The Single Lantern of Yamato

In the province of Yamato there lived a poor old woman who was known for her goodness. Every day, despite her age and poverty, she visited the graves of her parents to pray, and she always brought a few grains of rice as an offering. Whenever she could, she went to the temple to worship, and she was generous to the needy, often giving away her own food and going hungry herself.

"Better to go hungry than to let your heart grow hard," she would say.

In those days, a grand temple was being built in Yamato, and the people were proud. They gave money and costly gifts. A magnificent bronze lantern was presented, so finely crafted that everyone marveled at its beauty. The lantern makers had labored for days with exceptional skill and patience. The stand was large, yet the flame seemed small, like a mere glimmer compared to the light of the world.

Many lanterns were donated to the temple, and a wealthy man gave a thousand large ones. "All will see that I have a generous heart," he said proudly to himself.

The poor woman was sad. "I have nothing to give," she sighed. "The gods would not accept anything I have." She looked around her small, humble home, but there was nothing of value. She had only the barest necessities, worn from many years of use.

At last she realized she had one thing she could sell: her long, black hair. It might not bring much, but it would be something. "I am too old to marry, and no one cares how I look," she said with a smile. "I will sell my hair to make an offering to the temple."

So she cut her hair and sold it for a small sum, just enough to buy a single tiny lantern. She placed it on the temple shrine with great joy.

How small it looked next to the rich man's grand lanterns! Yet to her, its light seemed to warm her old heart with new life, and she was happy.

That night, the temple held a grand festival. All the lamps were lit, from the rich man's great ones to the poor woman's tiny gift, placed with loving care. The whole temple glowed with light, and the people praised the wealthy man, saying, "How generous he is! How great!"

But as they were admiring the lights, a sudden fierce wind swept through the temple. It blew so wildly that all the rich man's great lanterns were extinguished, and the temple fell into darkness. Yet not all was dark, for through the gloom gleamed a tiny light, bright as day. It was the poor woman's little lantern, whose small spark seemed to illuminate the entire temple. The people marveled and looked closely to see where this light came from. When they discovered it was the gift of such a humble soul, they were amazed again.

Then the old and wise priest of the temple said, "Do not be surprised. In the eyes of the All-Knowing One, the humble gift of a good heart is worth more than all the splendor of the rich and proud."