[hr]

[center][b]Koan 1[/b][/center]

A man came to Calign and said, "Spirit, tell me the place I will go when I die."

And Calign replied, "You are a man of sheep and soil. What use is this knowledge to you?"

Said the man, "My father's house has many sons, and this land beareth little. My life is poor and of small promise. You have said, 'when a man dies, he becomes such things as a tree, a bird, or a fish'. Tell me the place I will go when I die, so that might I be a tree, I might prepare now the soil in which I will grow, and might I be a bird, I may rid that land of rats and cats, and might I be a fish, I may take a boat to the ocean and sink it for my shelter. And should I be another creature of the gods, I may travel to that creature's place and know its ways also."

Said Calign, "You are concerned with things of little consequence to yourself. How can you think of yourself beyond death, if you do not even know what you will eat tonight?"

Said the man, "O spirit, this matter is dear to me, for my life is of little value. But if I know where I shall go when I die, I shall labour greatly until my death, that I might not be so impoverished."

Said Calign, "Very well. I can send you on a journey that will answer your question. Beware, for it is long and troublesome, and you will surely suffer on it. Do you desire to take this journey?"

Said the man, "Yes, spirit, greatly."

Calign slew the man.

[center][b]Koan 1: The Journey[/b][/center]
[hr]