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The bold and handsome young Samurai warrior stood respectfully before the aged Zen master and asked, “Master, teach me about heaven and hell.”

The master snapped his head up in disgust and said, “Teach YOU about heaven and hell?! Why, I doubt that you could even learn to keep your own sword from rusting! You ignorant fool! How dare you suppose that you could understand anything I might have to say!”

The old man went on and on, becoming even more insulting, while the young swordsman’s surprise turned first to confusion and then to hot anger, rising by the minute.

Master or no master, who can insult a Samurai and live? At last, with teeth clenched and blood nearly boiling in fury, the warrior blindly drew his sword and prepared to end the old man’s sharp tongue and life all in a moment.

The master looked straight into his eyes and said gently, “That’s hell.”

At the peak of his rage, the Samurai realized that this was indeed his teaching; the Master had hounded him into a living hell, driven by uncontrolled anger and ego.

The young man, profoundly humbled, sheathed his sword and bowed low to his great spiritual teacher.