The ‘Rest Easy’ Inn located near the Monastery is 300 years old. It was founded by one the earliest monks of the Monastery and had a peculiar rule set by the founder. That rule was that the guests of the Inn would not be asked to settle their bills when they left the Inn. If they paid their dues themselves, that was fine. If they walked away without paying, then that was fine too. The guests had to agree that if they left without paying, they would be still considered as ‘checked-in’ guests and their bills would continue to add up, as if they were still staying at the Inn; to be charged the daily rate. Most guests laughed at this weird rule and did not bother to contest it, when they signed on it.
This rule had been handed down to the subsequent owners of the Inn, who had suffered from it. Unscrupulous men who learnt of this seemingly ‘bad for business’ rule had exploited the Inn to the fullest and stayed for years and then left, without paying. The Inn was nearly ruined and the owner could not do anything.
A few days before the owner was closing down the Inn, a well-dressed, wealthy man in an expensive car arrived at the Inn door. He was accompanied by three men who looked like lawyers and accountants. He strode up to the front desk and announced, “My grandfather of many prior generations had stayed in this Inn, about 120 years ago, in Room #7. He had with him at that time, several priceless jewels that he had acquired during his travels. Sensing a danger that the jewels would be stolen, my grandfather had hidden them under the five wooden planks under the bed of Room #7. Later, he had left this town and before he could return, he had died in an unfortunate accident. I found out about this secret when I stumbled upon a hidden document in my attic, and I am here to collect my jewels, since I am the direct descendant of my grandfather.”
The Inn owner examined the legal documents provided by the accompanying lawyers, and accepted the request of the man. All the men went up to Room #7. The room was unoccupied, and the men moved the bed. There were five wooden planks under it. When the carpenters removed the planks, there was a dusty satin pouch containing priceless looking jewels. The wealthy man could not believe his luck and fortune and profusely thanked the owner of the Inn. He requested a ‘formal check out’, so that he could take the jewels with him.
When everyone went down to complete the formalities, the owner of the Inn checked his registers. He was shocked to note that this man’s grandfather has not settled his dues when he had left the Inn. The Inn owner showed the register to the man and explained that as per the rule, he would have to settle his Grandfather’s bill since he was voluntarily checking out now. As per the rule, the rent had accumulated for 120 years and was worth a very, very large amount…
The man and his lawyers consulted each other for hours, examined the books and registers of the Inn and finally agreed to pay the Inn owner more than half of the priceless jewels as accumulated rent. After the men left, the owner was informed by his accountant that the value of the jewels he had received would be enough to run the Inn for the next 100 years!
Sensei clapped thrice after he completed narrating the story and said, “Always pay your dues when you are supposed to. Never delay them. And when people don’t give you what they owe you, do not fret and fume. They will pay you, in this life or the next. Karmic dues can never be written off. What is earned, gets paid.”
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