A samurai approaches a Zen master<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n with the question: \u201cYour honor, people say that you are amongst the most enlightened masters currently alive. I came to you, especially from the other side of the country. Could you, please, give me some clarification about a question that has kept nagging me for years?<\/p>\n\n\n\n My question is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n What are heaven and hell?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Zen master immediately shouts out something like: \u201dGet lost, you fool, and do no longer bother me with stupid questions you do not understand yourself!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The samurai loses control, draws his sword, and calls out: \u201cYou old, shameless, wrinkled bone-bag, I will pierce you with my sword!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell then,\u2019 the Zen master replies calmly, \u201cwhat you show me now is hell.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just in time, the samurai gets a grip on himself. He sheets his sword and makes a deep bow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd this,\u201d the Zen master continues, \u201cis heaven.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The samurai bows even deeper and is enlightened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why does the samurai calm down, and does he thank the Zen master?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Is it because the Zen master shows his emotion to the samurai \u2015 i.e., great anger?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Suppose the Zen master would have replied: \u201cYou fool, why do you need to get so angry over such a little matter?\u201d The samurai would soon have taken decisive action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n >< <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Zen master gives him attention and respect<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n by replying very adequately and thoughtfully to his question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Zen master also shows enormous courage, so he speaks the language of the samurai. Again: attention, respect. Besides, when you look carefully, you will see that the Zen master, in his first answer, was already speaking the language of the samurai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a result, the samurai listens to him, which is, of course, the purpose of the Zen master. Had he given an elaborate response to the samurai, the latter wouldn\u2019t have listened anyhow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The samurai feels the respect and the value of the insight in the question about heaven and hell. Namely: heaven and hell are not to be sought elsewhere but in the here and now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So take care of the here and now.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Samurai receives a big gift from the Zen master, acknowledges it, and reacts fittingly.<\/p>\n