Raul Kamal, 04.02.09
I recently came across this example that explains why it is so important that we think before we act and that our actions determine our fate.
There was once a samurai warrior who travelled to the distant
home of an old monk. On arriving he burst through the door and
bellowed, "Monk, tell me! What is the difference between heaven
and hell?"
The monk sat still for a moment on the tatami-matted floor. Then
he turned and looked up at the warrior. "You call yourself a
samurai warrior," he smirked. "Why, look at you. You're nothing
but a mere sliver of a man!"
"What!!" cried the samurai, as he reached for his sword.
"Oh!" said the monk. "I see you reach for your sword. I doubt
you could cut off the head of a fly with that."
The samurai was so infuriated that he could not hold himself
back. He pulled his sword from its sheath and lifted it above
his head to strike off the head of the old monk. At this the
monk looked up into his seething eyes and said, "That, my son,
is the gate to hell." Realizing that the monk had risked his
life to teach this lesson, the samurai slowly lowered his sword
and put it back into the sheath. He bowed low to the monk in
thanks for this teaching.
"My friend," said the monk, "That is the gate to heaven."