A Samurai's Lesson

A samurai, reaching forty, decided that after spending half his life on the physical, he wanted to spend the other half on spiritual matters. He set out to travel to a monastery far to the south, where a great master was reported to live. He walked for months through all weathers.
When he got to the monastery, a monk told him, “The sensei allows each visitor to ask one question. Consider well what yours will be.”
When the samurai’s turn came, he sat in front of the little old man and asked, “What is heaven and what is hell?”
The master thought and then answered, “A brutish oaf like you has no right to ask such a question.”
Outraged at the insult, the samurai drew his sword and cocked it.
The sensei held up a finger, and said, “THAT is hell.”
The samurai looked within himself and understood. He was full of rage, even hatred. It was hell.
Then he had a sudden thought. This little old man had risked his life to teach a stranger something. When he realized that, a tear ran down the samurai’s cheek.
The master again held up a finger. He said, “And THAT is heaven.”