A Child Died of Scalding

Book 223 Stories of Supreme Spiritual Responses (《無上殊勝莊嚴的感應》「被燙死的小孩」)

‧Written by Sheng-yen Lu‧

Translated by Janny Chow
A US Daden Culture Publication

A young couple wearing long faces came to see me, complaining tearfully, “Our most beloved Jiajia has died!”
“What happened?” I asked.
They responded, “He was scalded to death.”
I was greatly shocked.

Here is what happened:
These young individuals, before marriage, were devout students of mine. They were fellow cultivators at a local chapter and adored each other. At big dharma ceremonies, they worked as volunteers. They received the Bodhisattva Precepts and committed themselves to the Vows of Bodhicitta. They engaged in all kinds of meritorious deeds such as printing virtuous books, sponsoring Buddhist sculptures, donating to temple constructions, making offerings to the sangha community, carrying out good deeds, and making contributions to the Lotus Light Charity as well as the Sheng-yen Lu Foundation.
They practiced two sessions of sadhana every day, completed chanting of the Guru’s Heart Mantra eight million times, and engaged in homa offering practices. When they met with the root guru and other acharyas, they would perform great prostrations and make great offerings. They belonged to the group of students who pursue and follow the guru wherever he travels.
Later they were married. I presided over their wedding and gave them blessings. They had a son, the lovely Jiajia. Jiajia also took refuge in me. The two of them even brought Jiajia to see me for a special blessing.
Jiajia had just turned three when he died!
I asked, “How did the scalding occur?”
They explained, “We were watching television in the living room while Jiajia was alone in the bedroom. We did not know how it happened, but he slipped into the bathroom, climbed inside the bathtub, and turned on the hot water. Just like that, he died!”
“How could this be possible?” I queried. “Did he die of scalding or drowning?”
“It was just like that!” Both of them wept.
My eyes also turned red.
***
The two of them asked me, “Grand Master Lu, why didn’t the Buddhas protect us?”
I was mute and speechless.
The two of them asked me, “Grand Master Lu, why didn’t you perform a miracle? We have been continuously chanting your heart mantra without any break or rest.”
I was mute and speechless.
The two of them asked me, “Grand Master Lu, has Heaven turned a blind eye to us? Is Heaven testing us? Our family and friends and neighbors are taunting us for believing in you. Our hearts are cold, and we are fast falling apart. Should we continue with the practice?”
I was mute and speechless.
The two of them shouted loudly, “Who can return Jiajia to us?”
***

This devout couple quietly left True Buddha School for more than two years.
Then one day they reappeared.
They were holding a little child in their arms and they performed prostration reverently to their root guru Grand Master Lu.
They said, “Grand Master, please accept our repentance. We have returned.”
I asked, “Why?”
They explained, “Jiajia has indeed come back to us. We have given birth to another child. He looks exactly like Jiajia. Not only that, he has the same birthmark on his buttock, just like Jiajia’s. Also, the small finger on his right hand is slightly crooked, just like Jiajia’s. When he started babbling, the first word he uttered was actually ‘hot,’ ‘hot,’ ‘hot.’”
They continued, “The strangest thing was, just before Jiajia was to be born, we both dreamt of Grand Master Lu appearing in the empty space, holding Jiajia and telling us, I will give you back Jiajia!”
After listening to them, I nodded and said, “Continue to put your heart in practice!”