# The samurai who asked about heaven and hell

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-samurai-heaven-and-hell
- Themes: anger, gratitude, heaven and hell, wisdom
- Life situations: anger, religious doubt, pride

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

A samurai who has asked everyone whether heaven and hell exist finally demands a straight answer from an old monk. The monk says he's too stupid to understand; then calls him a country bumpkin; then mocks his 'rusty piece of iron'. Insulted three times, the samurai draws his sword to cut off the monk's head — and the monk looks into his eyes: 'Samurai, that's hell.' The samurai understands, sheathes his sword and bows, eyes wet with gratitude. The monk says softly: 'Samurai, now this is heaven.'

## The story, as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)

there's this old story and this is great Buddhist wisdom because it brings things down from Superstition down into ordinary daily life many of you heard the story before but it's a great story about the the old samurai warrior who too wanted to know what do really Buddhist think about heaven and hell is there a heaven is there a hell no really and he gone around to many many people and no one could give him a a good answer there may be the same with you may have gone to many sort of temples many talks ask many people and it's sort of satisfying you can't really get a straight answer which really satisfies you and answers the question once and for all so this sumai eventually found this old Monk and said old monk look this is my question you know I I've gone around asking so many people this I'm almost fed out to ask it again but is there a heaven is there a hell now if you know this and really know it say so but if you don't know it don't waste my time just say I don't know okay and the mark looked up on it up for this samurai warrior and said you're St to you're too stupid to understand the samurai said what you call me stupid I'm not stupid I'm a samurai warrior these Samurai Warriors have to go through an enormous amount of training and it's not just the uh martial arts it's a lot of um virtuous training and training in medic meditation said I'm not stupid I'm a samurai warrior and the mon looked up at him you a samurai don't give me that you fool you're just a country bumpkin that's all and the samurai said that's twice you've insulted me and he took hold of his sword if you insult me one more time monk I don't care who you are I'll cut off your head just with one swipe of my sword with that stupid old rusty piece of iron you couldn't even slice a a slice of bread with that and that was enough the samurai insulted three times was incense and he got out his sword and was about to Smite the monk's head off when the monk looked right into his eyes and said samurai that's hell and I keep on saying that was pushing his luck but it worked maybe if it didn't work he wouldn't be able to tell the story but that Samurai understood that anger was what hell is like at last he got an answer which wasn't anything to do with Superstition the Mark wasn't saying it says in my scriptures cuz that really offended me a lot when people say it says in the books that's not what I asked you what's in the books I asked you you now you're supposed to be a Christian you're supposed to be a Buddhist you're supposed to be a teacher I'm not saying what I can read the books myself you is there a heaven is there a hell explain I'm not asking the books I'm asking the person and the last he actually got a proper answer he could understand what hell was and he was so impressed he put aside his sword and he bow to that monk that's what you do in Asia out of respect it's not asking for favors it's an act of like thank you so much and remember Mark looked at him again and saw his eyes were watering out of respect and gratitude and the Mark said to him very softly and Samurai now this is heaven that gratitude and respect that's what heaven is like

## Teaching point

Heaven and hell are states we create in the mind here and now — anger is hell, gratitude and respect are heaven.

## Reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)

A samurai demanded proof of heaven and hell, was insulted until he drew his sword, and heard the old monk say: that's hell. Understanding, he bowed in tears, and the monk said softly: now this is heaven. We make both, here and now. Notice which one your mood is building today.

## Source

- [Superstitions | Ajahn Brahm | 12-01-2007](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RggiVQ6F0fk) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 25:28 to 29:13: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RggiVQ6F0fk&t=1528s