I said: “Thank you, Grandfather Earth God. Do you not get bored sitting here every day?”
Grandfather Earth God said: “I am much busier now than before!”
I said: “I did not see you sitting here when I passed by some time ago.”
Grandfather Earth God said: “When I speak of times past, I mean one hundred and fifty years ago, before you were born. I was not this busy back then. People today have complicated emotional lives and many troubles. Cases of illness, death and birth have increased substantially compared with the old days.”
I said: “Grandfather Earth God! People seek doctors when sick, bodies are cremated after death, and babies are delivered in hospitals. Such things should not trouble you. How come you are so busy?”
Grandfather Earth God said: “You do not understand, Ayù. I am tasked with guarding the safety of mortal beings as they come and go. I learn of mishaps that will befall sentient beings in advance. Some events involve gains or losses of blessings, so I must handle matters before they happen. Resolving these incidents requires time and arrangement of relevant parties. Every human emits light from their body, and everyone has their own karmic foes, beloved ones and creditors. Look at the people walking on the street; observe that each one is different.”
“Very well!” I saw that many karmic foes, beloved ones and creditors trailed beside every sentient being, standing in rows. Some of them were filled with great rage. Some kept striking mortals on the head, causing those afflicted to suffer persistent headaches. Many attached themselves to mortal people. Some clenched their fists, ready to strike and pinch the living.
At that moment, I saw a man shrouded in faint white light; he upheld righteous energy. When he walked into a dark, unlit alley, all ghosts stepped aside to let him pass. After he left, the ghosts returned to the alley. Clearly, differences do exist among people.
Grandfather Earth God said: “Recently, there is an unmarried man around here who has committed sexual misconduct and deception. He deceived a woman emotionally and financially, and persuaded her to undergo abortions several times. This woman is not without faults either; she has harbored murderous intentions and plans to perish together with this man. However, this man still has remaining karmic blessings and is not destined to die yet. In his past life, he was a cultivator who failed to uphold the precepts purely and committed sexual misconduct. Now in this lifetime, he has repeated the same wrongdoing. I am employing certain means to guide and warn him. These past few days, he has already noticed that things are not going smoothly for him. For instance, when he tried to withdraw cash from an ATM a few days ago, the money would not come out. Though he managed to get the money eventually, the process was fraught with trouble. Even when he followed every procedure correctly, inexplicable obstacles kept arising. This intervention can help him gradually reflect on his actions.
He is merely one sentient being. Every day, there are many different kinds of sentient beings and many matters to attend to, so naturally I am very busy. As you saw just now, some ghosts made way for a man. In truth, I also assist such beings. When they are about to fall, I will lend them a hand, doing what I can to keep them from tumbling. Yet mortal people in the human realm cannot sense my presence. They only feel that they narrowly avoided a fall and count themselves fortunate. That narrow escape actually comes from their own blessings.”