Today, gentle reader, I celebrate my 500th posting on this blog. I have been searching and seeking for something wise and profound to share with you today. What kept emerging into my consciousness was a story. So, after some pause and reflection I have decided to set aside ‘wise’ and ‘profound’ and go for the story. This is one of my favorite stories [as an aside: I have many favorite stories — this is the one that has kept nudging me for a few days]. Well, now, as I was about to put finger to key another story burst into my mind — I cannot remember if I have shared this story with you or not [and I am too lazy this morning to go back and check]. But it burst upon me with such force that I have decided THIS is the story I want to share with you.
THE STORY: Many years ago there was a famous and fierce Samurai warrior who, like many Samurai was also on a search. He wanted to know what ‘heaven’ was and what ‘hell’ was. He searched and searched for many years. As he traveled deep into the woods he began to hear of a wise monk who knew many things. He decided to search out this monk. After leaving the woods he entered the wilderness and wandered about for months and months. Finally, he came upon a hut; he had been told in a dream that this hut housed the wise monk. The Samurai had to bow low in order to enter the hut and as he crossed the threshold and looked up he saw the monk sitting on a mat on the dirt floor. Two cups of hot tea were sitting in front of the monk. The Samurai paused and then demanded: “Monk, tell me about heaven and hell.” The monk smiled the smile of the wise and took a sip of tea. The Samurai rose and took a menacing stance and now demanded again, that the monk tell him about heaven and hell. The monk smiled again and quietly said that ‘You, mighty Samurai, cannot handle the news.’ Now the Samurai was not used to being spoken to in this way and so he became enraged and drew his sword and was about to strike the monk
The monk looked up and whispered: “That is hell!”
The Samurai stopped in mid-stroke. He looked at the monk. The realization of ‘hell’ filled him from the tips of his toes to the brim of his helmet. He fell to his knees feeling deep sorrow and anguish. He cried bitter tears and then after some time he spoke. “Oh, monk, you have provided me with such a gift. I am humbled and thankful. I have learned much in such a short time.”
The monk reached down offered the Samurai the other cup of tea; then he took up his own and brought it to his lips. He paused, “And that is heaven!” he whispered.
The two sat in silence sipping and savoring their tea, the learning and the moment.
Thank you, gentle reader, for sitting with me for these many postings. Thank you for allowing me to share my search with you. You are a gift and a blessing in my life.