Dhamma story about how kamma works according to intention (cetanā)

"Didn't the Buddha teach 'Cetanāhaṃ bhikkhave kammaṃ vadāmi' - #Results_come_according_to_one's_intention?

Let me tell you a story from long ago... There was a monk sitting in meditation, appearing to be in attainment. A king came across him and paid respects, but received no response. The king thought, 'This must be an Arahant in these remote mountains.'

But was this person really an Arahant? No, he was #an_immoral_person without virtue, hiding in the forest to fish because he feared people knowing his true nature.

When the king returned to his palace, he wanted to make offerings. He said, 'Instead of bringing offerings to me, there's an Arahant in the forest - make offerings to him.' He sent his most trusted minister - a childhood friend known for absolute truthfulness.

When the minister went to deliver the offerings, he discovered the monk fishing. He couldn't hide his fishing equipment in time. The minister reported the truth to the king, saying he found him fishing.

For speaking against what the king believed to be an Arahant, the minister was dismissed. However, after seven days, the king reconsidered, remembering his friend's lifelong honesty. Didn't his mind change then?

Meanwhile, the false monk, fearing death, thought #'Since_I_must_die_anyway,_I'll_die_practicing_Dhamma.' Through fearful but earnest practice, he actually attained Arahantship!

When this happened, all the mountains of gold and silver that had appeared in the palace due to the king's wholesome intention disappeared. Why? The results came from the king's intention of offering to an Arahant, not from the actual worthiness of the recipient.

Was it the recipient who determined the karmic result, or was it the king's intention? See, #it_was_one's_own_intention! The person the king revered wasn't an Arahant then - he was immoral. But the king's intention was toward an Arahant, so that's what brought results.

Isn't it clear how 'Cetanāhaṃ bhikkhave kammaṃ vadāmi' works - that kamma gives results according to intention? Through fearful practice, he became an Arahant, but only then did the golden mountains disappear. Isn't this worth contemplating? How satisfying this teaching is!

After careful consideration, the king reinstated the minister. This clearly shows how offerings bring results according to one's intention..."

Sadhu! Together let us keep the Dharma wheel rolling.