Inspirational Stories, Quotes & Poems
Quotes
Poems
Proverbs
  • Home
  • New Stories
  • Inspirational
  • Attitude
  • Life
  • Love
  • Friendship
  • Happiness
  • Success
  • Parental
  • Quotes
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • New Stories
  • Inspirational
  • Attitude
  • Life
  • Love
  • Friendship
  • Happiness
  • Success
  • Parental
  • Quotes
No Result
View All Result
Inspirational Stories, Quotes & Poems
No Result
View All Result
Home Religions & Spirituality Awareness

Secrets of Heaven and Hell, The

  by: Fr. John W. Groff Jr., A 3rd Serving of Chicken Soup for the Soul

in Awareness, Religions & Spirituality
Inspirational Stories

Inspirational Stories

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The old monk sat by the side of the road. With his eyes closed, his legs crossed and his hands folded in his lap, he sat. In deep meditation, he sat.

Suddenly his zazen was interrupted by the harsh and demanding voice of a samurai warrior. “Old man! Teach me about heaven and hell!”

At first, as though he had not heard, there was no perceptible response from the monk. But gradually he began to open his eyes, the faintest hint of a smile playing around the corners of his mouth as the samurai stood there, waiting impatiently, growing more and more agitated with each passing second.

“You wish to know the secrets of heaven and hell?” replied the monk at last. “You who are so unkempt. You whose hands and feet are covered with dirt. You whose hair is uncombed, whose breath is foul, whose sword is all rusty and neglected. You who are ugly and whose mother dresses you funny. You would ask me of heaven and hell?”

The samurai uttered a vile curse. He drew his sword and raised it high above his head. His face turned to crimson and the veins on his neck stood out in bold relief as he prepared to sever the monk’s head from its shoulders.

“That is hell,” said the old monk gently, just as the sword began its descent. In that fraction of a second, the samurai was overcome with amazement, awe, compassion and love for this gentle being who had dared to risk his very life to give him such a teaching. He stopped his sword in mid-flight and his eyes filled with grateful tears.

“And that,” said the monk, “is heaven.”

Share182Tweet114SharePin41
Previous Post

Darrell Scott’s Testimony

Next Post

Miss Bohlim

Related Posts

Tell A Tale: The Forgotten Pages
Inspirational Stories

Tell A Tale: The Forgotten Pages

From Failure To Success
Inspirational Stories

From Setbacks to Comebacks: Unveiling the Path to Success

The Muse And The Masterpiece: Celebrating Revolutionary Women Artists
Inspirational Stories

The Muse And The Masterpiece: Celebrating Revolutionary Women Artists

Fear and Anxiety
Fear

Rising Above Fear: Strategies For Conquering Anxiety and Achieving Your Goals

Letterkenny
Happiness

Letterkenny Quotes and Sayings To Show You When Rural Life Clashes With Urban Lifestyle

Florence Nightingale
Inspirational Stories

Florence Nightingale-The Lady With The Lamp’s Inspirational Life Story and Sayings

Recent Posts

  • Tell A Tale: The Forgotten Pages
  • From Setbacks to Comebacks: Unveiling the Path to Success
  • The Muse And The Masterpiece: Celebrating Revolutionary Women Artists
  • Rising Above Fear: Strategies For Conquering Anxiety and Achieving Your Goals
Inspirational Stories, Quotes & Poems

© 2022 Inspirational Stories

Navigate Site

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • New Stories
  • God
  • Christianity
  • Judaism
  • Buddhism & Zen
  • Sufism
  • Faith
  • Prayer
  • Awareness
  • Miracles

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • New
  • Inspirational Stories
  • Attitude
  • Life
  • Love
  • Friendship
  • Happiness
  • Success
  • Parental
  • Proverbs
  • Quotes
  • Poems

© 2022 Inspirational Stories