Long ago, there lived a kind and pure-hearted spiritual cultivator seeking the Divine. Deep within the forest, far from the clamor of the world, he had built a humble hermitage — a small, secluded hut where he could live in solitude and devote himself to the Way. Each day, beneath the shade of a great ancient tree, he recited sacred scriptures, chanted mantras, upheld his precepts, and entered into deep meditation.
The day he picked a lotus
One day, after completing his meditation, the cultivator took a slow, mindful walk through the forest. The path opened to a lotus pond, its surface so still and clear it reflected the sky as if it were glass. The blossoms swayed gently in the breeze, their sweet fragrance drifting through the air and uplifting his heart with a quiet peace. He thought to himself: “Such beautiful lotuses… If I were to place just one before the Buddha in my hermitage, its fragrance would accompany my meditation — how wonderful that would be.”
Stepping carefully to the water’s edge, he selected a single perfect blossom and plucked it with gentle hands. Holding it close to his chest, he turned to leave. But before he could take a step, a loud, thunderous voice crashed through the stillness: “How dare you steal my lotus?” Startled, he looked around, yet the pond lay quiet, the trees stood motionless, and no one was in sight. Speaking into the empty air, he asked: “Who are you? Why do you say this lotus belongs to you?”
A calm yet majestic voice replied, each word carrying the weight of mountains and the clarity of flowing water: “I am the guardian spirit of this lotus pond. Every flower here blooms under my care. You are a cultivator of the Way, yet you allow desire to stir within you. Without restraint, you took what was not yours. And even now, you stand without true repentance. Tell me — does this accord with the path you claim to follow?”
The cultivator’s heart sank. A flush of shame rose within him, as if a mirror had been placed before his soul. He pressed his palms together, bowed toward the unseen presence, and said: “Respected Lotus Pond Spirit, I see now the fault in my heart. From this moment on, I will never again take what is not freely given.”
But then came another man
Just then, a stranger appeared at the pond. Glancing about with greedy eyes, he muttered to himself: “What a treasure! If I pick them all and sell them in the market, I’ll make a fortune. Then I can win back what I lost at the gambling hall yesterday!” Without a second thought, he splashed into the water, sending ripples racing across the mirrored surface. His hands tore at every blossom, ripping stems and trampling the broad green leaves. The once-clear pond clouded into murky chaos.
In mere moments, the lotus pond was stripped bare. The man hurried away with his armful of flowers, leaving only broken stalks and floating debris behind. The cultivator stood frozen, his chest heavy with confusion and anger. Lifting his gaze to the sky, he cried: “Lotus Pond Spirit! I took only a single blossom, and you rebuked me so sternly. But this man destroyed your entire pond, and you said nothing! How can this be fair?”
The Divine response
From above, a compassionate voice descended, gentle, yet carrying the force of truth: “A spotless white cloth shows even the smallest stain, yet with a little care it can be washed clean and returned to purity. A rag long soaked in filth, however, may never come clean no matter how hard you scrub.”
The spirit continued: “You are like the white cloth — a sincere seeker of the Way. I rebuked you so that you might see your fault, cleanse it, and return to clarity. For this, you should feel gratitude. As for the gambler, he is like the filthy rag — so deeply sunk in delusion that even the sharpest words would not awaken him. His ears are closed, his heart is clouded; he must walk the path of his own choices and their consequences.”
The voice softened, yet its words fell like clear water into the cultivator’s heart: “To walk the true path, always begin with yourself. When you see what is outward, use it to examine what lies within. Seek not the faults of others; instead, seek to cleanse your own.”
At that moment, the cultivator awoke as if from a long dream. Hadn’t he just been swept into judging the other man? No wonder his meditations so often sank into drowsiness and confusion. He thought to himself: “Reciting scriptures and chanting mantras is not the same as walking the true path. If I cannot face my own faults and instead focus on the faults of others or shift blame, how can I ever hope to find liberation?” And so he bowed once more to the unseen spirit, gratitude welling in his heart.
Always remember
This tale reminds you that genuine spiritual discipline is not measured by the words you recite, the mantras you chant, or the hours you spend in meditation. Instead, it is measured by the determination and courage to put into practice what you know to be right — and to see yourself clearly: your flaws, attachments, and subtle desires — and to correct them without delay. To look outward at the faults of others is to step off your path. You must remember: the Divine is never unjust. It neither favors nor neglects.
The universe responds to each according to the good and evil they have done, and the Divine meets every soul in harmony with the willingness of the heart. At times, its touch is gentle; at times, it comes as a stern warning — but always with the same purpose: to awaken, to cleanse, and to guide you toward the freedom that lies beyond pride, blame, and the selfishness hidden deep within the human heart.
Thus, your task is to meet hardship not with resentment, but with a clear understanding that Heaven guides those who sincerely seek to improve — and that even the bitterest trials may be the hand of compassion, urging you along the path that leads your spirit back home.
Translated by Katy Liu and edited by Tatiana Denning
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