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Storytelling by the Master

son had recently been killed in an accident. "Now gratitude toward him.
I am alone," she cried, "with no one to depend
At this point of the story, the Buddha told
on." The woman’s obvious grief showed her great
the assembly, “The woman suffering was this
despair.
poor woman many lifetimes ago. The monk who
“Ah, but this is the natural course of life—an walked in front was I, Sakyamuni Buddha. I was
endless cycle of birth, aging, illness, and death. too rational and stern. The practitioner behind
All life is impermanent. There is no point in me was Ananda, who was more sensitive and
crying." With that, the first monk walked on. empathetic.”
Seeing the woman crying even harder, the The Buddha’s current inability to connect
second monk then asked, "Why do you now cry with this woman was caused by a seed of
even more?" indifference planted in an earlier lifetime.
Ananda, on the other hand, had planted seeds
When the woman repeated what the first
of understanding and affection. His seeds of
monk told her, the second monk expressed deep
empathy and compassion from a previous lifetime
sympathy. "Your story is heartbreaking," he said.
now brought spontaneous joy in this woman’s
"When a husband and wife marry, they hope to
heart whenever she saw him.
grow old together. Your husband died and, to
make matters worse, your son also passed away. We should always keep this story in mind so
Your situation truly deserves sympathy. However, we will remember to create joyous connections
you have to be courageous and strong. Death is a with all sentient beings. A joyous connection with
natural part of existence. Our time with others someone is one of empathy and understanding.
may be long or short; these things are not in our When people respond to us with indifference, or
control. Your time with your husband was short, even aversion, it is important to remind ourselves
and with your son even shorter. There is nothing of this story, to understand that perhaps seeds of
anyone can do to change this now. Please take indifference planted in a previous life have now
care of yourself." produced adverse conditions. If we remember
this, we will not expect people to always respond
The second monk took out his handkerchief
to us as we wish. We should also be mindful of
and gave it to the woman. "Wipe your tears. In
how we treat the people around us right now.
courage, there is hope."
Practicing understanding and compassion will
The woman dried her eyes. "He understands,"
produce joyous connections in the immediate
she thought. "He knows my pain and suffering."
future and for a long time to come.
With that realization, she was filled with genuine

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