A rich man
asked a Zen master to write something down that could encourage the prosperity
of his family for years to come.
It would be something that the family could cherish for
generations.
On a large piece of paper, the master wrote, "Father
dies, son dies, grandson dies."
The rich man became angry when he saw the master's work.
"I asked you to write something down that could bring
happiness and prosperity to my family.
Why do you give me something expressing like this?"
"If your son should die before you," the master answered,
"this would bring unbearable grief to your family.
If your grandson should die before your son, this also
would bring great sorrow. If your family, generation after generation,
disappears in the order I have described, it will be the natural course
of life. This is true happiness and prosperity."
