010-Buddhism in daily life - Who buried you?

In a far away land, many many years ago, there lived a very poor woman. She had only the bare necessities, a dress, a pair of shoes, a coat. She never found enough to eat, she was always hungry. The people of the village did not like the woman, she smelled bad, and could rarely wash. Her dwelling was a nailed-together wooden shack without water or heating, on the very edge of the settlement.

This one winter was much colder than the season usually was, her situation was desperate. Completely exhausted, the woman lay on her camp, the supplies had run out days ago, she waited silently and lonely for her death.

Out of nowhere, the farmer's wife from the nearest farm came by, put her food on the floor of the hut, fed her and spoke kindly to her. The poor woman then recovered, the winter came to an end, and spring was at the door.

The poor woman took heart and set out to visit the kind farmer's wife. When she arrived at the farm, she stood in front of the door and called out to her: "Where have you been for so long, I have been waiting for you". The poor woman approached the farmer's wife to thank her. Then the peasant woman said, "you don't have to thank me. Some time ago I was in the temple when a learned master stayed there. He showed me my previous life in a mirror. I saw myself walking around in a forest when I fell and broke my foot. Because I could not walk any further, I starved to death in that forest, the animals were already eating at my body when you came along the way. Noticing my battered body, you were deeply frightened. But then you took all your courage and buried me in the ground, you didn't just leave me there. Now recognizing you in the mirror of the master, I then watched you. Since you had not left the hut last winter, I thought that you would be in a bad way. That is why I brought you food. You buried me once, I am very grateful to you for that. Please come in, wash yourself, and eat with us".

No sooner said than done. The farmer's wife gave the poor woman a brand new dress. As she sat at the peasants' table, washed and decently dressed, the peasant came in with his brother. The brother was immediately taken with the woman, who now even looked very pretty. Still at dinner, the two agreed, they became a couple.

Many years later, when happy children were already running through the house of the couple, the two talked about the errors of fate, and how unbelievably their paths had met. Then her husband came out with the language: "not only my sister-in-law was in the temple and looked into this mirror, I was also there. I saw myself standing in the midst of a happy family, with a dear wife and many children. Today I know that you were that woman, and the children are also like from that 'reflection'."

"Your kindness brought us together, your deeds from a previous life are the reason for our happiness today."

People are in a cycle of rebirths determined by their karma.

So, who buried you in the last life?

As nothing is too great for the spirit, so nothing is too small for goodness

- Jean Paul - German writer - 1763 to 1825

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