[Tales of the Strange and Forgotten] #24 The man who prayed for two thousand days was ruined, while the man who did nothing prospered—The reversal of karma witnessed by Kiyomizu-dera

A person's merit is not necessarily for the one who accumulated it—A strange tale of karma passed down at Kiyomizu-dera.

　Long ago, in a time now past.
　
　There was a young samurai who served a certain master. Having nothing to do and being terribly bored, he once decided to make a pilgrimage to Kiyomizu-dera. He had seen someone else praying nearby and decided to imitate them.

　His pilgrimage to Kiyomizu-dera lasted for a thousand days. In other words, a thousand-fold visit. Still having time to spare, the young samurai continued his visits to Kiyomizu-dera for another thousand days. As a result, he had completed a two-thousand-fold visit.

　Shortly after finishing his two-thousand-day pilgrimage, the young samurai was playing sugoku with someone who served the same master. However, he kept losing and lost all the money he had on him. Burdened with a massive debt and pressed for payment, the young samurai, in his desperation, said this:

“I am sorry. I truly have no money to give you. Please forgive me. However, I recently visited Kiyomizu-dera for two thousand days. I shall give that merit to you.”

　Hearing this, those around him secretly stifled their laughter, thinking, “This guy is trying to trick his way out of this.” Whether he knew it or not, the samurai who had won the game accepted the offer.

“That is a wonderful thing. I shall accept it immediately.”

　The young samurai’s expression brightened instantly.

“No, let us refrain from accepting it right away. You should visit Kiyomizu-dera again for three days. During that time, report to the gods and Buddhas that you are receiving the merit from me, and write a certificate. I will accept it along with that certificate.”

　Hearing this, the young samurai promised, “Very well, let us do that,” and immediately resumed his pilgrimages to Kiyomizu-dera from that day on.

　Thus, three days later, the winning samurai said to the young samurai, “Come now, the preparations should be ready. Shall we go to Kiyomizu-dera together?” The young samurai, inwardly gloating, “I’m saved by this fool…,” headed to Kiyomizu-dera with him.

　The young samurai wrote the certificate as instructed. After doing so, he called for a monk of the temple and explained the circumstances in great detail.

“…In short, for that reason, I am handing over the merit of my two-thousand-day pilgrimage to this samurai.”

　The samurai who received the certificate respectfully was overjoyed and went home with a dancing gait.

　A few days later, the young samurai was accused of an unexpected crime, arrested, and thrown into a cold prison.

　Meanwhile, the winning samurai met an unexpectedly beautiful woman, married her, and lived in wealth. Furthermore, he was able to obtain a government post at the Imperial Court and lived a happy life.

“Visiting Kiyomizu-dera two thousand times is an invisible act. However, because he accepted it with a sincere heart, perhaps the Buddha granted him happiness in accordance with that merit.”

　People who witnessed the fates of the two contrasting samurai whispered such things.

It may be that it is not the quantity of prayers, but the heart with which one faces them that determines a person's destiny.

From “The Man Who Visited Kiyomizu-dera Two Thousand Times and the Sugoku Game” (Uji Shui Monogatari)—
*This story has been dramatized by the author based on the source above. The image was created by generative AI.