A Man Stole This Woman’s Wallet, and You Won’t Believe What Happened Next | Hacker News Reader

A Man Stole This Woman’s Wallet, and You Won’t Believe What Happened Next

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One evening as Shichiri Kojun was reciting sutras a thief with a sharp sword entered, demanding either money or his life.

Shichiri told him: "Do not disturb me. You can find the money in that drawer." Then he resumed his recitation.

A little while afterwards he stopped and called: "Don't take it all. I need some to pay taxes with tomorrow."

The intruder gathered up most of the money and started to leave. "Thank a person when you receive a gift," Shichiri added. The man thanked him and made off.

A few days afterwards the fellow was caught and confessed, among others, the offence against Shichiri. When Shichiri was called as a witness he said: "This man is no thief, at least as far as I am concerned. I gave him money and he thanked me for it."

After he had finished his prison term, the man went to Shichiri and became his disciple.

Doesn't something similar happen to Jean Valjean in Victor Hugo's Les Misérables as well?

> After devoting the novel's opening chapters to Bishop Myriel, a kind-hearted old clergyman in the town of Digne, Hugo, without any transition, launches into the story of Valjean. He is a strange man, who arrives one October evening in Digne, searches a place to stay for the night and is turned away. At last, he is taken in by the bishop, who trusts him, feeds him supper, and gives him a bed for the night. Hugo then details Valjean's background. He was born sometime in 1769 in a small town and orphaned as a child. He became a pruner and helped support his widowed sister and her seven children. In winter 1795, when resources were scarce, Valjean stole a loaf of bread from a local baker. He was caught and imprisoned for five years in the Bagne of Toulon, the Toulon prison. He attempted to escape four times, and each time his sentence was lengthened by three years; he also received an extra two years for once resisting recapture during his second escape. After nineteen years in prison, he was released, but by law must carry a yellow passport that announces he is an ex-convict.

During the night, he awakens and steals the bishop's silverware and silver plates, and runs off. He is arrested and brought back to the bishop. However, the Bishop admonishes Valjean (in front of the police) for forgetting to also take the silver candlesticks that he'd given Valjean, reminding Valjean of his "promise" to use the silver to become an honest man, claiming to have bought Valjean's soul with it, withdrawing it from evil and giving it to God.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Valjean#Jean_Valjean_in_t...

So often our reaction to a failing or misdeed is condemnation and to ostracize the person. It's heartening to see an example of a different impulse -- founded on a deeper humanity.

Not sure what role religion played, but in any case it is a good example that even atheists (myself included) would do well to respect and emulate. We could surely use more of this in the world.

For every story like this there are 10 where the victim gets promptly stabbed and the thief is never caught.

Probably Jessica chose the right place - a crowded aisle?

> "I spotted him in a crowded aisle and approached him," she continues

Very difficult to stab someone in a crowded place and not get caught or draw significant attention.

Pulling statistics out of your bottom doesn't strengthen your argument. In any case, this article needn't be read as a call to risky behaviour. Rather an inspiring example of having your reaction be tempered, reasonable, and humane.

Maybe if they go to the thief's house in the ghetto, but this was in a grocery store filled with people.

You think thieves stab people? Why would they do that?

The "Upworthyization" of the Internet proceeds apace.

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