Once upon a time there was a well-known family whose surname was Fang. Everyone of the family was very kind, especially the old Madam Fang, who was a very compassionate and affable old lady. We can tell from her everyday life’‘s behaviour. She often reminded her maids,
"At home do not pour any boiling or hotwater on the floor casually. This is because it may kill many ants or little insects on the floor. And if it flows through the drain it ispossible that it indirectly kill other small animals."
As for the normal activities in the house or courtyard, the old madamalso raminded family membrers to pay attetion when they walked. Otherwise they could step on and kill little animals. In addition, she also told thegrandchildren not to wilfully squeeze inserts that lived on the trees to death.
Hence every member of the Fang family, young and old, always radiate an atmosphere of auspicious sign. Anyone who saw would naturally feel comfortable right from the heart. One day the old madam Fang’‘s son went to the capital city for business. When he came back he brought back an man-servant, hoping that the servant would help the old maiden to do some work. The old madam happily accepted him.
However that night she had a dream. In the dream a red snake told her,
"How’‘re you old madam? Actually I am your neighbour, that is because I live in the cave of the back of your courtyard. I have been moving in the past. Since everyone casually pour the hot water and step on the ground without payying attention, so I cannot be at rest. However since I moved here, I have been very satisfied. This is due to your compassionate heart. Now to repay your kindess, I would like to tell your fortune within these few days ."
The red snake pasued for a while, behaving like any other fortune-teller, it shaked its head and continued,
"The man-servant your son brought back is in fact a bandit. However, he will do no harm. Five days latter his father will come to see him. You can give them some tales of silver(money) and ask them to leave. Then everything will be fine."
Five days later, the man-servant’‘s father came as expected. The oldmadam acted very carefully. She did what the red snake had told her. After half a year, there was a case of robbery took place in the neingboruing county. Later it was found out that the robbers wer the father and son. Upon hearing this, from then on the Fang family took even greater care of all the little animals.
Extract of The Buddhist Children’‘s Stories, page 20-22, published by TheWhite Cloud Cultural Centre, Taipei Taiwan, Mang Gua(R.O.C. Year) 76 Oct.Translated and proof-read by Forest, Buddhist Calender 2527 1st Lunar Monththe 17th(1992/02/08), Sydney.