There was once an old couple who enjoyed a comfortable life. They owned land and a house and had one clever son whom they loved dearly. However, their son had a peculiar and troubling condition — he believed he would die if he did not eat meat at every meal. This obsession with meat caused the old couple great concern, but they sacrificed everything to ensure their son was fed.
The years passed, and their son’s appetite for meat only grew. As he reached his twenties, the couple found it increasingly difficult to meet his demands. To keep him satisfied, they sold their possessions one by one — their land, their home, and finally, all their belongings. Despite their efforts, they could find no cure for their son’s condition. Eventually, only their donkey remained.
One day, the son approached them and said: “I have been addicted to meat for so many years. If you let me eat the donkey, I promise you that my sickness will be cured immediately. If you don’t, I’m afraid I will die.”
The couple, heartbroken and desperate, agreed to his request. After all, their son’s life was more important than the donkey. But the son added one condition: “You must not eat even a morsel of the donkey. If you do, my illness will not be cured.”
The couple solemnly promised to abide by his terms. They slaughtered the donkey, prepared it, and began cooking the meat. But as the aroma filled the air, the old couple wondered if their son could truly eat so much meat on his own. Surely, they thought, he wouldn’t notice if they ate just one leg. Succumbing to temptation, they took a single leg and left the rest for their son.
The son devoured the remaining meat, but soon after, he fell ill and died. The couple’s grief was unbearable. They mourned their son for years, blaming themselves for breaking their promise and causing his death.
Their son was their karmic debt collector
One day, a monk arrived at their home seeking alms. Seeing their sorrow, he asked them to share their story. After hearing their tale, the monk laughed. “You two are so foolish,” he said. “Are you sure it is your son you miss or your debt collector?”
The couple were taken aback. The monk continued: “Your son was not just a child. He was your karmic debt collector. In a past life, you owed him a great debt, and he returned in this life to claim it. But even now, you haven’t repaid him fully. He will surely return to collect the remainder.”
Though the monk’s words initially shocked them, the thought of seeing their son again brought them a strange comfort. They asked the monk: “What should we do when he returns?”
The monk replied: “He will come late at night. Stuff your bed with clothes to make it look like you are sleeping, then hide behind me. No matter what happens, stay silent, or you may come to harm.”
That night, the couple followed the monk’s instructions. As midnight approached, a shadow appeared at their door. It was their son, but he had transformed into a fierce demon with blazing eyes. In one hand, he held a lead rope attached to a three-legged donkey; in the other, he wielded a knife.
The demon stormed into the room, tied the donkey to the bedpost, and began stabbing the bed in a frenzy. “I told you not to eat the donkey!” he bellowed. “Because of you, I am left with this useless three-legged creature. It’s all your fault! If you can’t repay me with money, you will repay me with your lives!”
The couple trembled behind the monk, but they remained silent as instructed. After a long tirade, the demon untied the donkey and left. The monk turned to the couple and said: “Now do you see? He was never truly your son. He was here to collect his karmic debt. You are free from him now.”
The couple reflected deeply on the monk’s words and finally found peace. They no longer mourned their son, but instead accepted the karmic balance of their lives. With this understanding, they moved forward, free from regret and sorrow.
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