There’s a saying in Buddhism: “Good deeds are rewarded, evil deeds are punished.” Common people in China hold deep faith in Buddhism, and this story recounts the adventures of a frustrated man who sought refuge with a living Buddha.

A Son in Old Age

During the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty, there lived an old man named Ren in Renjiazhuang, northwest of Nanyang Prefecture. The old couple were Buddhists, burning incense and offering prayers morning and night, cultivating virtue and doing good deeds throughout their lives. Perhaps it was because good deeds are rewarded, they were overjoyed to have a son in their later years. They named him Ren Shan, hoping that he would grow up to be a good person with good deeds and good deeds.

Death of Both Parents

When Ren Shan was seventeen, his family was struck by a sudden tragedy. His parents fell seriously ill simultaneously. Despite all possible treatments, they passed away one after another. Ren Shan felt as if the sky had fallen and the earth had collapsed. With the help of his neighbors, he hastily buried his parents.

Setting out to find the Living Buddha

Lonely and destitute, Ren Shan thought, “They say good deeds are rewarded. My family has been cultivating virtue and doing good deeds for generations.” How did he end up like this?

Could it be that the Buddha and the gods were asleep? Some people also said strange things: “Forget all the good deeds Ren Shan did. Perhaps this boy committed some sin in a past life and is now suffering retribution!”

Hearing these strange words, Ren Shan was filled with indignation. He remembered his father’s words when he was still alive. There was a living Buddha on Penglai Island in the East China Sea. He knew everything about the world and the heavens. Why not go to Penglai Mountain and ask the living Buddha? What sins had I committed to bring this disaster upon my family? Ren Shan packed his belongings and set off immediately.

The Silent Girl

Ren Shan rose early and slept late, hurrying to Penglai Island. One day, he stopped at a roadside inn. The owner saw that he was covered in dust and his shoes were torn. Knowing that he must be a traveler, he asked the young man where he was going. Ren Shan told him the truth.

After hearing this, the innkeeper sighed and said, “Alas, so many things in this world are truly inexplicable!” He then explained to Ren Shan that his family also believed in Buddhism and practiced charity. He had only one daughter, only 28 years old. Although bright and clever, she couldn’t speak!

He begged Ren Shan to see the Living Buddha and inquire about the matter. Ren Shan readily agreed. The next morning, the innkeeper gave Ren Shan a pair of shoes and a bag of dry food and personally escorted him on his journey.

The God of Land Waiting for the Immortal

Ren Shan walked and walked until he came to a land temple, where he had no choice but to stay. The God of Land, already aware of Ren Shan’s journey to Penglai Island to seek the Living Buddha, pleaded with Ren Shan with a distressed face, “Pity me, an old man, who has endured so many years here, yet has never had the opportunity to ascend to heaven. Could you please ask the Living Buddha what’s going on?” Ren Shan readily agreed.

The Carp That Wants to Become a Dragon

Ren Shan bid farewell to the God of Land and continued on his journey, a vast river lying before him. Ren Shan was anxiously trying to cross the river. A large carp swam over, offering to help him. Ren Shan rode on the carp’s back and successfully crossed the river. Before departing, the carp told Ren Shan that it had cultivated for a thousand years in the river, yet had failed to achieve immortality or dragon status. It wished to ask the Living Buddha how it could transform into a dragon. Ren Shan nodded in agreement.

Meeting the Living Buddha

Ren Shan bid farewell to the carp, climbed over 749 mountains, crossed 981 rivers, and traveled for 303 days before finally arriving at the Penglai Island. He didn’t bother to admire Penglai’s mortal wonderland, but instead climbed directly to the mist-shrouded Great Buddha Temple to meet the Living Buddha.

Three Wishes

The Living Buddha slightly opened his wise eyes and said to Ren Shan, “You have come so far with so much difficulty, and I must grant your every wish. However, due to the long-established rules of this temple, you are only allowed to ask three questions. Please forgive me!”

Self-sacrifice

Ren Shan was stunned. He thought about the tasks entrusted to him by the shop owner, the local deity, and the big carp. Adding his own tasks, it made a total of four. What should he do?

Just as he was struggling, he suddenly remembered his parents’ lifetime of accumulating merit and doing good deeds, always willing to help others. They often urged him to be selfless and to save people in distress. He gritted his teeth and steeled his resolve, asking the Living Buddha only three questions. Then, he bid farewell to the Living Buddha and hurried back.

Everyone is happy.

Carp Becomes Dragon

Ren Shan arrived at the riverbank when a big carp swam over and asked, “Young man, you’ve worked so hard! Tell me how I can become a dragon.” Ren Shan replied, “The Living Buddha said you can become a dragon if you spit out the pearl in your mouth.” The big carp was overjoyed. While carrying Ren Shan across the river, it handed him the pearl and said, “This is a water-repellent pearl. Give it to me, young man!” Just as Ren Shan was about to decline, the big carp suddenly transformed into a green dragon, shaking its head and tail, and soared into the air.

The God of Land Ascends to Heaven

Ren Shan reached the God of Land Temple. The God of Land came forward and asked, “Young man, you have met the Living Buddha. What is the Buddha’s wish?” Ren Shan replied, “The Buddha wants you to hand over the two jars of gold and silver you’ve been pedaling, and you will ascend to heaven and become a deity!” The God of Land’s face flushed red all the way to his neck. He obediently handed over the gold and silver, which he had been reluctant to spend over the years as bribes, and insisted on giving it to Ren Shan as a reward. Ren Shan refused. The God of Land said, “This is the hard-earned money of the villagers. Please share it with them.” With that, he transformed into a gust of wind and ascended to heaven.

A Miraculous Marriage

That noon, Ren Shan arrived at a roadside inn, where the owner warmly welcomed him. During the meal, the innkeeper anxiously asked, “Sir, you’ve traveled all the way here, and you don’t know what the old man wants you to do. What did the Buddha say?” Ren Shan smiled and replied, “The Buddha said, it’s okay. Your daughter will speak when she sees a husband.”

The innkeeper was stunned: The world is vast, the people are endless, who could possibly be her daughter’s husband?

As they were talking, Ren Shan suddenly smelled the fragrance of orchid and musk filling the room. The door curtains were lifted, and the innkeeper’s daughter, graceful and graceful, emerged. A truly celestial beauty!

The beauty bowed deeply to the guest, then suddenly opened her mouth to the innkeeper and spoke, “Dad, Dad! My tongue is numb. I can speak now! I can speak now!”

The innkeeper was so happy that he shed tears. He suddenly remembered what Ren Shan had told the Living Buddha, and he insisted on marrying Ren Shan. Seeing the innkeeper’s sincerity and the girl’s beauty, Ren Shan nodded with satisfaction. The innkeeper quickly summoned his wife, and Ren Shan greeted his father-in-law and mother-in-law.

The shop owner then hurriedly arranged an auspicious date and invited friends and family to the wedding for his daughter and son-in-law. After the wedding, Ren Shan distributed the gold and silver left by the Earth God to the poor villagers, and everyone praised him as an honest, kind, and compassionate person.

A Miraculous Flood Control

That summer, heavy rain fell for 36 consecutive days, filling the ditches and rivers. The crops were awash, and the village seemed poised to be submerged. Ren Shan was so anxious he couldn’t eat or sleep. One day, he had a hazy dream in which he saw an old man with a white beard approach him. Upon closer inspection, he discovered it was the Earth God, who had ascended to heaven!

The old man told Ren Shan: The entire country is suffering from severe flooding. The emperor has issued a decree: whoever can control the floods will be promoted to a first-rank official in the court. He also told Ren Shan that it was the dynasty’s destiny to avert this disaster. Among the gods who control the clouds and rain, there is the Great Azure Dragon, with whom you have a friendship. He awaits your return of kindness! With these words, the Earth God whispered to Ren Shan’s ear and gave him these instructions.

Ren Shan, fearing no delay, hurried to the capital. He presented the Emperor with the Water-Repellent Pearl, a gift from the Great Carp, and explained his method for stopping the rain and reducing the flood. The Emperor quickly issued an order, commanding the Imperial Observatory to send a representative to accompany Ren Shan, carrying the pearl, to control the flood.

Ren Shan and his companions journeyed to the wilderness. The sky was thick with dark clouds, thunder and lightning. Braving the torrential downpour, Ren Shan, following the Earth God’s instructions, shouted three times to the heavens, “Azure Dragon, Azure Dragon, do not forget the people of this world!” Then he dropped the Water-Repellent Pearl into the water. Miraculously, the thunder and lightning subsided instantly, the clouds dissipated, the rain ceased, the sun shone brightly in the clear sky, and the floodwaters quickly receded.

Good deeds are rewarded.

The emperor was delighted and offered Ren Shan the title of top prize winner in the treasure-presenting competition. Ren Shan repeatedly declined, saying he did not wish to serve in the imperial court. The emperor had no choice but to reward Ren Shan with countless gold and silver. Unable to refuse, Ren Shan pleaded with the emperor to donate the gift to the victims of the disaster.

The emperor was deeply impressed and inquired in detail about the origins of the water-repellent beads. Ren Shan recounted his journey to Penglai to seek Buddha’s help. As the emperor himself was a devout Buddhist, he was deeply moved and inspired to write a couplet. He personally composed a couplet for Ren Shan and solemnly sent him back home. The couplet read:

Don’t say that good deeds have no good results.

Respecting Buddha brings about a connection with Buddha.

After returning home, Ren Shan framed the couplet and hung it up, contemplating it day and night. He wondered, in this vast world, amidst the hustle and bustle of life, where is the Buddha? The Buddha is in our hearts; all living beings are Buddhas. To respect Buddha, one must first respect those around them, and then respect all living beings! From then on, the young couple respected the elderly and loved the young, helped the needy, and performed countless good deeds throughout their lives.

The couple lived a sweet and harmonious life. At the age of 100, their faces remained rosy, with no signs of aging at all. Later, they went into the mountains to collect herbs and never returned. People said they had become Buddhas and immortals.