冥報記 1.12

1.12

When Emperor Wu of the Liang was in humble circumstances, he knew a poor scholar. After he ascended the throne, while strolling in the imperial park, he saw [the man] towing a boat. The emperor questioned him, and [learned that] he was still as poor and lowly as before. The emperor decreed, 'Tomorrow you may come for an audience; I will grant you [the office of] county magistrate.' The man went in accordance with the decree, but by coincidence was unable to see him. Repeatedly when he went, there were other matters, and in the end he could not gain access. Finding it strange, he went to ask the śramaṇa Baozhi. Baozhi was just then lecturing on a sūtra to a great assembly, with several thousand listeners, so the poor scholar could not advance. Baozhi said to the crowd, 'Someone wishes to come and ask a question; please make way and let him in.' The people then made way for him. Before the man had reached him, Baozhi went out to greet him and said, 'Have you come to ask why you cannot obtain the post of county magistrate? You will never obtain it; you have merely received an empty promise of favor. In a past life, when the emperor was the patron of a vegetarian feast, you promised on the pledge register to donate five hundred coins, but in the end you never gave them. For this reason, today you only receive the promise of an office, but can never obtain it.' When the man heard this, he left once and for all, and the emperor also never sought him out again. (Clergy and laity of Jiangdong still transmit this story today.)