The Student to Keep

Master Pangui was teaching Sutras to all his students. About a hundred students sat around him in semi-circles, row after row, listening attentively. Suddenly, the peace was disturbed by noises coming from the end of the hall, a combination of angry argument and muffled crying.

Pangui stopped his lecture and followed the noise. Somewhere in the back row, a small crowd of monks had already gathered. In the center, one monk was speaking passionately to the crowd. There was another monk on his side, whose right fist was held high by the angry monk for everyone to see. In his clenched hand, Pangui saw a sparkling gold coin.

“He was stealing again!” yelled the angry monk upon the sight of Pangui.

“You are such a bastard!” blurted a monk nearby to the thief. “We caught you a few days ago, too!”

The thief did not speak. He held his head low, trying to avoid all the accusing glares shot towards him. But his cheeks were burning red.

“Let’s forgive him,” spoke Pangui compassionately.

“No way!” The angry monk fired back. “He had stolen from us many times. There is no way we can forgive him this time.”

“If you do not kick him out of our school,” chimed in another monk, “we will all leave here.”

Pangui paused at the threat. Then, looking at his pupils, he spoke calmly and clearly, as if explaining a sutra, “All of you are smart people who can discern what is right or wrong. But he is confused and could not even tell right from wrong. If I do not teach him, who should I teach? Who shall help him?

“I am keeping him here, even if all of you leave.”

The thief gave his master the deepest bow. From then on, he vowed to be on a new path.