“The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven.” — John Milton, Paradise Lost
One day, the Emperor of Japan visited a Zen monastery. A revered master sat silently with his student.
The emperor bowed and spoke with heavy heart, “I’m becoming old. Death feels near. I constantly worry about one question: What is the reality of heaven and hell? Do they truly exist?”
The Zen master looked up at him and replied harshly,
“How dare you ask such a question with that face? Have you seen yourself in a mirror? You call yourself an emperor, but you’re not even worthy of being a beggar! And just look at your clothes—you look like a fool.”
The emperor’s eyes blazed with rage. Without hesitation, he drew his sword from its sheath and raised it to strike the master.
The master looked directly into his eyes and said calmly,
“This… is hell.”
The emperor froze. His anger vanished in an instant. Slowly, he sheathed his sword.
Then the master said softly,
“And this… is Heaven.”
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