|
Zen Stories
A Useless Life
A farmer got so old that he couldn't work the fields anymore. So he would spend the day just
sitting on the porch. His son, still working the farm, would look up
from time to time and see his father sitting there. "He's of no
use any more," the son thought to himself, "he doesn't do
anything!" One day the son got so frustrated by this, that he
built a wood coffin, dragged it over to the porch, and told his
father to get in. Without saying anything, the father climbed
inside. After closing the lid, the son dragged the coffin to the
edge of the farm where there was a high cliff. As he approached the
drop, he heard a light tapping on the lid from inside the coffin. He
opened it up. Still lying there peacefully, the father looked up at
his son. "I know you are going to throw me over the cliff, but
before you do, may I suggest something?" "What is
it?" replied the son. "Throw me over the cliff, if you
like," said the father, "but save this good wood coffin.
Your children might need to use it."
Next Story
|
