Heaven and Hell

There was a samurai who asked his master, "What is the difference between heaven and hell?" The master took the samurai’s sword, turned it to the flat of the blade, and struck the samurai on the head. The samurai was surprised at this but chose to ignore it. He thought that the master had failed to understand his question. He again asked, "What is the difference between heaven and hell?" Again the master struck the samurai on the head. The samurai staggered back puzzled over this. He approached with his question for a third time and before he could utter a word, the master struck him again. The samurai was so enraged that he grabbed his sword from the master, raised it over his head and was prepared to strike when the master raised one finger and the samurai paused.

"That is hell," said the master.

The samurai was overcome by the courage of this frail old man - to have risked his life for the sake of his question - that he fell to his knees and bowed before the master.

"That is heaven," said the master.