The Samurai and the Monk

A samurai came to visit an old Zen monk. ”I want you to teach me of heaven and hell,” the warrior demanded.

The little monk looked the samurai up and down, squinting his eyes.

“Well?” the samurai barked impatiently.

The monk tilted his head. “Teach you of heaven and hell? Why should I teach you anything? Look at you. You’re filthy. Your sword is rusty. Your hands are dirty. You’ve obviously been out of work for some time. And with good reason, I would say. Go away.”

The samurai blew up. No one spoke to him in that manner and lived. With a growl, he drew his sword and lifted it over his head to slice the monk in half.

In the instant before the sword began its downward path, the monk pointed up to him and said, “That’s hell.”

The samurai hesitated … and understood what the monk meant. At the same time, he realized that the monk had been willing to risk his own life to teach him this lesson. He was struck with the bravery of the little man.

He lowered his sword and bowed to the monk. “And that,” the monk said, pointing to him again, “is heaven.”