There was a disciple
who was responsible for brewing and serving tea for his master. His
master had a precious antique teapot, which the master loved very
much. Once, perhaps because he was too deep in samadhi and his limbs
became weak, the disciple broke the teapot inadvertently. He was frightened
to death, having no idea about how to explain it to his master.
The time for serving tea arrived, and the disciple
was standing there in a foolish manner, not knowing what to do.
Finally, he came up with a clever way to save himself!
Straightening his clothes, he went inside, bowed
to his master ceremoniously and said: "Master, I have a big
problem, which has caused a lot of concern in my mind. I have wanted
to ask you about this for a long time; but dared not do so, fearing
that I would trouble master. I wonder if I may ask you today."
The master said: "Of course you may. Why didn't you ask sooner?
You came here to follow master because you need to ask questions!"
So the disciple asked, "Master! Why is it that
for everything, death follows birth? Why must there be death? You
and I, are we also going to die? We are practitioners, and being
so sincere, do we still have to die?" His master said, "Oh,
Sure! Shakyamuni Buddha, Jesus, Confucius and Lao-tzu all had to
die. Where there is birth, there must be death!" Then the disciple
continued to ask: "Is there any exception, anything that will
not die?" The master said: "Absolutely not! Death must
follow birth. If the time has come, death is for sure!" Then
the disciple stood up and said: "I report to master, the time
has come for your teapot today!"
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