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Ai là Bồ Tát của lòng trắc ẩn.

Một tín đồ Phật giáo rất mộ đạo, người theo Bồ tát Avalokitesvara. Ông Guan Yin người Trung Quốc. Ngày xưa tại một làng nơi mà ông Guan Yin sinh sống,̣ bị bão lụt nước sông dâng nhanh, ông tìm lối thoát bằng cách leo lên mái nhà và cầu nguyện Bồ Tát Bodhisattva giúp đở, vì như trong kinh Lotus Sutra khi Bồ Tát Bodhisattva nghe được tiếng khóc của con người bà sẽ đến giúp đở bất cứ ai trong cơn tuyệt vọng.

Trong lúc ông đang cầu nguyện Bồ Tát, một thổ dân Ấn độ chèo thuyền dọc theo con sông bị lũ và kêu to, “Ông ơi, ông có cần đi trên xuồng của tôi không?” Guan Yin không thích người thổ dân vì hầu hết họ không theo đạo Phật nên ông trả lời, “Không tôi không cần anh giúp, Bồ Tát sẽ đến giúp tôi.” Thế là ông ta vẫn tiệ́p tục cầu nguyện Bồ Tát.

Một lát sau, một ngươiI Mỹ gốc Anglo Saxon đến trên chiếc xuồng máy và kêu to, “Ông ơi, ông có cần giúp đở không, Nếu ông cần thì hãy xuống chiếc xuồng máy của tôi.” Nhưng ông lại không thích những người da trắng bởi vì hầu hết họ theo Thiên chúa giáo

Kế đến một trực thăng bay trên mái nhà, người phi công la to “ông có cần đi với chúng tôi không” nhưng ông suy nghĩ Phật tử sống rất đơn giản, không sử dụng công nghệ cao, Vì vậy ông trả lời, “ Không cám ơn. Tôi tin chắc Bồ Tát sẽ đến cứu tôi, nếu tôi vẫn cầu nguyện” thế là anh phi công bay đi

Cuối cùng, nước lụt dâng cao qua khỏi mái nhà ,ông chìm xuống nước. Khi ông chết, ông gặp Diêm vương (thần cai quản địa ngục) để than phiền, “Theo như kinh Lotus Sutra, Bồ Tát Bodhisattva từ bi hứa sẽ đến và cứu con bất cứ lúc nào con cầu nguyện bà. Tại sao bà thất hứa?”

Diêm Vương trả lời, “Bồ Tát có đến để giúp anh 3 lần. Lần thứ nhất bà hiện là người thổ dân, rồi đến người Anglo Saxon, sau đó là anh Phi công. Nhưng anh không nhận ra bà và từ chối sự giúp đở của bà. Bởi vậy tôi không chấp thuận lời than phiền của anh. Tuy nhiên anh có đọc kinh Lotus Sutra nên anh không phải ở đây. Tôi sẽ sắp xếp cho anh tái sinh càng sớm càng tốt. Anh có thể đi ngay bây giờ”

MỖI NGAY MỘT CAU CHUYỆN THIỀN LƯU TRỮ

TRANG CHINH

WHO IS THE BODHISATTVA OF COMPASSION?

A Buddhist was a very devout follower of the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva (of Compassion, also known as Guan Yin in Chinese). One day, the village in which he lived was flooded by a overflowing river, and the water was rising rapidly. He escaped to the roof top of his house and prayed to the Bodhisattva for help, because according to the Lotus Sutra, when the Bodhisattva of Compassion hears the cries of the world, she will come down to help anybody in despair.

As he was praying to the Bodhisattva, a native Indian rowed a canoe along the flooded river and cried out, "Hi. Fellow, do you need a ride in my canoe?" He did not like natives because most of them are not Buddhist and so he replied, " No. I do not need your help. The Bodhisattva will come and help me out." And he continued to pray to the Bodhisattva.

After a while, an Anglo Saxon American arrived in a speed boat and cried out, "Hi! Do you need help? If you do, just come and ride in my speed boat." But he did not like white people either because most of them are Christians. So he refused his help also.

Next, a helicopter flied above the house and the pilot shouted to him, "Do you want to come fly with me?" But he thought that Buddhist should live a simple life, free from high technology. So he replied, "No thank you. I am sure the Bodhisattva will safe my life, if I pray to her." The pilot left.

Finally, the house gave way to the flood, and he was drowned. After his death he went before King Yama (the God of Hell) and filed a complaint, "According to the Lotus Sutra, the Bodhisattva of Compassion promises to come and save my life whenever I pray to her. Why did she break her promise?"

Yama replied, "the Bodhisattva did appear to help you out three times. First, she appeared as a Native, then as a Anglo Saxon, then as a pilot. But you did not recognize her and refused her help. Therefore I have to dismiss your complaint. However, since you have read the Lotus Sutra, you do not have to stay here. I will arrange your rebirth as soon as possible. You may go now."