- A Man with Lung Disease Is Cured
- 1 A man living in Oh-dohng Village, critically ill with lung disease, was so weak that he could only crawl.
- 2 After breakfast one day, Sahng-jeh-nim and Hyung-yul set out for Nae-ju-pyung Village. On the way, they planned to stop in Wun-pyung Village, where it was market day. They took a road that passed by Oh-dohng Village.
- 3 A few villagers said to the sick man, “Gahng Jeung-san can cure any disease. We hear He is on His way to Nae-ju-pyung by way of that road over there. Go and wait for Him to come. Be sure to kneel and beg Him to save your life.”
- 4 The man crawled over to an inn beside the road. When Sahng-jeh-nim came along, the sick man prostrated before Him and clung to one of His legs. Wailing, he implored Sahng-jeh-nim to save his life.
- 5 “How can I save your life? I cannot do that.” The man begged all the more earnestly. He led Sahng-jeh-nim inside the inn and bought Him three bowls of rice wine.
- 6 After drinking the rice wine, Sahng-jeh-nim said to the man, “Now follow Me all the way to Wun-pyung.”
- 7 The man heaved a deep sigh and said, “Oh no! I barely crawled from my house to here. How do You expect me to follow You as far as Wun-pyung? Please just tell me what medicine I should take.”
- 8 “Stop talking, and do as I say. Follow Me.”
- 9 The sick man had no choice but to follow. Strangely enough, he could walk easily.
- 10 When they arrived at Wun-pyung market, Sahng-jeh-nim said, “Since a sick fellow like you treated Me to three bowls of rice wine, I must now treat you.”
- 11 He poured a bowl and said, “Drink it.”
The sick man declined to accept the drink. “My condition is so serious I would certainly die if I drank any alcohol.”
- 12 Sahng-jeh-nim laughed. “Whether you live or die, there are three bowls of rice wine. Drink all three bowls.” The man had no alternative but to drink them.
- 13 After a little while, Sahng-jeh-nim said, “Buy a string of twenty herrings that have spoiled. Stew the bodies and feed them to your family. Boil the heads well and eat them yourself.”
- 14 The man bought a string of spoiled herrings in the market and then returned home as easily as he had come.
- 15 After he ate the boiled fish heads, his disease was soon cured and he was restored to full health.
- (JSD Dojeon 3,114)
