Heaven and Hell

Long ago in Japan, a samurai went to visit a well respected and very wise monk named Hakuin.

The samurai was elaborately dressed in his armor. At his side swung his magnificent, and very sharp, sword.

The samurai was a large and proud man. He was very accustomed to getting what he wanted, when he wanted it.

"Hakuin!" the samurai bellowed from the temple door. "I want a word with you. Now!"

Unruffled, the aged monk ended his meditation with a slow and respectful bow. He rose from his zafu and took some time to stretch his legs before turning towards his visitor. The large figure of the samurai blocked the temple entrance.

"Well monk," grunted the samurai, "if you know so much and are so wise, tell me all you know about heaven and hell."

Hakuin inspected the fierce-looking samurai closely.

Finally he answered the large warrior, "You disrupted my meditation to ask something every fool knows? What kind of second-rate soldier are you? You look like a tramp in that outfit! Did you steal that sword from a child? It doesn't look like it would slice a cucumber! Leave this temple now, and don't bother me with your foolishness again!"

Think of the reddest tomato you have ever seen. That is the color the insulted samurai's face instantly turned. He was furious!

No one had ever dared speak to him so rudely. He was a samurai. The monk would die for his insolence. The monk would die before he had time to apologize!

In a flash the samurai's sword left its sheath and rose high in the air above the small and aged monk.

"You will die for those words little monk!"

Hakuin looked directly into the samurai's eyes. "This is what hell feels like," the old monk said calmly.

The samurai froze, his arms raised, his sword in mid-air. In an instant he understood that his anger did feel like fire--the fires of that dreadful place.

The samurai slowly lowered his sword to his side and re-sheathed it. By the time the samurai's gaze again met the old monk's, his anger had vanished.

The samurai felt as if cool water had extinguished a great fire. He was grateful and calm.

"And this is what heaven feels like," the monk said as he looked at the samurai's now calm face.