Ikkyu, the Zen Master, was very intelligent even when he was just a boy. His teacher had a precious tea bowl - a rare antique. It so happened that Ikkyu broke this cup and became very confused. Hearing the teacher's steps, he hid the broken pieces of the cup behind his back. When the Master entered, Ikkyu asked:
- Why do people die?
“It’s natural,” the old man explained. “Everything must die, and especially what has lived for a long time.”
Then Ikkyu showed him the broken cup with the words:
“It’s time for your cup to die.”
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru