¹In June, Gim Byeong-uk sent a messenger to inform Sangjenim that a thief had dug up the grave of Baek Nam-sin’s father and stolen the skull.²As if he were keeping vigil at a house in mourning, Sangjenim kept the lamps lit and did not sleep for three days.³After the third night, he sent Nam-sin a message: “Do not search for the missing skull; enter into seclusion in a quiet retreat. I will have the thief bring the skull to you himself by the End of Heat.”

⁴The disciples felt discontentment about Sangjenim keeping vigil for three entire nights, and one of them asked, “Why do you exert yourself in this way when those concerned in the matter are unaware of your efforts?”

⁵Sangjenim replied, “My only desire is the recovery of the stolen skull. I care not whether they recognize my efforts.”

⁶In obedience to Sangjenim’s orders, Nam-sin stayed at the remote Baegunjeong Pavilion.

⁷In July, the leader of the village nearest the grave site called a meeting of the villagers.⁸He announced, “We cannot ignore a grave robbery so close to our village, so I propose that we all search the area. If someone finds the stolen skull, would it not be proper for us to inform the Baek family and for them to reward the finder?” The villagers all began to search the nearby mountain slopes.

⁹Hearing of this, the grave robber reflected, “The family has not offered a ransom for the skull, so I’d better take advantage of this opportunity to return it. Not only can I avoid being uncovered as the thief, I can gain myself a sizable reward.”¹⁰The grave robber took the skull to the village leader and declared, “I searched everywhere and fortunately came across this skull.”¹¹The village leader took the man to see Baek Nam-sin at Baegunjeong Pavilion on the day called the End of Heat.

¹²The following morning, Sangjenim went to an inn on Yongmeorigogae Hill, and Byeong-uk later arrived and informed Sangjenim of the skull’s recovery.

¹³“What befell the thief?” asked Sangjenim.

“He was taken to the police.”

¹⁴“Why so? He should have simply been reprimanded and sent home.” ¹⁵Sangjenim ordered black attire made and then burned it, proclaiming, “He will only be sent to prison with hard labor.” And, indeed, the thief received a sentence of prison with hard labor rather than execution.

¹⁶When the disciples asked Sangjenim how the skull was recovered on the End of Heat, he revealed, ¹⁷“Even if a matter is merely personal, if it is applied to a dosu in the Work of Renewing Heaven and Earth, both the matter of universal concern and the matter of private concern become resolved together in accordance with the dosu.”