Suddenly his zazen was interrupted by the harsh and demanding voice of a samurai warrior. "Old man! Teach me about heaven and hell!"
"You wish to know the secrets of heaven and hell?" replied the monk at last. "You who are so unkempt. You whose hands and feet are covered with dirt. You whose hair is uncombed, whose breath is foul, whose sword is all rusty and neglected. You who are ugly and whose mother dresses you funny. You would ask me of heaven and hell?"
"That is hell," said the old monk gently, just as the sword began its descent.
In that fraction of a second, the samurai was overcome with amazement, awe, compassion and love for this gentle being who had dared to risk his very life to give him such a teaching. He stopped his sword in mid-flight and his eyes filled with grateful tears.
The old monk sat by the side of the road. With his eyes closed, his legs crossed and his hands folded in his lap, he sat. In deep meditation he sat.
(From A Third Serving of Chicken Soup for the Soul, by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen)
At first, as though he had not heard, there was no perceptible response from the monk. But, gradually he began to open his eyes, the faintest hint of a smile playing around the corners of his mouth as the samurai stood there, waiting impatiently, growing more and more agitated with each passing second.
The samurai uttered a vile curse. He drew his sword and raised it high over his head. His face turned to crimson, and the veins of his neck stood out in bold relief as he prepared to sever the monk's head from its shoulders.
"And that," said the monk, "is heaven."
This is my Fairy,
"Hazel" 
Visit Fairy World Today!
THIS PAGE WAS ORIGINALLY CREATED BY...
~~Cat~~
UPDATED ON 4/23/2012
©COPYRIGHT 2003-2014
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Sites
Rude Work Phrases
Life
FONTS!
Happiness
strenee creations.
Fixing Your Web Site
Old Proverbs
Step Off
Real USA State Mottos
Spirit Flowers and Baby Faries
The Site Fights Blooming Baskets.
Music of Cyberspace.
