One peasant asked a monk of the Tendai sect to read sutras over his dead wife. After reading he asked:
- Do you think this will benefit my wife?
“Not only your wife, but also all sentient beings benefit from reading the sutras,” answered the monk.
“You say that this benefits all sentient beings,” said the peasant, “but my wife is probably still very weak, and others can deceive her and appropriate the benefits due to her.” Please read the sutras just for her alone.
The monk explained that every Buddhist strives to bring benefit to all living beings and is happy to serve each of them.
“It’s an excellent teaching,” the peasant decided, “but I ask you to make just one reservation.” My neighbor is such a rude and scoundrel - you should exclude at least him from all sentient beings.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru