Legend of Gold Mountain Living Buddha 14 - Performs the Universal Great Compassion 活佛行無緣大慈

(Chinese and English subtitles) Written by Master Optimist , 金山活佛神異錄, 樂觀法師(1902~1987) 著
Subtitles:
There are two words of caution from the ancient Buddhist virtuous practitioner: "It is unthinkable for a monk to be slack. It is also inconceivable for a monk to develop the mind of the Way." This word means if a monk does not focus on his morals and conduct, he can do anything evil. If a monk develops the heart of the Way, he can also do any difficult and magnificent thing.
Like the hard work of ascetic practice in the monastery, when the laity sees it, they are all thrilled and admire it with utmost sincerity. In the past, some ascetic monks specialized in hard labor in sizable temples over the country.
For example, "vegetable head" (vegetable grower), "rice head" (rice cooker), "fire head" (fire burner), and "water head" (water collector), who serve as a painful task. The "bell-head" (who rings the bell), the "drum-head" (who drums), the "forbidden head" (who cleans the toilets), the "hall" (who serves food to the public), and the "mountain patrol" (who looks after the trees in the mountains).
They have kept doing such tough jobs for years and never complained about the hardship. Many monks have developed the heart of the Way, who specially seek hard work and take pleasure in suffering.
Most of the eminent monks in the past dynasties in China became famous through asceticism, and they gained benefits from suffering. They work hard of their own accord, without seeking fame or receiving a price.
The Living Buddha was used to living an ascetic life, although after he became famous, wherever he went, some rich and influential dignitaries would convert to him and become his disciples.
However, he was never proud of it and remained true to his nature. "He was totally devoted to compassion and joyful giving. That's the reason why he was respected everywhere, and that is also the reason why people called him a Living Buddha.
When he first came to Yangon and lived in Longhua Temple, he once did a difficult job. It turns out that the climate in Myanmar is hot, and the people living here eat fresh food for every meal. Even the poor begging for food also want fresh food.
Therefore, some households pour the leftovers of each meal outside to feed crows and dogs. The temple also had the same situation. At that time, more than 20 guest masters lived in Longhua Temple. There were a lot of leftovers from each meal and were all dumped.
Although they tossed the leftovers to feed the crows and dogs, the remain leftovers that the animals couldn't finish were still a waste. When the Living Buddha saw that situation, he could not bear to waste the food, so he came up with the idea to benefit other sentient beings with the leftovers.
At that time, the area around Longhua Temple was full of vegetable gardens, and those who lived there were farmers. Every household raised cattle. Every day, the Living Buddha put the leftovers from the temple in wooden buckets and loaded them on his shoulders with bamboo to feed the livestock. Once a day, it became his daily homework. Not only did he carry it himself, but he also fed the cattle himself every time. While feeding the cattle, he recited the Buddha's name.
Day after day, when the cattle saw him coming from a distance carrying wooden buckets, they naturally let out "moo, moo" as if to welcome him. When the Buddha approached them, the cattle licked his sleeve and hands with their tongues, and wagged their heads and tails, looking affectionate.
When the living Buddha fed the cattle, there was a cutscene every time. As usual, he first conferred the "Three Refugees" to the cattle, and then spoke the Dharma to the cattle. It's like talking with someone.
What he said to the cattle is very interesting: "Disciple, do you know why you have now become a cattle? Let me tell you. It's because you didn't return the money you borrowed from others in your previous life and beat and cursed others. You must know that you have to pay back the debt, even though you were clever in that life to avoid the creditor and deceive him.
However, there is no way to escape, so you change your body now to pay off debts, work for others, and be beaten and scolded by others. Only after you have paid off your debts can you get relief. Further, you must know why you can’t speak. That's because you were too fond of gossip in your previous life, fabricating something out of thin air, especially judging people's right and wrong in public.
Therefore, in this life, you can't utter a word, you can only listen to what others say. Even though, you clearly know that people say bad things about you and scold you, you can't argue with them and can't talk back.” Talking like this may seem a little funny at first, but when you think about it carefully, there is also a reason for it.
The Living Buddha kept carrying leftovers to feed the cattle for a long time until Longhua Temple was closed.