The Giver Should Be Thankful
January 24th 2007 15:02
Category: Oriental Thoughts
While Seisetsu was the master of Engaku in Kamakura he required larger quarters, since those in which he was teaching was overcrowded. Umezu Seibei, a merchant of Edo, decided to donate five hundred pieces of gold called ryo toward the construction of a more commodious school. This money he brought to the teacher.
Seisetsu said: "All right. I will take it."
Umezu gave Seisetsu the sack of gold, but he was dissatisfied with the attitude of the teacher. One might live a whole year on three ryo, and the merchant had not even been thanked for five hundred.
"In that sack are five hundred ryo," hinted Umezu.
"You told me that before," replied Seisetsu.,
"Even if I am a wealthy merchant a hundred ryo is a lot of money," said Umezu.
"Do you want me to thank you for it?", asked Seisetsu.
"You ought to," replied Umezu
"Why should I?" inquired Seisetsu, "The giver should be thankful."
Source: Zen Flesh, Zen Bones
Umezu gave Seisetsu the sack of gold, but he was dissatisfied with the attitude of the teacher. One might live a whole year on three ryo, and the merchant had not even been thanked for five hundred.
"In that sack are five hundred ryo," hinted Umezu.
"You told me that before," replied Seisetsu.,
"Even if I am a wealthy merchant a hundred ryo is a lot of money," said Umezu.
"Do you want me to thank you for it?", asked Seisetsu.
"You ought to," replied Umezu
"Why should I?" inquired Seisetsu, "The giver should be thankful."
Source: Zen Flesh, Zen Bones
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WeR1Family
Comment by WeR1Family
Stories of Wisdom
Lone - My Life and Thoughts
Nasake wa hito ni narazu - Sympathy is not for others
It wants to signifies that by helping others, we are actually helping ourselves.
It corresponds to the universal law of universe, where anything that flows out from us would eventually return back to us.
Some people may refer this as karma.
Comment by Adrian
Philosophy Blog
Nice story! And central, I suppose, to your actual name -- we r 1 family...
Comment by WeR1Family
Stories of Wisdom
Lone - My Life and Thoughts
Thank you for your feedback.
I am glad as well that you figured out how to read WeR1Family
Ureshiii!!! ^_^