Hendy's Blog

The Meaning of Real Prosperity

Here is a traditional story, followed by a hopefully "enlightening" extension... A rich man invited Zen Master Sengai to pen him some calligraphy, hoping he can offer good wishes, which may be treasured from generation to generation for the continued prosperity of his family. Agreeable, Sengai brushed the following - "Father dies, son dies, grandson dies." Seeing this, the man flared up in anger, "I asked you respectfully to write something beneficial to my family's happiness! How could you make such a disrespectful joke?" Sengai explained, "But there was no joke intended. Life is impermanent. If your son should die before you, you would grieve tremendously. And if your grandson were to depart before you and your son, both of you would be shattered. If your family passes away as listed, it will be the 'natural' course of life. This, I consider to be real prosperity."

Here is a fictitious appendix to the story... The same man asked another Zen Master to pen the same words, so as to create another copy for his family, saying it represented a wish for the continuation of family prosperity. The Master was however, not told of his dialogue with Sengai. Just as agreeable, the master wrote "Grandson dies, son dies, father dies." Seeing this, the man once again flared up, "How dare you curse my family! How could you reverse these words of wisdom?" He then explained at length to the Master as to why Sengai wrote those words. The Master listened patiently. Finally finishing, the man exclaimed in exaspersation, "How could you make such a disrespectful joke?"

The Master replied, "But there was no joke intended... If it is such that your son or grandson should die before you, and that you are able to accept it graciously as also part of the 'natural' course of life, then this, I consider as real prosperity - which is to be spiritually prosperous, despite the lack of worldly prosperity. Whatever happens in your family, happens naturally as the play of karma. To demand the world to always function exactly as you wish is to be foolish, and this will only cause yourself unnecessary suffering. The wise abide undisturbed in the midst of unexpected or inevitable changes, while the unwise are swirled about by changes. The Buddha taught us that true prosperity is Enlightenment - the attainment of freedom from desires and delusions; it is not the attachment to any deluded desires. As surprised as "enlightened", the man calmly tore up the two masterpieces, bowing in repentant reverence. - Shen Shi'an

Labels: spiritual

posted by Hendy Tanata @ 21:35