Joyful Advice and the Vanishing of Sorrow

A woman, heavy with grief, offered comfort to five others. In doing so, her own sadness dissolved, planting seeds for a future life filled with optimism.

Late in the afternoon, the fading sun cast golden beams through the window cracks, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. A woman sat huddled in the corner of her kitchen, her heart weighed down by the burdens of daily life, debts, and children. She rubbed her temples, her sighs deep and rhythmic like those of someone utterly exhausted. Her eyes stared blankly into the yard, yet she saw nothing but a gray void.

"Why is life so full of suffering? The worries never end," she murmured to herself, her voice tinged with melancholy.

She had always been an anxious person. Widowed early and raising young children alone, she carried this heaviness for years, even though her basic needs were met. One day, she happened to meet a friend who was also struggling with sorrow.

"Do not be sad. Life is not as terrible as it seems. Try going to the temple to listen to dharma talks, practice meditation, make offerings, and cultivate compassion. You will find joy," she said, even though her own heart remained heavy.

Her friend nodded. Then, she encountered four more people in distress. Each time, she repeated the same advice: "Do not grieve. Practice the teachings, love others, and you will see that this life can be joyful."

After offering this counsel to the fifth person, she suddenly placed a hand on her chest, surprised. "How strange. My heart feels light all of a sudden. Where has my sadness gone?" She smiled softly, tears no longer welling in her eyes. This was the turning point: sincere words of encouragement had dispelled her gloom. From then on, she lived with ease, often visiting neighbors to share her experience.

"I used to feel as if I were dying from sorrow, but after comforting others, my own sadness vanished completely," she would say, her voice bright and clear.

In her next life, she was born with an optimistic spirit, unfamiliar with despair, simply because she had spent her previous life encouraging others to find happiness. Her later years were peaceful, surrounded by family, and she became a source of spiritual support for everyone in her neighborhood.

The Meaning of the Story

Encouraging others to be happy and virtuous creates cause and effect (karmic law) that frees oneself from sadness. Such wholesome speech transforms both the speaker and the listener, leading to a future life marked by optimism.