The Turtle Repaying Kindness

Love is a form of respect not only for people, but for all living beings. We should love all living creatures, as they have families and feelings like we do. Maternal love is not something only humans have. All animals, even those as fierce as tigers, will care for their babies with the same motherly love as humans'.

They have families like we do and their love for their children is no different from ours. So, we should love all living creatures in the world and treat them as we'd treat ourselves. However we wish to be treated, we should treat all living creatures the same way. This is the true meaning of love.

Once upon a time, there was a couple who loved turtle meat. One day, they bought a huge turtle. They brought the turtle home and ordered the kitchen maid to kill it and serve it for lunch. But, when the maid looked into the eyes of the turtle, which was still struggling hard, her heart went out to it. So, she decided to set it free when the couple were away.

At noon, the couple came home. The master was startled to find that there was no turtle dish on the table. So, he asked about it. The maid explained: "I was careless to let it escape and I couldn't find it". The master was so angry that he started whipping her. When he cooled down and stopped, the maid was covered in wounds.

A few days later, the maid had a fever. She was very ill. The master asked other maids to carry her to a pavilion by a pond and left her there to die. When night came, a turtle crawled out of the pond with mud in its mouth. It smeared the mud all over the maid's body and face.

The maid felt cool and comfortable, so she gradually came to and recovered. The next day, when two maids came to check on her, they were surprised to find her alive and well. The master also came and asked: "You were almost dying. How did you recover without taking any medicine?". The maid said, "I'm not sure either. Last night, something seemed to come out of the water and smeared mud all over my body. It was very cool, so I came to"

The master didn't quite believe her. So, when night fell, the couple hid behind a tree. They then saw a huge turtle, which looked just like the one they bought from the market the other day. The turtle came out of the pond and smeared something in its mouth all over the maid's body.

Seeing that, the couple started to believe that animals also have feelings and they know to repay, too. From then on, they no longer dared to eat turtles or any other living creatures.

In the past, there were many stories like this. So, many people in the old days believed that animals are just like humans, and so, they'd protect animals and set them free. The Buddhist Dharma Master Lian Chi also often called on people to refrain from killing.

So, many stories like this have been passed down. The maid worked for her master, so she had no choice but to kill whatever animals her master gave her. However, as she was killing animals, she was reluctant and her heart went out to them.

Maids are hired, so they have no choice but to kill and cook whatever animals their masters bring home. The maid felt for the animals she killed, so she was very kindhearted. Yet, there are also people who easily lose their temper. They dislike animals. When they see animals, they get angry and want to kill them. What they do creates heavy karma.

So, we should harbor a heart of compassion. Although the maid had killed many animals before as she was asked, she felt for the turtle and set it free. And see how the turtle repaid her by coming back to save her life. This is the law of karma.

When we kill lives, we create negative karma. When we help others, we'll be helped in return. We reap what we sow, whether good or bad. So, we should harbor a loving heart at all times and refrain from killing. This is very important.

Our wisdom grows when we give with love. So, when we love people and animals, we're nurturing our wisdom. If we can treat all living creatures as ourselves, we will know how to cherish them. Everyone, when we follow the Buddha's way, have self-respect, and take good care of our minds, we will love and respect all life. So, please be mindful always.