冥報記 2.6

2.6

Sun Bao of Jiangdu was originally a northerner who moved and settled there at the end of the Sui dynasty. In his youth, he died, yet his body remained warm; only after more than forty days did he revive. He recounted himself that when he was first arrested and arrived at an official government office, he suddenly saw his mother detained there. Seeing her, Bao felt both sorrow and joy. His mother then told him, "Since dying, I have been detained for a long time with no progression, and have had no way to lodge an appeal." The next morning, the presiding officer led Bao before the magistrate. The magistrate stated that Bao was guiltless and should be released. Bao then ventured to ask, "May I inquire: are the sins and merits of one's lifetime definitely subject to retribution?" The magistrate said, "Retribution is definite." Bao asked again, "If one has committed both sins and merits, can they cancel each other out?" The magistrate said, "They can." Bao said, "Such-and-such neighbors of mine had many sins and few merits in their lives, yet I now see them outside; my mother has many merits and few sins, yet she has been detained for a long time. If retribution is definite, why is it like this?" The magistrate summoned and questioned the clerk in charge. The clerk said there was no dossier. The magistrate then called Bao's mother for interrogation, learned that her merits were many and her sins few, and reproved the clerk in charge. Because the clerk had lost the dossier, he had not known the gravity or lightness of her original case. The magistrate and clerks checked another register, and it was just as she had said. Thereupon he ordered her release and allocated the mother and son to be reborn in the Hall of Joy; but as for Bao, he was to be sent out to his place of rebirth. That Hall of Joy was like a fine palace, with great halls and pavilions, where a multitude of men and women enjoyed bliss within. Bao had no further thought of returning, but merely wandered and played among the various halls. After about a month or so, he happened to meet his paternal uncle on the road, who scolded him, saying, "It is not yet time for you to die. Why have you not returned early?" Bao said, "I do not wish to return." His uncle said angrily, "When people die, each receives retribution according to their own karma. Your karma is evil; you cannot be born in the Hall of Joy. It is only because it is not yet time for you to die that you have been able to roam as a guest within it. If you were dead, the officials would register you; how could you get to see your mother?" Thereupon, with water from a pitcher, he poured it over him, drenching his body thoroughly from head to foot; only on his arm was there a small spot not reached, as the water had run out. Pointing to an empty house, he told Bao to enter it. Once he entered, he revived. The place where the poured water had not reached subsequently festered and fell away, to this day exposing the bone. (When I, Lin, was sent on an imperial mission to Jiangdong in the seventh year of Zhenguan, the needle-doctor Zhen Tuo recounted this to me as such. Bao is currently still alive.)