Losing a Child Seven Times: Understanding the Self-Created Reasons

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Once upon a time, there was a wealthy man who had amassed great wealth but had no children to share a family life with. He hired a matchmaker and married a lovely young concubine. Soon, she gave birth to a chubby baby boy. The wealthy man was overjoyed and showered affection on both the concubine and their son. However, his first wife grew envious. She pretended to care for them but secretly plotted to rid herself of them one day.

The boy grew healthily and adorably over the course of a year, and nobody in the household suspected the first wife's true feelings. One day, when no one was watching, the first wife used a fine needle to stab the baby on the top of his head. Unable to communicate, the baby cried day and night in agony. The family had no idea what strange illness had overcome him, and despite the efforts of many doctors, he died within a week. The first wife pretended to be heartbroken, weeping bitterly, while the baby's mother was devastated, refusing to eat or drink and on the brink of death herself.

Eventually, it was revealed that the first wife had poisoned the child. The mother, recalling her innocent baby's cruel fate, was overwhelmed with grief and vowed to seek revenge.

She visited a Buddhist temple and asked a monk, "What merits must I cultivate to have my wishes fulfilled?" The monk replied, "Observe the Eight Precepts, and your wishes will come true, nurturing good roots for your next life." Consumed by thoughts of revenge, the wealthy man's concubine didn't fully grasp the monk's words but still observed the Eight Precepts for seven consecutive days and nights. Shortly after returning home, she passed away.

After her death, she was reborn as the first wife's daughter. The wealthy man's wife unexpectedly became pregnant, much to her delight, temporarily easing her husband's grief over the loss of his son.

When the daughter was born, she was beautiful and charming, and the wealthy man's wife cherished her, caring for her diligently. However, when the girl was just over a year old, she inexplicably passed away. The wealthy man's wife truly experienced the intense pain of losing a daughter. She refused to eat or drink, deeply grieving like the concubine once did.

This cycle repeated, with the concubine being reborn as the first wife's daughter seven times. Each time, the daughters were lovely and endearing, yet they died at ages two, three, four, or five. The wealthy man's wife continuously experienced the joy of pregnancy, the trials of childbirth, and the satisfaction of nurturing a young girl, only to be met with profound sorrow at their loss.

On the final occasion, the daughter matured into a graceful and beautiful fourteen-year-old, who was already engaged. However, on the eve of her wedding, she suddenly died without explanation. The wealthy man's wife was heartbroken, filled with a deep sense of loss. She refrained from eating or drinking and silently wept over her daughter's body, forbidding anyone from closing the coffin.

After more than twenty days, a compassionate Arhat, who had attained enlightenment, sought to help. He visited the home of the wealthy man to see his wife. The maid informed her of his visit, but the woman replied, "I am so heartbroken I feel near death; how can I meet a monk right now? Just offer him some food!"

The Arhat insisted on meeting her, prompting the maid to relay the message back and forth. Eventually, puzzled and in disarray, the first wife emerged to meet the Arhat. Understanding the situation, the Arhat asked, "Why are you so sad?" She responded, "I have given birth to seven lovely daughters, each of whom died at ages two, three, four, or five. The last one was already fourteen and engaged, yet she died suddenly the night before her wedding. Surely, I must have committed some terrible sin in a past life..."

Upon finishing, she covered her face and wept bitterly. The Arhat comforted her, saying, "First, gather yourself, and I will explain more later." Despite being overwhelmed by grief, the Arhat's words intrigued her. He then inquired, "What happened to your concubine? How did she die?"

Stunned by his knowledge, the woman cleaned herself up, had the maid serve tea, and respectfully invited the Arhat to continue. The Arhat explained, "The concubine in your household died because you murdered her son, causing her immense grief. She then was reborn as your daughter seven times to make you feel the pain she felt. Thus, she is actually your adversary, not truly your daughter. If you don't believe me, examine the coffin again!"

When she looked into the coffin, she found the body decayed and emitting a foul odor. The Arhat asked, "Are you still unwilling to part with this body?" Ashamed, she instructed that the coffin be closed and buried.

Humbled, she pleaded for the Arhat's forgiveness and requested to receive the precepts. The Arhat agreed, asking her to visit the temple the following day to receive them.

Meanwhile, the concubine's spirit, having been reborn as a venomous snake, awaited the first wife on the road to the temple, intending to bite her to death. When the first wife confronted the snake blocking her path, she was terrified and hesitated. The Arhat, aware of the situation through meditation, swiftly confronted the snake, saying, "Will you remain her daughter life after life, perpetuating this cycle of harm? The first wife killed your son once, yet you've harbored resentment through seven lives. Now that she seeks redemption by receiving the precepts, impeding her path will condemn you to countless lifetimes in hell. Look at your snake form. How does it compare to a human life?"

The snake, hearing the Arhat's words, recalled its past lives, releasing its resentment in an instant. Contemplative, it lowered its head in silence.

The Arhat recited a spell to resolve their grievances, declaring, "Let the enmity and sins between you dissolve like ice, leaving you free from harming each other in future lives." Both beings repented before the Arhat. Following their repentance, the concubine's spirit left the snake, rebirthing as a human ready to embrace the Dharma. Meanwhile, the wealthy man's first wife opened her heart to the first fruit of stream-entry, later receiving the precepts from the Arhat and becoming a lay follower.