A belligerent samurai once challenged a Zen master to explain the concept of Heaven and Hell. But the monk replied with scorn, “You’re nothing but a lout – I can’t waste my time with the likes of you!”
His very honour attacked, the samurai flew into a rage and, pulling his sword from his scabbard, yelled, “I could kill you for your impertinence.”
“That is Hell,” the monk calmly replied.
Startled at seeing the truth in what the master pointed out about the fury that had him in its grip, the samurai calmed down sheathed his sword, and bowed, thanking the monk for his insight.
“And that,” said the monk, “is Heaven.”
Anon, Japanese
How I wish we could all learn our lessons so easily! I tend to fester in my rage rather than it being over and done with so quickly. There’s a lot I could learn here….hmmm
…following on from this, I have just found another anger-related thought written in my note book, which seems appropriate right about now. Benjamin Franklin said, “Anger is never without a reason, but seldom a good one.” How true.
La Vita e Bella 