Why John did not do the business with Todd

One day on the city square Sunday market, John set up a stall selling watermelon. A guy called Moye went to John’s stall, and asked a slice of watermelon. Without any hesitation, John chose a big melon, cut it in halve, knife a thick slice and gave it to Moye.

A few moments later, a man called Todd turned up and asked the exactly same, a slice of watermelon! Without much thinking John just pushed him away and told Todd, “I am not selling sliced watermelon.” Disappointed, Todd shook his head and went away.

Nearby two Buddhist monks watched the whole episode with amusement. The junior one asked the senior one, “Why is that?”

Then the senior Buddhist monk told him a story happened long long time years ago.

Back a few hundred years earlier, on this city square, a public execution took place. There were many spectators, among them were these “Moye” and “Todd” when at that particular time they had different names with different lives. One of the damned guys was that “John”; of course, at that life he had another name.

When “John” was going to be hanged, “Moye” thought, “Oh, poor guy, wish you rest in peace.” While “Todd” cheered on, “Go to hell, you deserve it!”