[Stories] The Wise Ones Who Free Sentient Beings from Fear

From the Buddha who transformed Angulimala
to Dr. B. R. Ambedkar of modern India;
from Poshan Haiming in China to the Great Fool Taigu Ryokan in Japan,
They embodied the Dharma to liberate sentient beings from the fear of birth and death— a profound expression of giving fearlessness.

■ Editorial Office

The Buddha Transformed the Murderous Angulimala with Wisdom

"If I kill one more person, I can attain liberation and ascend to heaven!"

Angulimala, the bloodthirsty killer, stood in the middle of the road, his sanity lost, consumed by his murderous obsession. Along the main road leading in and out of Sravasti, in the kingdom of Kosala, not a single person or cart could be seen. All the shops were tightly shut, and people of all ages—men, women, and children—hid in fear, terrified that they might become Angulimala's next victim. The entire city was engulfed in terror, overshadowed by the fear of death. Even King Prasenajit was at a loss for what to do.

At that time, the fierce-looking Angulimala killed anyone he encountered and smeared himself with their blood. His infamy spread throughout Sravasti, and no one in the kingdom of Kosala was unaware of his deeds.

One day, close to noon, the streets were completely deserted—even birds and animals were nowhere to be seen. At that moment, Angulimala saw his mother approaching from a distance. Consumed by bloodlust, he unhesitatingly raised his sword and charged at her. Just then, the Buddha suddenly appeared. Angulimala, thinking the monk could die in his mother’s place, tried desperately to catch up with the Buddha. But no matter how hard he tried, he remained behind. Even when the Buddha stood still, Angulimala could not get any closer. Frustrated, he shouted angrily, "You ignorant monk! Why don't you stop and let me strike you down?"

The Buddha calmly replied, "I have already stopped, Angulimala. It is you who cannot stop—you who continue to commit the evil of killing living beings." Hearing this, Angulimala suddenly awakened. He hurriedly threw down his sword and pleaded, "World-Honored One, please allow me to follow you and become a monk." The Buddha accepted Angulimala's request. Not only did the Buddha free Angulimala from his deranged state, but he also restored peace and safety to the people of Sravasti, releasing them from their overwhelming fear.

After his renunciation, Angulimala practiced diligently. On one occasion, he comforted a woman struggling through a difficult labor. He blessed her, saying, "Since I attained sainthood, I have never taken a life. Now, with utmost sincerity, may you and your child be safe." The woman then delivered her child safely. From that moment on, the world had one less fearsome murderer—and one more Arahat, bringing undaunted courage to the people.

Poshan Haiming Broke a Precept to Prevent Killing

During the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, Sichuan, China was ravaged by brutal warfare between Ming and Qing troops, widespread plague, famine, and natural disasters. In light of such calamities, life was unbearable for the common people. Chan Master Poshan Haiming (1597–1666) gained a great reputation for his persistent efforts to urge military leaders to cherish life and refrain from unnecessary killing, striving to save the people from devastation. One such warlord, General Li Liyang of Fuling—infamous for his cruelty and love of killing—sought to boost his reputation by inviting the renowned monk to his camp to preach.

During the banquet, Master Haiming, seeing the general's deep karmic obstacles resulting from killing, earnestly implored him to stop the willful slaughter. But his words angered Li Liyang, who glared at the monk and said, "If you eat this plate of dog meat in front of you, I will stop killing." To everyone's shock, the old monk bowed toward the west and solemnly replied, "For the sake of a million lives, what does it matter if I break the precept and eat meat?" He then calmly placed the dog meat into his mouth. Startled and moved, General Li kept his promise and ordered his troops to stop killing innocent civilians.

Master Haiming's act of eating meat shocked all of Sichuan, where he was already well known. From then on, he frequently visited military camps across the southwestern regions, spreading the Dharma and saving countless civilian lives.

Sixteen years later, in the third year of Emperor Kangxi's reign (1664), the governor of Sichuan, Li Guoying, invited Master Haiming to perform a deliverance ceremony for his deceased mother. After the ceremony, he offered the master a lavish meal. Master Haiming declined the feast and solemnly said, "In the past, I broke the precept because I encountered a demon. Today, I have met a good person, and I can resume upholding the precept." From then on, he abstained from meat and wine, returning to a life of pure monastic discipline.

Master Haiming's act of breaking his lifelong precept to save countless lives remains profoundly moving, even after hundreds of years.

Great Fool Taigu Ryokan Moved a Thief with Compassion

"This family is so poor—there's not a single valuable thing!" the thief muttered as he rummaged through the thatched hut, unable to find anything worth stealing. Just then, Zen Master Ryokan (1758–1831) walked in from outside. Instead of apprehending the thief, he smiled with embarrassment and said, "I truly am poor and have nothing of value. You must have come a long way, and since you're already here, I can't let you leave empty-handed—please, take this outerwear."

Ryokan, one of Japan's most revered Zen masters, lived in a humble thatched hut at the foot of a mountain, leading an extremely simple and frugal life. That night, a thief came to his hut but found nothing worth stealing. Not wanting the thief to leave empty-handed, Ryokan took off his own robe and offered it as a gift. Stunned, the thief accepted the robe and fled.

Ryokan stood at the doorway in only his undergarments, gazing at the bright moon in the sky. He whispered, "If only I could give you this beautiful moon too."

As dawn broke, Ryokan stepped outside onto a stone platform. Just as he was about to sit down, he noticed the robe he had given the thief, neatly folded and placed there. Ryokan smiled gently. He had not merely given the thief a piece of clothing—he had moved him with compassion.

In the autumn of his 71st year, a massive earthquake struck Echigo, killing and injuring more than 3,000 people. In the aftermath, Ryokan wrote a letter of condolence to his friend Yamada: "I was deeply saddened to hear of the disaster. Yet it is best to encounter disaster when disaster is due, and best to die when death is due. That is the ultimate way to avoid disaster."

A master of deep compassion, Ryokan had long seen through the nature of life and death. He understood that people fear natural disasters and separation from loved ones — but death is inevitable. He hoped his friend could face impermanence without fear, understand the truth of life, accept life and death as they are, and return to normal life without being trapped in grief.

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Brought Hope and Dignity to the Dalits

"Get off! You Dalits—get off this cart now!" the cart driver yelled in fury. At the time, Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, just nine years old, was traveling with his brother and nephew to visit his father. Upon discovering they were Dalits—considered "untouchables"—the driver leapt down and yelled, claiming their presence defiled both the ox and the cart. Even though they paid double the fare to continue the journey, the driver refused to ride with them, instead walking behind the cart. Reflecting on this experience later, Ambedkar said, "After that experience, I realized I was an untouchable—and to be an untouchable is to be inevitably subjected to humiliation and discrimination." Such was the harsh daily reality faced by India's lowest caste.

Through great perseverance and effort, the legendary Ambedkar entered the University of Bombay and later studied in the U.S. and the U.K. Despite his personal success, he never forgot his fellow Dalits still living under oppression back home. Upon returning to India, he devoted himself to fighting injustice across academia, politics, economics, law, and society—and to dismantling the caste system. In 1947, as India gained independence, Ambedkar led the drafting of the new constitution, which explicitly prohibited discrimination based on religion, race, caste, gender, or place of birth.

Though the Constitution could grant legal equality to all citizens, it could not erase the caste discrimination deeply rooted in cultural traditions. Ambedkar tried to reform Hinduism but eventually realized it was impossible. By the mid-1930s, he came to a firm conclusion: as long as one remained within Hinduism, one was bound by its caste doctrines—doctrines that had imprisoned and crushed countless lives for centuries, and had even stripped them of their dignity and hope.

In a pivotal speech in 1935, Ambedkar publicly declared his intention to renounce Hinduism. He ultimately embraced Buddhism—a tradition that, 2,500 years earlier, had opposed the caste system and upheld the principles of universal equality and compassion for all sentient beings. On October 14, 1956, Ambedkar led 500,000 people in taking refuge in the Three Jewels and receiving the Five Precepts—thereby marking the largest Buddhist conversion in India since the time of Emperor Asoka. Over the following months, he traveled from city to city, leading additional conversion ceremonies. Tragically, on December 6 of the same year, as a symbol of hope for social justice and the liberation of the oppressed, Ambedkar passed away at the age of 64.

Related articles:

【Concept】This era needs the gift of fearlessness

[Stories] The Wise Ones Who Free Sentient Beings from Fear

[Q&A Section] Generosity (Dāna): More Than Just Giving


Resource: Issue 425 of Humanity Magazine, Dharma Drum Publishing Corporation
Translation: Olivia 
Editing: Keith Brown, 演香法師