Chapter 16

by Han Yong-un · 2026-08-25

The monk looked around at the solemn audience while sipping tea and continued speaking.

“However, people in the world might say this.”

“Even if the spirit of the virtuous monk is beautiful, the issue lies with the object of that sacrifice.”

“That is, for a person named Kim Dae-cheol, who is immoral, lacks loyalty, and has become addicted to opium, causing harm to society,”

“it is hardly commendable to have sacrificed a lifetime in vain,”

“and rather, they might criticize it as showing a bad example to society.”

“However, repaying kindness and showing mercy is not something that weighs the character and circumstances of that person.”

“Moreover, if Kim Dae-cheol had a good character and was well-off,”

“the virtuous monk would not have had the opportunity to repay kindness, nor would there have been a need to dedicate himself to repay it.”

“No matter how lacking Kim Dae-cheol's character may be, it is a fact that he saved the virtuous monk who was about to drown.”

“Thus, it is clear that he became the benefactor of the virtuous monk.”

“Also, unfortunately, having become an opium addict and unable to live on his own,”

“it truly has become an opportunity for the virtuous monk to repay kindness and show mercy.”

“Isn't it a beautiful and great thing to have genuinely helped in such an opportunity?”

“People in the world do not even have such feelings for those who are well-off, so it is not something to be discussed lightly.”

“Our Buddhism prioritizes benefiting others.”

“Therefore, the great compassion of the Buddha extends to all living beings, regardless of what they are.”

“There is a story in the 'Great Sutra on the Perfection of Wisdom'.”

“Once, a monk went around asking for rice and visited a house that made beads to ask for food.”

“At that moment, the owner was polishing a mani jewel at the request of the king of that country, and he went inside to get the rice.”

“Meanwhile, a goose in the yard swallowed the bead, thinking it was food.”

“When the owner came out and saw that the bead was missing, he suspected the monk and accused him.”

“The monk, fearing that the goose would be killed, said nothing.”

“When the owner severely beat the monk, causing blood to flow from his mouth and ears, the goose licked that blood.”

“The owner then transferred his anger and killed the goose.”

“Only then did the monk reveal in a verse that he had tried to suffer in place of the goose but ended up causing its death.”

“The owner then split open the goose's belly, found the bead, and belatedly repented to the monk.”

“That monk is truly called a monk.”

“This was done for the sake of a living being with life and consciousness.”

“In the time of the Buddha, there was also a monk known as Chogye.”

“He had once encountered robbers and was bound with grass, but fearing the grass would be damaged, he did not get up and cut it.”

“At that moment, a passerby got off a cart and personally untied him.”

“Such events are beyond the small perspective of people in the world.”

“Sacrificing oneself to save a goose or a blade of grass is the great compassion of Buddhism.”

“How much more so for a person, especially for a benefactor who saved one's own life?”

“The virtuous monk is someone deeply connected to the Buddha, so it is only right that he is included in the scriptures.”

“And looking back now, the true benefactor is not Kim Dae-cheol but Monk Gong-su.”

“Thus, it is only right that he becomes the disciple of that elder.”