years.”
Respecting the priest’s sincerity and sympathizing with his unjust suffering, the official instructed his family to retrieve the principal and interest from the fabric shop and return them to Taoist Priest Chen. He also arranged for a special escort to take him back to Xia Town. Additionally, the official personally wrote to the magistrate of Teng County about the incident. The magistrate, deeply moved by the moral character of Taoist Priest Chen, wrote an article about the event and had it engraved on a stone tablet that was erected as a permanent monument.
Translated by cecilia
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