Humans – Reincarnation – Enlightenment and Responsibility – Although subject to great suffering, the human world is the most favorable!
The realm of humans: Although subject to great suffering (birth, aging, illness, death, grief, separation), the human world is the most favorable area because it is most likely for people to hear the teachings of the wise and holy Ones and to live according to the teachings . The chance of achieving salvation from suffering and rebirth from this form of existence is higher than in any other area. Human existence is therefore preferable to all other forms of existence.
Contemplation - Humans
Once a old monk was invited to give a speech. Before it took place, however, he died but then came back to life. As soon as he died, he saw French-style, iron-barred windows. He went through the windows but returned when he heard a loud drum from the temple.
The morning of the day he died, people tied up his corpse; but by 9 p.m. he had come back to life. Although too weakened by sickness to survive, he tried to say some last words, "I have come back to life, but there is no hope for me to live any longer. After I pass away again, please do not hit the drum so loudly and please be quiet!"
He died a second time, and again went through the iron-barred windows. There were no drum sounds this time but it was still noisy. He was passing through the front garden when someone came before him with a greeting. "Who are you?" asked the old monk. "Oh, I am Lee from the West. I know that throughout your life you have kept the immaculate precepts and have never eaten in the afternoon; and, that twice you have deeply studied the Scriptures, for which I am so grateful. I would like to lead you to God."
He followed the man for a long way, and then saw a bright and resplendent palace shining with pure gold. Surprised, he asked, "What is the building for? Why is it built only with pure gold?" The man answered, "That palace is the Truth Treasure Palace where God (Buddha) stays and teaches."
Wisdom
The old monk happily and respectfully said, "Let's go there and meet God (Buddha)." The man said, "You have completed precepts throughout your life and have created great virtue and merit by studying the scriptures, but still not enough to go and meet God (Buddha) in that palace."
The old monk complained, "I have practiced precepts, haven't eaten in the afternoon and have studied scriptures; why did you say that I have not produced enough karmic seeds to be in the palace and see God?"
He replied, "Fine, then why don't you follow me and go inside?" He guided the old monk to the awesome Treasure Palace. On the way, one man suddenly cried out loudly, "You rat!"
Greatly surprised, the old monk looked back and saw an old monk with his great staff chasing and scolding him, "You rat! Where are you going? Come back right now!" The old monk told the guide, "I'll go and say goodbye to him and come back."
But the guide said, "Don't worry. Let's just go into the Truth-Treasure-Palace."
The old monk however, insisted on seeing the other old monk and then returning. He stood in front of that monk and the monk scolded him saying, "Where do you think you are going? Come back with me!"
He railed at him so strongly that the old monk could not resist. He followed the old monk finally arriving at the road of his original departure from the Temple.
Soon they returned again to the French-style, iron-barred windows and entered. The old monk realized that this was the same shrine, where people had come for the five-day funeral service for his own death. Three days had passed, and his corpse was still tied with hemp cloth. The cloth holding his body loosened as the corpse began to wiggle. The gathering people were so surprised, and created a great commotion.
Contemplation
The began to untie the hemp cloth and unfold the covers. The dead one had come back to life! Still amazed, several of the people jumped towards him and rubbed his body, while others went out to make soup to feed him. After three days, the old monk began to talk a little. His whole body was aching and he moaned in pain. The other monks in the temple came and asked him, "You died. Where did you go? How did you return? Tell us."
After the old monk told them, the old monk who earlier chased him responded, "If you hadn't listened to me, you could have avoided becoming a baby magpie. That golden Truth-Treasure-Palace was the Magpie's nest."
In front of that temple was an old tree with a magpie's nest on the top branch. The old monk pointed to it and said, "Why don't you go and look at that nest?"
Several people climbed the tree to carefully observe the magpie's nest. Sure enough they witnessed one dead baby magpie in that nest. (Story told by zen master Myo Vong)
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