Once upon a time, there was a highly skilled judge known throughout the land for his wisdom and fairness. Whenever a difficult or tricky case appeared, he could always uncover the truth and deliver a just verdict, earning the respect of everyone in the village.
One day, two women came to the court carrying a long piece of cloth. The first woman, tears running down her face, said, “Your Honor, I brought this cloth to the market to sell this morning. This woman asked to see it, and then she suddenly took it and claimed it as her own. She refuses to return it. Please, I beg you to help me.” The second woman also cried and insisted, “Your Honor, she is lying. This cloth was just woven by me and placed carefully in my basket. I caught her trying to take it, but now she dares to falsely accuse me.”
The judge listened carefully and asked if there were any witnesses who had seen the cloth being taken. Both women admitted there were none because the incident had happened in a quiet, empty place. The judge then sent his officers to examine both homes to verify their claims. They found that both women had looms and cloths of the same size and quality. Watching them closely, the judge noticed that both appeared genuinely distressed, showing no other hints of guilt or deceit.
After thinking for a moment, the judge calmly proposed a solution. “Both of you may be telling the truth. Here’s what we will do: cut the cloth in half and give each of you a piece. This will settle the matter.” As the officers began to divide the cloth, one woman suddenly broke down in tears. Recognizing her genuine sorrow, the judge immediately returned the entire cloth to her and had the other woman restrained. After questioning, the second woman finally confessed to lying, revealing the clever judgment of the magistrate.
On another occasion, the judge visited a large monastery. The head monk greeted him respectfully and explained a troubling problem. A large sum of money had been stolen, but he dared not accuse anyone directly, fearing it would harm the disciples. He asked the judge to discreetly investigate.
The judge thought carefully and came up with a clever plan. He instructed the monk to perform a ritual offering to Buddha while all monks and temple staff held soaked grains of rice. As they circled the temple and recited prayers, the judge explained, “The stolen money can only have been taken by someone here. Buddha is powerful and can reveal the thief. Hold your rice, and if anyone is guilty, it will sprout while you pray.”
After only a few rounds of this ritual, the judge noticed a young novice frequently glancing at his rice, betraying his anxiety. The judge’s careful observation allowed him to identify the guilty party without any direct confrontation. The novice was caught and admitted his wrongdoing, proving the judge’s method was both clever and effective.
These stories highlight how keen observation, logical thinking, and a deep understanding of human behavior can reveal the truth, even in the most challenging situations. The judge’s skill and fairness earned him a reputation as a wise and brilliant magistrate, admired by everyone in his community.