Many people search all their lives to determine if there is hell and heaven and if so where they exist. The following story might help us to find out.
Long ago in Japan, a big burly Samurai (warrior) came to a Roshi (wise man) and said, “Tell me the nature of heaven and hell.”
The Roshi looked at him in the face and said: “Why should I tell a scruffy, disgusting, miserable slob like you?” The Samurai's face turned purple and his hair stood up, but the Roshi appeared not to notice and continued, “A miserable worm like you, do you think I should tell you anything?”
Consumed by rage, the Samurai drew his sword, and was just about to cut off the head of the Roshi when the Roshi said, “That’s hell.”
We all are inherently good, we just seem to have lost touch with our pure selves. The Samurai suddenly realised, that he had just created his own hell. He had permitted himself to be filled with so much arrogance, and anger, that he was about to kill someone.
Suddenly aware, the Samurai's eyes filled with tears he put his palms together and bowed to the Roshi.
The Roshi said, “That’s heaven.”
Thanks to my friend Sangeeta Karkhanis for this piece
