Once
upon a time, there was a very famous priest in a very old religion. He decided
it was the right day to perform the ritual sacrificing of a goat. In his ignorance,
he thought this was an offering demanded by his god.
He
obtained an appropriate goat for the sacrifice. He ordered his servants to take
the goat to the holy river and wash him and decorate him with flower garlands.
Then they were to wash themselves, as part of the purification practice.
Down
at the riverbank, the goat suddenly understood that today he would definitely
be killed. He also became aware of his past births and deaths and rebirths. He
realized that the results of his past unwholesome deeds were about to finally
be completed. So he laughed an uproarious goat-laugh, like the clanging of cymbals.
In
the midst of his laughter, he realized another truth - that the priest, by sacrificing
him, would suffer the same terrible results, due to his ignorance. So he began
to cry as loudly as he had just been laughing!
The
servants, who were bathing in the holy river, heard first the laughing and then
the crying. They were amazed. So they asked the goat, "Why did you loudly
laugh and then just as loudly cry? What is the reason for this?" He replied,
"I will tell you the reason. But it must be in the presence of your master,
the priest."
Since
they were very curious, they immediately took the sacrificial goat to the priest.
They explained all that had happened. The priest, too, became very curious. He
respectfully asked the goat, "Sir, why did you laugh so loudly, and then
just as loudly cry?"
The
goat, remembering his past lives, said, "A long time ago, I too was a priest
who, like you, was well educated in the sacred religious rites. I thought that
to sacrifice a goat was a necessary offering to my god, which would benefit others,
as well as myself in future rebirths. However, the true result of my actions was
that in my next 499 lives I myself have been beheaded!
While
being prepared for the sacrifice, I realized that today I will definitely lose
my head for the 500th time. Then I will finally be free of all the results of
my unwholesome deeds of so long ago. The joy of this made me laugh uncontrollably.
Then
I suddenly realized that you, the priest, were about to repeat the same unwholesome
action, and would be doomed to the same result of having your head chopped off
in your next 500 lives! So, out of compassion and sympathy, my laughter turned
to tears."
The
priest was afraid this goat might be right, so he said, "Well, sir goat,
I will not kill you." The goat replied, "Reverend priest, even if you
do not kill me, I know that today I will lose my head and finally be released
from the results of my past unwholesome action."
The
priest said, "Don't be afraid, my fine goat. I will provide the very best
protection and personally guarantee that no harm will come to you." But the
goat said, "Oh priest, your protection is very weak, compared to the power
of my unwholesome deed to cause its necessary results."
So the priest cancelled the sacrifice, and began to have doubts about killing
innocent animals. He released the goat and, along with his servants, followed
him in order to protect him from any danger.
The
goat wandered into a rocky place. He saw some tender leaves on a branch and stretched
out his neck to reach them. All of a sudden a thunderstorm appeared out of nowhere.
A lightning bolt struck an over-hanging rock, and cut off a sharp slab, which
fell and chopped off the goat's head! He died instantly, and the thunderstorm
disappeared.
Hearing
of this very strange event, hundreds of local people came to the place. No one
could understand how it had happened.
There
was also a fairy who lived in a nearby tree. He had seen all that had occurred.
He appeared, gently fluttering in the air overhead. He began to teach the curious
people, saying, "Look at what happened to this poor goat. This was the result
of killing animals! All beings are born, and suffer through sickness, old age
and death. But all wish to live, and not to die. Not seeing that all have this
in common, some kill other living beings. This causes suffering also to those
who kill, both now and in countless future rebirths.
Being
ignorant that all deeds must cause results to the doer, some continue to kill
and heap up more suffering on themselves in the future. Each time they kill, a
part of themselves must also die in this present life. And the suffering continues
even by rebirth in hell worlds!"
Those
who heard the fairy speak felt that they were very lucky indeed. They gave up
their ignorant killing, and were far better off, both in this life, and in pleasant
rebirths.
Moral: Even religion can be a source of ignorance.
(From: Buddhist Tales for Young and Old)