Master Baizhang said, "Go ahead and ask your question."
The old man said, "Five hundred lifetimes ago, I too was a Buddhist teacher. During the time of Kashyapa Buddha, I was the abbot of this mountain. A traveling monk once asked me, 'Do those greatly practicing still fall into karma?' I replied, 'They do not fall into karma.' Because of that wrong answer, I was punished and reincarnated as a fox for five hundred lifetimes. I could not attain liberation. Master, please tell me, where did I go wrong?"
After listening, Master Baizhang said, "Ask me again!"
The old man repeated the original question to Master Baizhang.
Baizhang solemnly and loudly replied, "They are not blind to karma."
The old man, upon hearing this, was very pleased and knelt down to thank him, saying, "I am liberated. Tomorrow, please, kind old monk (referring to Master Baizhang), come to the cave at the back of the mountain and cremate my fox body, bury me according to monastic rites."
