During the Tang Dynasty, there lived a monk named Wuda (809 – 882 AD), who was awarded the Kokushi title (an honorary title given to Buddhist masters) by the emperor.
 
Before he was awarded the Kokushi title, Wuda met a monk who was ill one day in a monastery. The monk had boils all over his body. He was filthy and emitted an awful odor. Everyone avoided him except for Wuda. He took pity on the sick monk and took care of him. Gradually, the monk returned to health. Before they parted, the monk thanked Wuda and said, "If you ever run into any tribulation, please look for me at Jiulong Mountain, in Pengzhou, Sichuan Province. You need to look for two pine trees next to each other."
 
Because Wuda had high moral values and conducted himself virtuously, Emperor Tang Yizhong (833 – 873 AD) respected him greatly. The emperor awarded him the title of Kokushi, and treated him very well. However, one day a boil with the shape of a human face grew on Wuda Kokushi's knee. It had facial features including a mouth and teeth. It could even swallow food when fed. Famous physicians from all over the country came to treat Wuda Kokushi's illness, but to no effect.
 
Wuda Kokushi suddenly remembered one day the sick monk he had nursed back to health. The monk had offered to help during times of tribulation before he departed, so Wuda went to the mountain to find him. By evening, he found the two pine trees next to each other. They were so tall that they seemed to reach into the sky. The monk was already waiting for him outside a grand, golden palace. The monk was very hospitable and asked Wuda to stay.
 
Wuda Kokushi told the monk about his strange and painful illness. The monk replied, "Don't worry about it. There is pristine spring water below the mountain cliff. Tomorrow morning, use the spring water to wash your knee, and you will be healed."
 
The next day, Wuda Kokushi went to the spring early in the morning. Just when he was about to scoop up some water, the boil with the human face shouted loudly, "Wait a minute! Do not wash yourself yet. You are knowledgeable and well read. Have you read the story of "Yuan Ang and Chao Cuo" in the books about the Western Han Dynasty?"
 
Wuda Kokushi replied, "Yes, I have read the story."
 
The boil said, "Since you know the story, how could you not remember that Yuan Ang killed Chao Cuo? You were Yuan Ang in your past life, and I was Chao Cuo. You denigrated me before the emperor and I was executed. I've been trying to seek revenge life after life. However, because you were a monk of high morality and conducted yourself well according to the commandments, I have not been able to take revenge. In this lifetime, you are much favored by the emperor and you’ve grown attached to fame and wealth. Your moral character has not been up to par therefore, I'm able to take revenge. Now that venerable Kanaka-vatsa Arhat (who transformed himself into the sick monk) is offering me the Samadhi water to set me free, let us dissolve our old grudges as well!"
 
Wuda Kokushi was frightened after hearing the story. He quickly scooped some water to clean the boil. The pain was so excruciating that he fainted. After he woke up, the boil on his knee was gone. When he turned around to look for the grand palace, it had disappeared without a trace. Wuda Kokushi later settled in that area to cultivate and never left. This is the story of the famous "Samadhi Water Repentance." Wuda Kokushi passed it down to future generations.
 
Although Wuda Kokushi had been a monk with high morality for ten lifetimes, he could not avoid the karmic retribution from an enmity formed ten lifetimes prior, simply because his moral character was deteriorating and he was yearning for fame and profit.
 
This true story certainly serves as a warning not to disregard a single thought. Moreover, who can doubt the fairness of the law of karmic retribution?
 
悟达国师的故事
 
唐朝时，有位高僧叫悟达国师。在他尚未显达被封为国师前，有一天在某寺遇到一们病僧。那病僧身上长疮，臭秽难闻，因此其他人都避之惟恐不及，惟有悟达国师，常怜悯地照顾他，那病僧的病也就渐渐好起来了。后来临别时，那僧人感激地对他说：“以后如果你有难，可到四川彭州九陇山来找我，那山上有两棵松树并连为标。”说完就离去了。


悟达国师后来因为德行高深，唐懿宗十分尊崇他，就封他为国师，对他宠渥有加，可是有一天，悟达国师的膝盖上突然长出了一个人面疮来，眉目口齿俱备，每次用饮食喂他，都能像人一样开口吞啖，遍请各地名医医治，但都束手无策。
 
有一天，悟达国师突然记起昔日那病僧临别时所说的话，因此就启程入山去寻找，到了傍晚时分，果然找到两棵并连的松树，高耸入云，而那僧人已经站在金碧辉煌的大殿门前等他，那僧人殷勤地接待他，并留他住下。
 
悟达国师就把所患的怪疾和痛苦相告，那僧人对他说：“不要紧的，我这儿山岩下有清泉，等到明日天明，你去用泉水洗濯就会痊愈的。”
 
到了第二天清晨，等悟达国师来到清泉旁，正要掬水时，突然听见那人面疮竟然开口大叫说：“你且慢洗！你的知识广博，通达古今，但不知你是否读过西汉书上，袁盎与晁错的故事？”
 
悟达国师回答说：“曾经读过！”
 
人面疮说：“你既然读过了，何以不知袁盎杀晁错的事！你的前世就是袁盎，而晁错就是我。当时就因为你向皇帝谗言，害我在东山被腰斩。这个深仇大恨，我累世都在寻求报复的机会，但因为十世以来，你都是身为高僧，且奉持戒律严谨，使我没有报仇的机会。这次你因为受到皇上过份的宠遇，动了名利心，在德性上有所亏损，所以我能够靠近你来寻仇。现在既蒙迦若迦尊者（化身为病僧）赐我三昧法水，令我解脱，我们的夙怨，也就到此告一段落了！”
 
悟达国师听了之后，不觉胆颤心惊，连忙掬水洗涤，洗时痛彻骨髓，一时晕厥在地，醒来后，发觉人面疮已经不见了，回头看那金碧辉煌的大殿，也已杳然无踪，后来悟达国师就在那个地方修行，从此不再出山，著名的“三昧水忏”，就是悟达国师后来传下来的。
 
一桩十世前的冤仇，十世后虽是身为高僧，只因一念名利心起，还是逃不了因果的报应，这个真实的故事，给我们的警醒不可说不小，谁还会轻忽任何一个念头的生起？谁还会怀疑因果的公正呢？