A merchant, carrying 50 bundles of cotton on his shoulders, stopped to take a break from the heat in a shelter where a stone Buddha stood. Here he fell asleep, and when he woke up, his cotton had disappeared. He immediately reported this to the police.
A judge named O-oka began an investigation.
“This stone Buddha must have stolen the cotton,” the judge concluded. “He should be concerned about the welfare of people, but he neglected his sacred duty. Arrest him.
The police arrested the stone Buddha and dragged him to court. A noisy crowd followed the statue, curious to know what sentence the judge would pronounce.
When O-oka appeared, he rebuked the noisy audience:
-What right do you have to laugh and joke during the trial? You disrespect the court and are subject to fines and imprisonment.
People rushed to apologize.
“I will only impose a fine on you,” said the judge. “I command that each of you deliver a bundle of cotton to the court within three days.” Whoever fails to do this will be arrested.
One of the packages brought was immediately identified by the merchant as his own, and the thief was easily found.
The merchant was returned his goods, and the remaining parcels were returned to their owners.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru