..續本文上一頁 am Sakka, King of the Gods of the Heaven of 33." As he said this, he used his super powers to rise into the air and remain suspended there.
Attendants splashed cold water on Illisa”s face and woke him from his fainting spell. He knelt down in respect before Sakka, King of Gods.
Then Sakka spoke: "This wealth came from me, Illisa, not from you. I myself, when I was your father, did many meritorious deeds. I was glad to give to the poor and needy. That is why, when I died, I was reborn as Sakka, King of Gods.
"However, you have violated our family tradition. Being a non-giver, living the life of a miser, burning my charity dining hall to the ground, and chasing the homeless beggars from your door - you have kept all the family wealth to yourself. You are so cheap that you cannot even use the wealth for your own enjoyment! It is utterly wasted and useless. The family fortune has become like a pond possessed by demons, where no one can quench his thirst. It would be better if you were dead!
"Illisa, my former son, if you change your ways you will be the one to benefit most. If you rebuild my free food kitchen and give hot meals to all who ask, you will earn both merit and peace of mind. But if you refuse to be generous, I will make all your riches disappear. And I will split your crooked skull with my pine diamond dagger!"
In fear of his own death, Illisa the Cheap promised, "I will give generously from now on, oh King of Gods."
Sakka accepted his promise. Still floating in the air, he preached on the true value of giving. He also convinced him to practice the Five Training Steps, for the benefit of himself and others. These are to give up entirely: destroying life, taking what is not given, sexual wrongdoing, speaking falsely, and losing one”s mind from alcohol.
Then Sakka disappeared and returned to his heavenly home.
Illisa did indeed change his ways. He gave alms generously, did many other good deeds, and became much happier. When he died he was reborn in a heaven world.
The moral is: Poor indeed is the rich man who won”t part with a penny.
《Illisa the Cheap (Miserliness)》全文閱讀結束。