Cerita Zen
Real Prosperity
A rich man asked Sengai to write something for the continued
prosperity of his family so that it might be treasured from generation
to generation.
Sengai obtained a large sheet of paper and wrote: "Father dies, son
dies, grandson dies."
The rich man became angry. "I asked you to write something for the
happiness of my family! Why do you make such a joke of this?"
"No joke is intended," explained Sengai. "If before you yourself die
your son should die, this would grieve you greatly. If your grandson
should pass away before your son, both of you would be broken-hearted.
If your family, generation after generation, passes away in the order
I have named, it will be the natural course of life. I call this real
prosperity."