Hai Tấn Cá Và Phép Màu Kéo Dài Sinh Mạng

The afternoon sunlight stretched across the Mã River, casting reflections of sails full of wind. The air over Thanh Hóa was steeped in a quiet solemnity, stirring thoughts about the fragile nature of human existence. During this Dharma mission, Venerable Chân Quang witnessed an extraordinary case, where the line between life and death was as thin as a spider's thread, and the magic of compassion intervened at the decisive moment.

That day, the Ven. Chân Quang's convoy stopped at a public location. Amid the noisy crowd, an assistant approached him, his voice urgent, worry flickering in his eyes.

"Venerable Sir, could you please look at my friend?"

The Master turned to look at the man. He was a young, talented leader holding a very important position. He was well-dressed and confident, but as the Master's eyes met his, a cold shiver ran down his spine. Through his meditative insight, the Master perceived that the man's "life force" was utterly depleted. His lifespan seemed to have already ended, waiting only for one final collapse to leave this world.

The Master gestured for the man to show his hand. Looking at the palm lines and his complexion, the Master stated with certainty: "You are no longer living. Your time has run out. There is nothing more to be done."

The man froze, his face turning pale. The assistant beside him panicked and hurriedly asked: "Then what can we do now, Venerable Sir? Please save him!"

The Master sighed, his expression pensive. Cause and effect is an immutable law, but with sufficient wholesome conditions and extraordinary effort, sometimes one can "buy time" to accumulate more blessings from merit. He spoke sternly: "There is only this way now. Go back immediately, buy three tons of fish, and release them into the Mã River at once. Do it very quickly, with true sincerity. If this act moves the heavens, it might extend a little more time for you to continue making other merits, to compensate for the lifespan already lost."

Hearing the Master's words, the leader and his spouse hurried off. They spared no expense, mobilizing all resources to acquire that huge quantity of fish. On the riverbank, a large assembly of Buddhist devotees had already gathered. The sound of chanting rose, deep and resonant, blending with the lapping waves, creating a solemn and sacred atmosphere. Shoals of fish were released back into the cool water, carrying a fragile yet burning hope for revival.

Time passed, the Lunar New Year came and went. On a fine morning, the leader suddenly collapsed. A violent cardiac arrest struck; his heart stopped, and he lost consciousness. His family and doctors immediately performed CPR and continuous chest compressions for a very long time. Everyone thought he was gone forever. But then, a miracle occurred. His heartbeat returned, weak but resilient. He regained consciousness, gradually recovered, and has lived healthily to this very day.

Had it not been for the timely release of the two tons of fish (they managed to buy only two tons instead of the planned three), he would likely have departed forever at that very moment. The act of liberation was like an antidote for karmic obstacles, creating a precious buffer of time for him to continue cultivating himself, doing good deeds, and gradually extending his lifespan.

The Meaning of the Story

This story demonstrates the great power of releasing lives to transform karmic obstacles and extend lifespan. When we give life to other beings, we receive the karmic result of life for ourselves—both physically and spiritually. However, liberation must be performed with a sincere heart, correctly, and in a timely manner. This is not superstition, but the functioning of the law of cause and effect: sowing a wholesome cause (freeing creatures) yields a wholesome result (receiving safety and long life). It also underscores the importance of seizing the time to accumulate merit while one still can.

Compiled from a Dharma talk by Venerable Thích Chân Quang