The Gates of Heaven

A wandering swordsman was walking through the woods one day when in the distance he spied a well known Zen master walking towards him. Thinking that this was an opportunity to learn a little more about Zen he began to think of questions he might ask to produce something useable.

When he finally approached the Zen master he still hadn't come up with anything suitable and simply greeted the master and then said "Master I am a humble swordsman but I find value in the Zen approach to life. Can you give me a lesson I can take with me and that will be helpful for one such as me?"

The Zen master assessed the situation and looked the man over. When he spoke he quietly said to the swordsman "What could I say to one such as you. You are dirty, uneducuated and of little value to the world. Surely it would be a waste of words."

Upon hearing this the swordsman was enraged and quickly began to draw his sword out.

As the sword left its sheath the Zen master said "Thus open the gates of hell."

The swordsman paused and pondered for a moment. He then began to sheath the sword.

As he did the Zen master said, "Thus open the gates of Heaven."

He then bowed to the swordsman and went on his way.

Gordon Muir