Venerable Master Chin Kung masterfully illustrates the profound laws of karma and retribution through vivid, real-life examples. These true stories, divided into five illuminating sections, offer both caution and inspiration for those walking the spiritual path.
đ„ I. The Terrifying Power of Karma
At the beginning of my Buddhist studies, I encountered a powerful story shared by the elderly lay practitioner Zhu Jingzhou, who documented this account in his writings.
During the early Republic of China, a wealthy manâformerly an esteemed official during the Qing dynastyâresided in the Shanghai Concession. He had five wives, including one principal wife and four concubines. After the fall of the Qing dynasty, he spent his final years chanting Amitabha Buddhaâs name and performing charitable deeds, earning a reputation as a âgood man.â
Years after his passing, one of his concubines, devastated by grief, hired a renowned French medium to contact his spirit, paying an exorbitant fee of one thousand silver dollars. After three days of fruitless effort, the medium confessed:
âI searched diligently for three days and found nothing.â
Desperate, she asked him to try contacting another deceased relative. This time, the medium successfully reached her recently departed eldest son. His voice, unmistakable and sorrowful, revealed a chilling truth:
âMy father has fallen into hell.â
The family was stunned. How could a man of such virtue meet such a fate? The son explained that during a northern disaster in the late Qing dynasty, his father had embezzled relief funds intended for disaster victimsâleading to countless deaths. Despite later remorse and acts of charity, his karmic debt was too heavy to escape.
This tragic tale powerfully demonstrates the inescapable nature of karmic retribution. As the KáčŁitigarbha Sutra teaches, two types of beings enter hell: those with grave karma and those bodhisattvas enter to rescue. Every thought, action, and intention leaves a mark in the karmic ledger.
đ± II. A Lesson in Compassion: Caring for All Beings
During a Dharma teaching in Kuching, I stayed at a mountain retreat led by a devout practitioner who strictly followed a vegetarian and non-violent lifestyle. His vegetable garden, cultivated without pesticides or chemical fertilizers, became an example of karmic harmony.
In the first year, insects devoured two-thirds of his crops. In the second year, half remained untouched. By the third year, damage decreased to just a third, and eventually, almost all crops grew undisturbed. He believed the insects had spirits and, by not killing them, karmic debts were naturally repaid.
"To err is human, but to correct oneâs mistakes is the greatest virtue."
This story beautifully illustrates that even the smallest creatures are connected to the cycle of karma. By allowing them to live, the practitioner honored natureâs karmic lawâand in return, nature repaid him with mercy and abundance. Killing them, he believed, would deepen his own karmic debt.
đź III. Understanding and Transforming Karma and Destiny
From the moment of birth, our destiny is shaped by karmaâpersonal, familial, even national. Yet, those with deep spiritual wisdom understand that karma is not fixed; it can be transformed through cultivation and repentance.
One elder recounted a prophecy given to Chiang Kai-shek during the war of resistance:
âVictory will not leave Sichuan; defeat will not depart from Taiwan.â
This prophecy later proved accurate, revealing the deep patterns of karmic consequence that enlightened beings can perceive. Similarly, Liao-Fanâs Four Lessons teaches that while destiny is shaped by past-life karma, it can be transformed through good deeds and sincere repentance.
Elder Li Bingnan, a renowned Dharma teacher in Taichung for 38 years, attributed his extended life and peace of mind to diligent practice and transforming karmic patterns. Every practitioner holds the potential to reshape their fate through sincere cultivation.
âïž IV. The Root of Conflict: Karmic Retribution from Killing
In my rural upbringing, meat was eaten only during rituals and special lunar days. Today, overconsumption has become the norm, disrupting natureâs balance and deepening karmic cycles.
In Buddhism, consuming meat perpetuates karmic retribution. Animals do not willingly offer their lives. Their suffering fuels resentment, which returns as conflict and suffering.
"Weapons and warfare arise from accumulated grudges."
The overconsumption of meat is not just a physical actâitâs a karmic transaction that invites consequences. Only through a compassionate, non-violent lifestyle can we purify karma and repair karmic debts.
đ» V. Yue Feiâs Spirit: A Lesson from the Invisible Realm
No beingâhuman or otherwiseâshould be underestimated. Ignoring karma and retribution leads to invisible suffering.
A story from the late Qing dynasty highlights this truth. A filial scholar dreamt of being summoned by General Yue Fei. Though initially reluctant, the dream revealed a strong karmic tie. Upon waking, he believed death was near. As predicted, he passed away just before the Wuchang Uprising.
Despite Yue Feiâs loyalty and heroism, his karmic resentment bound him to the ghost realm. His inability to let go of hatred tied him to a cycle of spiritual suffering.
This story reminds us that even noble intentions do not erase unresolved karma. To be free, one must let go of all forms of resentment.
đȘ· Conclusion: Practicing Dharma to Transform Karma
Master Chin Kungâs teachings remind us that karma and retribution are real, powerful, and inescapable. But they are also transformable through mindful cultivation:
- đ§ Every thought, word, and deed has karmic consequencesâgood or bad
- đ All beings, even insects, are part of the karmic web
- đ± Destiny can be changed through sincere practice and repentance
- đ§ââïž Moderation and compassion help purify our karma
- đ Avoid grudgesâthey bind us to karmic suffering
Let these real-life karma stories inspire us to walk the path of wisdom and virtue. Through Nianfo (chanting Amituofo), ethical living, and daily compassion, we can transform our destiny and create a ripple of blessings for all beings.
"One kind thought brings boundless blessings; one lifetime of virtue protects generations."