How to Break Free from Cause and Effect

How to Break Free from Cause and Effect

Are you still resenting cause and effect? Have you glimpsed the mysteries of cause and effect? Below, I share a timeless story passed down through the ages to help you understand: refrain from doing evil, and practice good deeds.

During the Northern Song Dynasty, there lived a child in a village who was about ten years old, had a leg disability, and was orphaned. This child not only lived in solitude but also faced severe hardships, relying on the charity of neighbors or begging for survival.

In front of this village flowed a river that villagers and passersby had to wade through, which was particularly inconvenient for elderly individuals. Whenever the river swelled, it became impassable. Yet year after year, no one thought to change this situation. Only this child picked up stones every day and piled them by the riverbank. When people saw this, they asked the child why he was collecting stones. The child replied that he wanted to build a stone bridge for the convenience of his neighbors.

People dismissed him as talking nonsense and mostly laughed it off. However, as time went by, year after year, the pile of stones grew into a small hill. The neighbors began to change their perception and were moved by the child’s spirit; they joined him in collecting stones and building the bridge. The neighbors hired craftsmen to start constructing the stone bridge. This disabled child devoted himself wholeheartedly to this effort. Before the bridge was completed, however, he tragically lost his eyesight while chiseling stones.

People mourned and resented fate for being unfair; they lamented how such a pitiable child who devoted himself to helping others could meet such an end. Yet this child bore no resentment; every day he groped around at the construction site doing whatever work he could manage. With everyone working together, the bridge was finally completed.

As everyone celebrated joyfully, their eyes turned with pity and admiration toward that lonely child who had already been disabled in one leg and now had lost his sight as well. Although he could see nothing at all, his face displayed the happiest smile he had ever worn in his life. Soon after, an unexpected heavy rain seemed ready to wash away any dust from this stone bridge.

But after a deafening clap of thunder, everyone discovered that the child had been struck by lightning and lay dead on the ground. People were stunned; then their suppressed emotions burst forth as they sighed over the child’s misfortune and blamed heaven for its injustice… At that moment, it just so happened that Bao Zheng—known among common folk as Lord Bao—was passing through.

The people rushed to stop his official carriage demanding justice for the child’s untimely death. They questioned Lord Bao: Why do good people not receive good rewards? How can good people continue doing good in such circumstances? Moved by their emotions as someone who lived among ordinary folks, Lord Bao wrote down six characters: “Better to do evil than do good” before leaving in haste.

Upon returning to court in Beijing, Lord Bao reported on his official duties along with what he witnessed along the way but omitted mentioning his inscription because although he found it deeply perplexing that a kind act would result in such dire consequences for that child, after careful consideration he felt those six characters were inappropriate. Unexpectedly after court adjourned, however, His Majesty insisted on summoning him into the palace for some private conversation.

It turned out that just days earlier His Majesty had welcomed a new dragon son into his family—the little prince was adored but cried incessantly. Thus His Majesty specifically requested Lord Bao take a look at him. Upon seeing that child’s snow-white skin with delicate little hands bearing an inscription on them—upon closer inspection—it was indeed those six characters: “Better to do evil than do good.” His face flushed red down to his neck as he hurriedly reached out to wipe away those words. But when Lord Bao wiped them away with his hand—the marks vanished completely from little prince’s arm!

Interestingly enough, while those six characters appeared as writing in Lord Bao’s eyes; others merely saw them as birthmarks on him instead! Seeing that birthmark erased from his son’s arm made His Majesty fear it might have wiped away some fortune; thus he scolded Lord Bao relentlessly about it. Lord Bao quickly knelt down exclaiming “The guilty minister deserves death,” then recounted how he came about writing those words out of anger during an emotional moment earlier on. The Emperor found this quite suspicious and ordered Lord Bao use yin-yang pillows (a traditional method) to explore further into hell itself.

When Lord Bao used yin-yang pillows for travel into hell’s realm—the truth emerged clearly! It turned out that in his past life this boy committed numerous wrongdoings accumulating significant sins requiring three lifetimes of retribution before clearing them all away completely! It was divinely arranged: In one lifetime suffering alone with disabilities; In another blind yet living out life’s remaining days; In yet another struck dead by lightning left exposed upon desolate land! That boy reincarnated poor with disabilities but sincerely wished only goodness towards others—thus heaven allowed him one lifetime’s worth of karma repayment covering two lifetimes’ worth! Henceforth causing him blindness—but even so without complaint continued silently doing good deeds! Therefore heaven took upon himself also third lifetime’s karmic debt resulting ultimately leading up toward fatal lightning strike!

The King of Hell asked Lord Bao whether repaying three lifetimes’ worth karma within just one lifetime is considered fortunate or unfortunate? Repaying three lifetimes’ worth karma within just one lifetime because solely performing virtuous acts while thinking only about others without any self-interest led him towards achieving certain aspects resembling “not cultivating yet already within cultivation” state—accumulating immense merit hence upon death immediately reincarnated becoming today’s crown prince enjoying heavenly blessings! Doing good without seeing rewards reflects previous shortcomings while committing wrongs without facing consequences indicates prior excess virtue!