The story describes an interaction between a fierce samurai warrior and a wise meditation monk. The samurai demands to know if hell and heaven exist. The monk insults the samurai, angering him. As the samurai raises his sword to kill the monk, the monk says "That is hell". In a moment of realization, the samurai is overcome with compassion, lowers his sword, and the monk says "And that is heaven". The samurai then respects the monk.

1. Story To
Reflect
Upon 161
Heaven And Hell
A fierce samurai warrior once approached a wise meditation
monk. The old monk, with his eyes closed and sitting with legs
crossed over was very calm, composed and peaceful.
“You old monk,” the samurai roared in a thunderous voice. “Is
there really a hell and a heaven? Teach me!”
The monk gradually opened his eyes and a little smile started to
form around the corners of his mouth. He remained silent for a
few moments. The samurai stood there, growing more and more
impatient and agitated with each passing second.
At last the old monk spoke, “You want to know the secrets of Hell
and Heaven? You, a vulgar and unkempt samurai, you with a face
so detestable, you with hair so horrible, you with a voice so harsh,
a breath so foul…you wanna know if hell and heaven exist?”
The samurai was getting more and more angry at the words from
the old monk. He uttered a vile curse and drew his sharp sword
and raised it up. His face had turned crimson-black, his eyes
burning with fury and his neck veins bloated out as he prepared to
chop off the old monk’s head.
“That is hell,” the old monk said gently, just as the sword was
about to come down upon him. In that small fraction of a second,
the samurai was overcome with amazement and awe. Compassion
and love arose in him for this kind and gentle being who
dared to risk his life to teach him wisdom. He stopped his sword in
mid-air and tears of gratitude welled in his eyes.
“And that,” the old monk said, “is heaven”.
The samurai threw away his sword, knelt down and paid respect to
the old monk.
Reflections
* The untrained and uncultivated mind experiences hellish mental
states right here on Earth.
* One creates one’s own heaven and hell in one’s life … through
one’s mind states.
* A mind of Wisdom, seeing things as they really are, attains
serenity, happiness, peace and bliss.

2. Story To
Reflect Upon
162
Unconditional Love
A soldier who had fought in the Vietnam War was finally coming
home. He made a call to his parents from San Francisco.
“Hi Mom and Dad! I’m coming home but I have a favor to ask. I
have a friend I’d like to bring home with me.”
“Of course,” the parents replied. We’d love to meet him.”
“My friend was hurt very seriously in the fighting in Vietnam,” the
son continued. “He was a victim of a landmine and lost an arm and
a leg. He cannot go anywhere; I want him to come and live with us.
The parents said, “We’re very sorry about your friend. Perhaps
we can help him find a place somewhere to live.”
Much as the son tried, the parents would not welcome a person
who was handicapped. The father said, “Someone with such a
handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives
to live.
The mother said, “Son, forget about this poor guy. Just come
home. The guy will find a way to live on his own.”
On hearing this, the son hung up and the parents heard
nothing more from him. A week later, the parents received a call
from the San Francisco Police. The parents were informed that
their son had committed suicide by jumping down from a high
rise building. The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco.
They were taken to the city morgue to identify the body. They
recognized their son but to their horror, they found their son had
only one arm and one leg.
Reflections
* How much of our love is conditional? We find it easy to love
those who are good-looking or fun to have around, but we don't
like people who inconvenience us or who do not do what we want.
* Unconditional Love is pure love with no strings attached …it is
patient, kind and always positive.