Once upon a time, there was a poor couple named Kế-la-di. Despite their poverty, they were content with their simple life, known for their kindness, compassion, and patience. One day, they woke up early and went their separate ways to work as laborers.
Along the way, Kế-la-di encountered a group of wealthy elders, dressed in fine clothes, gathered at a temple to organize a charity event. Seeing this, he lamented his own poverty and inability to contribute like them, feeling disheartened.
That night, he tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep, sighing with worry. He thought to himself that his current poverty must be due to his lack of good deeds in past lives, while the wealthy elders must have cultivated virtue in their previous lives. He realized that if he didn’t cultivate merit in this life, he would likely suffer even more in the next.
His wife, noticing his distress, asked him what was troubling him. He replied:
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“My dear wife, I am saddened because I did not cultivate merit in my past life, and now we endure hardship and poverty. I wish to perform good deeds, but we have no money.”
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“Do not fret, my husband,” she said. “Worrying won’t help. It would be more beneficial to sell me to a wealthy family and use the money for charity. Wouldn’t that be more meaningful?”
Kế-la-di was deeply moved by his wife’s selfless suggestion but replied:
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“We share the same fate, enduring hardships together. How could I do such an unkind thing?”
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“Then let’s sell ourselves together and use the money for good deeds. What do you think?” she proposed.
Kế-la-di agreed. The next morning, they went to the house of a wealthy man and said:
- “Sir, we have come to ask if you would buy us as servants. We wish to use the money to make offerings to the Buddha and perform acts of charity.”
Surprised, the wealthy man asked:
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“How much do you want?”
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“About 10 gold coins,” they replied.
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“I will lend you 10 gold coins,” he offered, “on the condition that you repay me within seven days. If you fail to do so, you will work for me to clear your debt.”
Overjoyed, the couple signed a promissory note and received the money. They went to a temple, met with the abbot, and offered the 10 gold coins, requesting him to organize a charity event on the sixth day and a chanting ceremony on the seventh day.
The abbot gladly agreed. The couple stayed at the temple, the wife grinding rice and making flour, while the husband chopped wood, carried water, and performed all the chores for the vegetarian feast.
Coincidentally, the king also visited the temple, requesting the abbot to organize a memorial service for his ancestors and a charity event for the poor on the same day as the couple’s planned event.
The abbot informed the king that he had already committed to the couple’s event and requested the king to choose another day.
The king was displeased and declared:
- “I am the king, and they are mere commoners. Why should they not yield to me?”
He then sent messengers to Kế-la-di, asking him to relinquish the chosen day.
The king sent messengers three times, but Kế-la-di remained firm in his refusal.
Intrigued, the king summoned Kế-la-di and asked for an explanation. Kế-la-di replied:
- “Your Majesty, I, your humble subject, have only these two days of freedom. After that, I will become a servant and will no longer be free to make offerings to the Buddha and the Sangha. Therefore, I cannot fulfill your request.”
The king, upon learning the whole story, was deeply impressed by Kế-la-di’s dedication. He graciously allowed the couple to proceed with their event before his own. He then bestowed upon them gold, silver, and jewels, and issued a decree granting them land and its benefits for life.
With this newfound wealth, Kế-la-di repaid the wealthy man and regained their freedom.
(Summarized from the “Sutta Pitaka”)
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