Got Zen?
I read an interesting story recently, and I thought I might share it. I'm paraphrasing, of course...
Some centuries ago, a brave warrior began to struggle with his conscience after a great battle. After slaying so many enemies, he began to worry about his soul. He sought out a priest to ask the question, 'Do Heaven and Hell really exist?' He found a priest and asked his question, but the priest did not answer him. Instead, he looked at the warrior and said with a smirk, 'You are a soldier?' The priest continued to berate and belittle the soldier until he enraged him. So angry was the warrior that he reached for his sword. As he did the priest continued with his insults, 'I doubt your sword is even sharp enough to kill an old man like me!' The warrior, intent on defending his honor, raised his sword and prepared to deliver the mortal blow. The priest stood still and remarked, 'Here open the gates of Hell.'
The soldier was so moved by the priest's few words that he quickly sheathed his sword, knelt and began to weep. The priest then remarked, 'Here open the gates of Heaven.'
Some centuries ago, a brave warrior began to struggle with his conscience after a great battle. After slaying so many enemies, he began to worry about his soul. He sought out a priest to ask the question, 'Do Heaven and Hell really exist?' He found a priest and asked his question, but the priest did not answer him. Instead, he looked at the warrior and said with a smirk, 'You are a soldier?' The priest continued to berate and belittle the soldier until he enraged him. So angry was the warrior that he reached for his sword. As he did the priest continued with his insults, 'I doubt your sword is even sharp enough to kill an old man like me!' The warrior, intent on defending his honor, raised his sword and prepared to deliver the mortal blow. The priest stood still and remarked, 'Here open the gates of Hell.'
The soldier was so moved by the priest's few words that he quickly sheathed his sword, knelt and began to weep. The priest then remarked, 'Here open the gates of Heaven.'
posted by MeiShouDai | 7:43 PM
1 Comments:
sounds less like zen and more like J.C.
I've got one for you:
"During the Seventh Crusade, led by St. Louis, Yves le Breton reported how he once encountered an old woman who wandered down the street with a dish full of fire in her right hand and a bowl full of water in her left hand. Asked why she carried the two bowls, she answered that with the fire she would burn up Paradise until nothing remained of it, and with the water she would put out the fires of Hell until nothing remained of them: "Because I want no one to do good in order to receive the reward of Paradise, or from fear of Hell; but solely out of love for God."
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